Happy New Year! Today is a brand new page in a blank book. While many of us make resolutions for the new year about physical health, weight loss, financial freedom it’s important to make resolutions that are simple and easy to keep as well. One of our resolutions is to take time to recognize the little things, the special things, moments that surprise us or make us laugh. We’ve made a New Year Memory Jar to hold our special moments throughout the coming year where they’ll be kept safe to reflect on next New Year’s Eve! Discover the power of the memory jar and how it can help you preserve and cherish memories. Learn simple techniques to fill your memory jar and create a lasting reminder of the important moments in your life.
This post was first published on January 1, 2015. I have made a few updates and republished it here for my newer readers. Explore how the memory jar can improve your memory retention and grow your gratitude.
DIY Memory Jar
Embark on a journey of reminiscence and self-discovery with the art of the memory jar. Delve into the fascinating world of memory preservation and learn how this unique method can transport you back in time, evoke emotions, and connect you with you those you love. Memory jars are a great idea to unleash the power of memories and start creating your own captivating memory jar today.
Craft Supplies:
- glass jar
- ribbon
- glue
- scissors
- label
- small pieces of paper or index cards cut in half
- pen
- other embellishments of your choice
This project should be fun and something the whole family can help make!
How To Make Memory Jars To Celebrate The Year:
Here’s how to make and use your own memory jar. Use the ribbon, label, and other embellishments to decorate the empty jar.
Place the finished mason jar on your desk, in the entry way, or kitchen where it’s easy to be reminded daily to write down a moment from the day. Keep a pen and slips of paper with the jar to make it easy. No excuses for not to write a memory down each and every day! Along with special moments be sure to write the date before placing the paper in your jar. Include funny things that will make you laugh later for extra fun moments in the future.
Sometimes our busy lives keep us from noticing the little moments or the simple things that make us smile, laugh or feel loved. We tend to notice the bad about our day or the mischief the little ones got in to. Finding happy and positive in every situation is important to good health and for a healthy home! If a day has more than one special moment, write them all down!
On December 31st, as you prepare to ring in the new year, open your memory jar. Let each family member take turns pulling out a memory and reading it out loud until you’ve reflected on all those special moments! If you find yourself having an exceptionally bad day throughout the year, take a moment and read a few of the good things from your memory jar to remind yourself of all the good in your world!
That is the instructions for version one in which you basically make the craft and use it for the following year. If you are anxious to get started though and want to read something in a few days on New Year’s day, you could always use a shortened format. This would involve asking guests to recall two of the best memories from the previous year and drop those in. In this way, you speed up the format and enjoy sharing your special memories from the past year with others.
Above is a free, fun label you can print for your Memory Jar! Just right click and choose print.
Unlock the hidden gems of your life with the transformative power of the memory jar. Now you can curate and preserve the significant moments and experiences that have shaped who you are. Discover the therapeutic benefits of the memory jar and embark on a journey of self-reflection, gratitude, and personal growth each new year.
More Memory Jar Ideas
If you need ideas for memory jar prompts, I love the photo memory jar printables at hellobestow.com with prompts such as “You cheered me up when…”. You can see how they look below and if you visit the Bestow site you can get the awesome free printable memory jar prompts. So cute!
Here are a few more memory jar ideas for prompts:
The best thing I ate this year was ____________
My favorite place I went this year was ______________
The first movie I saw at the theater this year was ___________________
My best new friend is ______________________
Something new I learned this year was ______________________
I enjoyed our adventure when ______________________
Conclusion
Capture the essence of your most precious moments with the enchanting memory jar technique. Dive into the world of nostalgia as you discover how to curate, preserve, and relive your fondest memories in a beautifully crafted memory jar. Unleash the power of sentimental keepsakes and embark on a journey of emotional connection like no other. So do you think you will make a memory jar with your family this year? Not only are they fun for New Year’s Eve celebrations, they make excellent keepsakes!
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angela@spinachtiger says
I do this every year. I call it a blessings Jar. In fact, I just read them all. It’s a great thing to do.
Crystal says
That’s a great idea. It’s a great way to remember all of the wonderful things that have happened throughout the year.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions, I feel they’re simply a great way to set yourself up to fail. But this I can totally see a point to, I think this is a wonderful idea.
Harpreet Kaur says
Wow, what a fantastic New Year Memory Jar DIY tutorial! I love the creative and heartfelt idea of preserving memories in a jar. It’s such a meaningful way to reflect on the past year and cherish those special moments. Looking forward to trying out this project and perhaps documenting my SEO journey in the jar too! Cheers to a memorable and successful New Year ahead!
William says
We tried this. It was so much fun to see what other family members had written as their memories from the year. What a lovely way celebrate the end of the year.
Jack says
Thanks for the wonderful blog. I was thinking, I could tweak this slightly and make it a memorial jar for a memorial service.