5 Ways To Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude is so important for the soul, for an abundance of reasons. It improves our mental health, helps us heal and assists us in building a positive personality.

Living your life with gratitude helps you notice the little wins—waking up to find you have more time sleep before your alarm goes off, receiving an unexpected compliment or those trainers you’ve swooned over going on sale. Each of these small moments strings together to create a web of well-being that, over time, strengthens your ability to notice the good in life.

Here are our top five ways to practice gratitude;

Keep a gratitude journal beside your bed.

Before you go to bed each night, think of even the smallest wins of the day; write it down. In time, the more you write, the more you’ll start to notice things that you are grateful for. When the pages start filling, reading them back will fill you with gratitude. Spending just 15 minutes before bed noting down a few grateful sentiments, can also support you to have a much better nights shuteye.

Watch inspiring videos that will remind you of the good in the world.

We are what we surround ourselves with. By watching inspiring content online, the internet puts more inspirational content in front of you. Search hashtags on social media such as #gratitude to see what other people are grateful for to help with ideas if you’re stuck.

Surround yourself with people who make you feel good.

Surrounding ourselves with people who we love and who make us feel good, has a shared effect because positivity and happiness are contagious. So not only does it make you feel on top of the world, but you are also boosting the moods of those around you. “Gratitude helps you to grow and expand; gratitude brings joy and laughter into your life and into the lives of all those around you.” – Eileen Caddy

Say thank you for the little things people do for you, things you normally take for granted.

Sometimes we forget to be appreciative of the small things others do for us. Even things as small as someone making us a cup of tea, holding the door, letting us out in traffic - be thankful for the small gestures. Take a moment to not only thank them but think of how they just made your day that little bit easier.

Make a gratitude collage, cut out pictures of all the things that you are grateful for.

Creating collages is a great way to practice gratitude. Looking over photographs that make you smile as you stick them down, will flood you with great memories and will influence you to make more. Vision or dream boards are also fantastic for those who want to manifest a sounder lifestyle. These boards are assembled similarly to gratitude collages, you just need to use pictures and word clippings of things you would love in your life. The more you envision or see your dreams coming true, the more you’ll gravitate towards it naturally. Gratefulness is a footing for manifesting.

The mindset of gratitude is a regular habit to express thankfulness for all various parts of life, no matter how small. If you focus on what you have, you'll always have more.

Head over to our Instagram account’s @happyvalleynorfolk and @norfolkglamping for daily gratitude posts and stories, for the rest of this week.

What Is Forest Bathing & Why It Can Help Improve Your Life

Crystals can play a big part in meditation, it can deepen your meditation process and raise your consciousness & awareness.

'Forest Bathing' is an English translation of the Japanese phrase shinrin-yoku, however the name may fool you, you won't need a take a dip in your bathtub to have a go. Developed in Japan, 'Shinrin' means forest and 'Yoku' stands for bathing. This simple practice of being calm and quiet amongst the trees, immersing yourself in nature in a mindful way, using your senses to acquire a whole range of benefits for not just your physical but your mental and emotional health.

You can forest-bathe anywhere on the planet, wherever there are trees. You can sit, stand or walk - just disconnect from daily life and connect to nature. Clear your mind and observe your surroundings.

Toad Hall at Happy Valley Norfolk

Take long breaths deep into the abdomen. Extending the exhalation of air to twice the length of the inhalation sends a message to the body that it can relax. Look at the colour palette Mother Nature has created, listen to the sound of the breeze and the song of the wilderness, breath in the earthy scents. Use all your senses to fully immerse yourself in the experience. You can even take your shoes and socks off and walk barefoot as it helps with feeling grounded and present in the moment by connecting with the natural world.

We have had many guests in the past that have enjoyed our woodland retreat for forest bathing and meditation. To book your relaxing glamping experience, head over to the glamping section of our website.

A Review From Our Recent Guest

Our luxury glamping cabin Keepers Cabin.

“This place is 10 out of 10. It deserves every penny. Highly recommend you to visit. No phones, no internet, peaceful woodland, cosy cabin with wonderful log burner and great hot tub. I have not seen so many stars in years. It is out of the world sitting in a hot tub in a woodland and watching the stars. If you are after romantic place to spend time with your other half - this wood do it. It is luxurious place with everything you need and spotless clean. You will get the most of your money. We would definitely visit again.”

