Thanksgiving Gratitude for Busy Women: How to Slow Down & Savor the Season

If you’re a busy woman, this time of year probably looks like a beautiful mess—full calendars, family expectations, grocery lists, & the pressure to make the holiday “magical” for everyone else. Hell, I’m somehow going to work all day, go through my normal routine, & make mac & cheese to take to the parentals’ house all before the sun goes down. But Thanksgiving wasn’t created for perfection… it was created for gratitude.

And gratitude hits differently when you’re in a season of doing the most. That’s why this Thanksgiving, we’re flipping the script & giving you permission to slow down, savor the moment, & reconnect with what matters most — your peace, your joy, & your evolution.

🍂 Why Gratitude Matters Even More When You’re Busy

When life is full, gratitude becomes your grounding force. It helps:

✨ Shift your focus from overwhelm to abundance

✨ Interrupt stress with a moment of presence

✨ Boost mood, energy, & emotional resilience

✨ Reconnect you to yourself when you’ve been in “go mode”

Gratitude isn’t one more thing to do — it’s the one thing that softens the chaos. That’s exactly why I started a gratitude practice over a 15 years ago: to remind me of what really matters, no matter how bad I may think things are.

🧡 Simple Gratitude Rituals for Thanksgiving Week

My gratitude ritual is part of my journaling routine each night. Before I can close my journal, I make sure I write down at least one thing I was thankful for that day. Sometimes it’s easy, while others it’s super hard, but I’m committed to seeing something positive each day.

My ritual is incorporated in Intentional Journals, but that’s not the only way to practice gratitude. Here are quick, calm-creating practices you can do even with the busiest schedule:

1. The “Before You Get Out of the Car” Pause

Whether you’re arriving at work, the store, or family dinner, take 10 seconds to breathe & whisper: “I’m grateful for being here, right now.”

Tiny moment. Big impact.

2. The 3-Item Kitchen Counter Gratitude List

Before you start cooking or prepping, pause & jot down three things you’re grateful for today.

Put it on a sticky note. Stick it on the cabinet.

Instant grounding.

3. The Gratitude Swap at Dinner

Instead of a long “What are you thankful for?” circle (that nobody actually enjoys), make it fun:

Everyone shares one good thing from this year—big or small.

4. A Thanksgiving Journaling Moment (5 Minutes)

Use these prompts:

• This year, I grew the most when…

• One person I’m grateful for & why…

• One thing I want to release before the year ends…

• One thing I want to welcome in…

🍁 The Busy Woman’s Permission Slip

Read this slowly:

You don’t have to host perfectly.

You don’t have to run the whole holiday.

You deserve rest, softness, & gratitude too.

Thanksgiving isn’t about doing—it’s about feeling. And you’ve earned a moment to breathe & receive, even though it may not always feel that way. The power of affirmations can change your mindset quick though.

🧘🏽‍♀️ Self-Care Ideas to Evolve Through the Holiday

Check some of my favs out:

• Light a candle before the day starts (or anytime throughout the day because candles are a vibe in themselves)

• Take a solo gratitude walk after dinner (kill 2 birds with 1 stone)

• Sit in your car for 60 seconds before going inside (sometimes it’s A LOT longer than that)

• Do a nighttime reflection using your journal (our journals have space for thay)

• Ask for help (yes, actually ask!)

Small things. Big energy shift.

💛 Final Thoughts: Gratitude Looks Good on You

This holiday, choose presence over perfection. Choose peace over pressure. Choose gratitude — the kind that warms your spirit, not your to-do list. And when you’re ready to take your self-care deeper… Your community at Intentionally Evolve is right here evolving with you.