Gratitude is key to happiness. But it is 2021, and the past couple of years haven’t exactly been a blast, so if you’re scraping the barrel, we thought we’d help you out with something to be thankful for – web design software tools that save precious time – we’ve compiled a list of favorites.

If there’s anything we’ve learnt over the past couple of years it’s just how tenacious and adaptable business owners can be when needs must. We doff our caps to all of you for thinking on your feet, for adapting and evolving in order to survive and in some cases, thrive in (all together now) “these trying and unprecedented times.” Well done to all of you, truly.

As the year draws in, we’ve been reflecting on what there is to be grateful for this year. Aside from our incredible clients, of course!

It’s actually not as challenging as you might think. Think about how impossible this past couple of years would have been just 10-20 years ago! We’re more connected than ever, we can work remotely, even my Grams has figured out Whatsapp video calls. We owe software companies big for facilitating our lives, making the impossible possible, and saving us a ton of time and energy.

Today we’re focussing on web design software that helps business owners save all-important time, and the list is by no means exhaustive. There are so many tools out there for you all. So let’s hop to it.

List of web design software tools to save time

1. WordPress

WordPress has an immense library of over 3500 themes that you can customize to suit your requirements. It also has plug-ins for almost every website feature you can imagine. Much of the head-scratching and hard work has already been done for you.

2. Shopify

When it comes to designing an eCommerce website it doesn’t come much more straightforward than Shopify. If you’re not overly worried about customization, you can choose from their 70+ premium and free website templates. Just switch in the content with your own, and you’re good to go.

3. Wix

Wix also offers a generous library of templates. But if you want more control over the look of your website, it’s also an intuitive drag-and-drop website builder, allowing easy and complete customization without the help of a developer.

4. Squarespace

Squarespace is another popular drag-and-drop website builder. Unlike Wix, you can’t nudge blocks one pixel at a time, it works on a grid system that takes a little getting used to. That being said, it’s still an incredible tool for creating professional-looking websites in no time.

5. Canva

We’re changing key in our list now and switching away from website builders to other design tools. Canva is an open-source vector graphic editor. Create beautiful graphics for your website for free, or upgrade to their pro version for access to even more illustrations and professional stock photography.

Finding ways to be thankful

While you’re here, we want to take this opportunity to give you a few moments of reflection to brighten your day. At the risk of sounding Polly-Annaish, even when things are tough, there is always something we can appreciate to lift us out of a negative thought spiral. So humor us, and try these tips to help you find something to truly be thankful for.

Look to the small things – Day-to-day it’s easy to overlook so many tiny positive things that happen on a regular basis. Maybe it’s the dopey way your dog looks at you, or your first sip of coffee in the morning, or a good stretch after you’ve been sitting at your desk. All these little positives add up.

Be thankful for the challenges – There are so many clichés to list off for this one: “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”, “there’s no sun without rain” etc, etc. But you know it’s true. Challenges help us grow as people, when we reach out to those around us, they strengthen our bonds. They also give color to the good times, which will come, even if they’re not quite in your sights yet.

Share your gratitude – Expressing your gratitude to the people you care about can help increase that gratitude. This was the discovery of a group called Soul Pancake, which explores the science of happiness. They found that just writing a letter to a person you’re thankful for increased their happiness from 2 to 4%, and after making a phone call to the same people, their happiness soared to 19%. As a bonus, you’re also sharing that good feeling with someone else.

Get in touch

We hope you continue to find reasons to be grateful. But if you’re struggling with your business and just can’t figure out the best way forward, let us do the heavy lifting for you. At jdp, we lift the hood of your business to find out where there are blockages, and set you up with the tools to get your business accelerating towards your business goals. From eCommerce websites, to managing the internal systems of your business, we figure out where your next investment could make the most impact.

Get in touch for a free 15-minute consultation. And thank YOU for reading.