The Art of Gratitude: How to Write Thoughtful Thank You Cards

Are you struggling to express your appreciation to a friend who has been there for you through thick and thin or has given you a lovely birthday gift? You're not alone! Writing thank-you messages can be challenging, but it doesn't have to be. Writing messages of appreciation is fun and easy with a few simple tips.

How to express gratitude in a card

It's normal to feel a little uncomfortable when you sit down to write a thank you card. In fact, researchers at the University of Texas found that more than 80% of people feel awkward about writing a sentiment of gratitude. But the researchers also discovered that both writing and receiving a thank you note can improve mood and well-being.

That means that writing a thank you card is more than just polite. It's also a great way to practice self-care and make someone else feel great at the same time. To get started, grab a pen and break out your favorite stationery. You can make custom thank you cards for any occasion on Mixbook or use pre-designed cards like this magical note card. You might want to get out some scrap paper to jot down your thank you message ideas on too.

The basics of thank you card etiquette

The etiquette experts at Emily Post have shared that it's best to write a thank you note as soon as you can after receiving a gift or assistance. Aim to send your note within two weeks of receiving a gift or help. If you can't get around to writing thank you notes quickly, though, don't give up on them. It's better to send a thank you note late rather than skip out on sending one at all.

We recommend handwriting thank you cards when you're able. While a gratitude email or social message is better than nothing, it isn't as personalized as a card. Your recipient will also likely appreciate receiving a physical card in the mail — there's something special about opening an unexpected letter.

What to write in a thank you card

You have all your thank you card supplies in front of you. Now you just need to think up a message of gratitude to write in your note. Start by thinking about why you're sending a card. Maybe your recipient:

• Gave you a gift
• Helped out with a project
• Brought a meal to your family
• Helped your child or another family member
• Listened to you when you needed to talk
• Is always there to encourage you

Although it's a common misconception that you should only send a thank you note after you receive a gift or significant help. It's worthwhile to send 'just because' thank you notes too. Just imagine how great your best friend or sister would feel if they received a thank you card because they've given you the gift of friendship.

You should aim to speak to the exact reason that you're sending a thank you card in your note. Imagine that your dad got you tickets to a concert you really wanted to attend. You might write something like:

"Thank you so much for getting me tickets to see the Smashing Pumpkins! I love that you know my favorite band and realized how much I wanted to see them live. It means a lot to me that you took the time to think about something I would really love to receive. I can't wait to tell you about the wonderful experience I had at their concert in Detroit."

Your recipient might know why you're sending a thank you note, but acknowledging their gift or assistance directly is still important. It's a great way to let someone know that you see and appreciate their effort.

Thank you card message ideas for everyday occasions

When it comes to writing thank you notes, it's fine to draw inspiration from messages others have written. Reading thoughtful notes of gratitude might inspire you to come up with your own special sentiments. Keep in mind that every greeting card should have at least three components:

1. A greeting line that addresses the recipient, like "Dear Mom" or "My wonderful friend Bob"
2. A message of gratitude that calls out the gift, assistance, or support that the recipient gave you
3. A signature line with your name

You can also incorporate a special quote that expresses your gratitude. Using quotes is a great way to say thanks when you're struggling to put your feelings into words. Of course, it's also fine to use verses or sayings from your favorite religious text too so long as you think your recipient will enjoy reading them.

Thank you notes for gifts

Not sure what to write in a thank you note for a gift? Here are a few examples of gratitude card wording:

[NOTE TO MIXBOOK: I think the suggestions in this section, which are currently marked in Purple using the Scripted platform's 'quote' setting would look great in italics, quote boxes, or something like that to set them apart]

Thank you so much for thinking of me on my birthday. I loved the [gift] that you gave me because [reason the gift was perfect]. I'm so lucky to have a thoughtful person like you in my life.

I was so excited to unwrap the [gift] that you sent me for my [occasion]. I am looking forward to [use it, hang it in my room, etc.]. Thanks so much for thinking of me on this special day.

Your gift of [specifics about gift] made me feel so happy. I appreciate that you took the time to think about something that I would love for [occasion]. I'm excited to [use the gift, display it, etc.].

