Gratitude Countdown Game

With the stress of quarantine, social distancing, and switching to a work from home environment, many of us have felt dispirited and found ourselves lacking motivation at one time or another. This Summer we brought engagement to our classes and program by playing a game at the start of each class called Gratitude Countdown. “Gratitude wakes us up to the goodness and beauty in life, but we have to choose it,” notes Tamara Levitt, Head of Content at the Calm app.

The goal of the game is strengthening our gratitude habits – that with practice, it might eventually become our default state. Here are the rules: whenever a friend gets caught up in negativity, start the game by calling out “gratitude countdown”, which challenges them to list 10 things they are grateful for on the spot. Almost like a lightning round in a gameshow. Then you swap and it’s your turn to recite your list. It’s a fun and supportive way to share this practice with someone. And you’ll find that hearing their list is often more inspiring than sharing your own. The more we do it, the more habitual it gets. Simple practices like this can help shift our mindset and outlook on life. Let’s hold each other and ourselves accountable!