To book your unique glamping experience, head over to the glamping section of our website.

Why You Should Go Glamping This Christmas

During the colder months and around Christmas, glamping is a fabulous idea. It can be even more magical and completely different than in the warmer seasons.

Imagine waking up on Christmas morning in one of our cosy cabins, looking out into the frosty woodland, log burner blazing inside and a steamy hot tub waiting for you - an experience you will never forget.

Get toasty around the log burner in Keepers Cabin

Adorable in-built bunk beds for your little ones in The Woodpecker

Have a romantic staycation in King Nutkin

Christmas dining for the family in The Woodpecker

With an array of eatery options in the area, you could either book a table letting someone else do all the hard work or you could cook up a tasty Christmas dinner in your cabin. Spend the evenings around the outside fire pit, relaxing with a glass of red wine and delve into the bubbling water of your private wood-fired hot tub.

Christmas traditions get passed down through generations - what time you are allowed to tear the wrapping off your presents, who gets to light up the Christmas pudding or a certain festive movie you watch every year like clockwork. However, there is nothing stopping you from creating new traditions, so why not spend your Christmas tucked up with your loved ones in one of our cosy cabins at Happy Valley Norfolk?

To book your festive staycation, check out the glamping section of our website, where you will find all the details of each of our cabins and availability.

Intimate and Intentional: Micro Weddings

The benefits of a Micro Wedding at Happy Valley in Norfolk. When love conquers all and an elopement is planned at Happy Valley.

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Turning Over a New Leaf at Happy Valley

“The heat of autumn is different from the heat of summer. One ripens the apples, the other turns them to cider”.

~ Jane Hirshfield


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The heavy heat of summer is giving way to a gentle breeze, pushing us onwards, towards cosier nights and the flicker of candlelight. There is comfort to be had when the feeling of sunlight on your skin, is then layered with the protective hug of a cashmere jumper or woollen shawl. It is as if Nature knows this is its swan song, its final chance to take flight and display its brilliance, for one last time.

Dancing like flames in the sky, the burnt oranges, and hues of yellow and brown offer up a firework display of leaves. The trees shake off their old coats and stretch out their branches to welcome a new season and with it, new adventures.

At Happy Valley, though the landscape changes, its beauty remains. Ripples in the lake and beads of sweat on your brow is being replaced with images of wellies splashing in puddles and fresh dew drops forming on blades of grass. Though darkness closes in, there is a sense of togetherness as we huddle for warmth and head towards the woods, to lose ourselves in the magic of an everchanging canvas of colour.

Your soul, as light as a feather, may be carried in the wind and with it, all your cares give way, to a beautiful, autumnal dream. The air crackles with anticipation, the leaves crunch underfoot, and conkers are ready for the taking. There is no feeling of sadness or loss, only the spirit of curiosity and yearning for a new journey into the unknown.

Here at Happy Valley, we invite you to come Autumn Glamping in the goldilocks of seasons - not too hot, not too cold but exactly right for some fun and creativity. With pencils sharpened, uninform pressed and blank exercise books waiting to be inked with inspiration, parents can escape for a term-time get away with individual glamping available during the week. Exclusive hire of the grounds, facilities, hot tubs, hay barn and all accommodation is available at the weekends, so you can capture the magic of this place with others or keep it all to yourself.  

Happy Valley cannot wait to celebrate the highlights of the Autumn season with you and raise a glass to friendships and fresh starts. Bottoms Up!

Happy Valley’s Twist on a Marylebone Halloween Marvel

  • 35ml Vanilla Flavoured Vodka

  • 12.5ml Pear Flavoured or Pumpkin Flavoured Liqueur

  • 10ml Pumpkin syrup

  • 25ml Pumpkin purée

  • Pinch of ground nutmeg and cinnamon

  • Top with Champagne (or prosecco, we won’t judge!)

  • 3 ice cubes

  • Slice of dried pear

With love,

Katy, Kirsty and the team at Happy Valley xx

Explore the different cabins in the woods for some North Norfolk Glamping this Autumn.