Thank you notes for someone's help

Thanking someone for their help is important, but you might not be sure what to say. Here are some ideas to get you started:

You were so helpful when I needed assistance with [project, event, etc.]. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to lend a helping hand. I appreciate everything you've done and hope that I can pay the favor back in the future.

Thank you for helping me with [project, event, etc.]. It means a lot to me that you answered my call for help. I know that you're busy and the gift of your time is something I truly appreciate.

Thank you notes for friendship

You treasure your friends. Use these examples to start writing special notes of appreciation for someone's friendship.

I can't believe I'm lucky enough to have a friend like you. Thank you for always [something special your friend does]. I hope that we'll be friends for many years in the future because I treasure your [thoughtfulness, kindness, etc.].

Thank you for being my friend through thick and thin. You are always willing to [listen, help, etc.]. I just want you to know that I see and appreciate everything you do for me as a friend. I cherish you and know that we'll make more great memories together in the future.

Thank you note wording examples for special occasions

If you have a lot of thank you cards to write after a big event like a wedding or baby shower, don't be afraid to ask for help. Your friends, family, or bridal party might be willing to address thank you notes for you or help you stuff them in envelopes.

You can also order thank you notes that already have a special quote or sentiment so that you only need to add a quote note and sign them. For example, you can customize wedding thank you cards and send them to everyone who attended your nuptials.

Thank you notes for weddings and bridal showers

You might have a lot of thank you notes to write after your wedding. The easiest way to tackle a large batch of notes is to create a template that you can fill in with specific information. Here's an example:

It was a blessing to have you at our wedding. Thank you so much for your thoughtful gift of [gift]. We look forward to [using it, going to the event, etc.]. We appreciate you thinking of us on our big day and are thankful for your thoughtfulness.

Thank you notes for baby showers

Baby showers mean gifts for your family's newest addition — and plenty of thank you cards to write. Here's an example template you can use to tackle your baby shower thank you notes:

Your presence at my baby shower meant so much to baby and me. I was thrilled that you gave us [gift]. I know it will come in handy for [reason]. Thank you for joining me for this special day and supporting our family.

Thank you notes for event attendees

Sending a thank you note when someone attends an event you organized or hosted is a great way to let them know that their presence was meaningful. For events like school commencements, use a personalized graduation thank you card that calls out the special occasion. Here's a sample template you can use to write gratitude notes to event attendees:

It was a delight to see you at [event]. I am so thankful that you could attend because [reason]. Your presence meant so much to me. I hope you had a wonderful time. I can't wait to hear what your favorite part of the [event] was!

Thank you note wording for formal occasions

Many of the thank you notes you write will be informal cards sent to family and friends. However, there are also times when you might need to send a gratitude message to a boss, colleague, or someone who interviewed you for a job. These messages should be personalized, but they shouldn't be personal — that's why we call them 'formal' notes or business thank you notes.

Sending a thank you note after a business meeting is also a great way to foster relationships and connect with other professionals. Adopt these five best practices when writing thank you notes for formal/professional occasions:

1. Opt for a formal greeting like "Dear" or simply "Mr./Mrs./Mx."
2. Directly state what you are thankful for — a productive meeting, a raise, the opportunity to interview, etc.
3. Mention why this was important to you professionally
4. Close with a formal line like "regards" or "with thanks"
5. Keep your thank you short and simple

Tips to personalize thank you cards

There are occasions when having special thank you cards printed makes sense. For example, you might want to design custom wedding thank you notes that use the same fonts and graphics as the wedding invitations and save-the-date cards that you ordered from Mixbook.

On other occasions, you might want to use generic cards without event-specific graphics. If you want to personalize thank you cards for everyday use, try:

• Sealing them with a custom wax seal or sticker
• Writing in calligraphy or colorful script
• Including a drawing or poem of your own
• Adding special touches like glitter or confetti
• Insert a photo of yourself with the gift

Expressing gratitude with the help of Mixbook

Writing thank you cards can help improve your mood and give a boost to someone special in your life too. Get started on custom thank you cards with Mixbook today. Your recipients will love seeing your personality shine through in a unique card with a special sentiment.