Journal Writing Prompt Ideas
By Elizabeth Dubos
Journaling is the expression and exploration of our thoughts, ideas, and feelings of our lives. It helps reduce stress and improve our mood. People use journals to track symptoms, expel negative thoughts, recognize triggers, or document their daily lives. Journals are excellent reflection tools. We can view past journals to see our progression. Journaling is a form of self-care because it provides an outlet to express ourselves without judgment. It isn’t healthy to keep our feelings bottled up inside. People use words or artwork to express themselves. Often, people utilize multiple journals at once for organizational purposes. For example, I have two journals; one solely has words, while the second one is for artwork. I have Moleskine journals because I prefer a thicker paper to avoid my markers and pens bleeding through. There are various kinds of journals such as dot, lined, blank, or digital ones. Journals range in price point but are generally affordable. They are available on Amazon, Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or Books-A-Million. After you purchase a journal, it can be a bit difficult to start because every time you open it to write, your mind goes blank due to stress or anxiety. Every time I get a new journal, I write down prompts, so when I’m feeling stressed or anxious, I have an idea of what to write about. Here is a list of writing prompts to motivate yourself to journal more.
1. How was your day?
2. Did you do or learn anything new at work or school?
3. What are your favorite animals, books, TV shows, shopping stores, songs, colors, seasons, clothes, foods, cities, countries, or sports?
4. Who are your favorite musicians, actors, actresses, authors, fictional characters, superheroes, teachers, family members, or athletes?
5. Write down a list of hobbies that you would like to learn how to do.
6. Are you bilingual? If so, write down your favorite words in another language.
7. If you could learn a new language, what would you learn and why?
8. How are you feeling right now?
9. How would you like to be feeling right now and why?
10. Where would you like to travel on vacation?
11. What is something that you’re good at? How does it make you feel?
12. How did you sleep last night? Did something keep you up or did you dream?
13. What are your core principles that you adhere to?
14. What are your most prized possessions?
15. Were you bullied during childhood or as a teenager? How do you think it affects your adulthood?
16. What are your life goals?
17. Describe your dream job, relationship, or house.
18. If you won the lottery, what would you do with all the money?
19. What’s one of your favorite childhood memories?
20. Make a list of 10 things that make you smile.
21. How do you practice self-care? If not, write some ways you could implement it into your life.
22. If you could change anything about your outer appearance, what would you change?
23. Make a list of 10 positive adjectives to describe yourself.
24. Write a letter to your younger or older self.
25. What are some of your biggest regrets?
26. What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t yet? What’s holding you back?
27. If you could go back in time and change something, what would you change and why?
28. List five things that you fear and why.
29. If you could have one wish, what would you wish for and why?
30. List 20 things that you’re grateful for.
Edited by Morgan Mitchell
By Elizabeth Dubos
Journaling is the expression and exploration of our thoughts, ideas, and feelings of our lives. It helps reduce stress and improve our mood. People use journals to track symptoms, expel negative thoughts, recognize triggers, or document their daily lives. Journals are excellent reflection tools. We can view past journals to see our progression. Journaling is a form of self-care because it provides an outlet to express ourselves without judgment. It isn’t healthy to keep our feelings bottled up inside. People use words or artwork to express themselves. Often, people utilize multiple journals at once for organizational purposes. For example, I have two journals; one solely has words, while the second one is for artwork. I have Moleskine journals because I prefer a thicker paper to avoid my markers and pens bleeding through. There are various kinds of journals such as dot, lined, blank, or digital ones. Journals range in price point but are generally affordable. They are available on Amazon, Target, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, or Books-A-Million. After you purchase a journal, it can be a bit difficult to start because every time you open it to write, your mind goes blank due to stress or anxiety. Every time I get a new journal, I write down prompts, so when I’m feeling stressed or anxious, I have an idea of what to write about. Here is a list of writing prompts to motivate yourself to journal more.
1. How was your day?
2. Did you do or learn anything new at work or school?
3. What are your favorite animals, books, TV shows, shopping stores, songs, colors, seasons, clothes, foods, cities, countries, or sports?
4. Who are your favorite musicians, actors, actresses, authors, fictional characters, superheroes, teachers, family members, or athletes?
5. Write down a list of hobbies that you would like to learn how to do.
6. Are you bilingual? If so, write down your favorite words in another language.
7. If you could learn a new language, what would you learn and why?
8. How are you feeling right now?
9. How would you like to be feeling right now and why?
10. Where would you like to travel on vacation?
11. What is something that you’re good at? How does it make you feel?
12. How did you sleep last night? Did something keep you up or did you dream?
13. What are your core principles that you adhere to?
14. What are your most prized possessions?
15. Were you bullied during childhood or as a teenager? How do you think it affects your adulthood?
16. What are your life goals?
17. Describe your dream job, relationship, or house.
18. If you won the lottery, what would you do with all the money?
19. What’s one of your favorite childhood memories?
20. Make a list of 10 things that make you smile.
21. How do you practice self-care? If not, write some ways you could implement it into your life.
22. If you could change anything about your outer appearance, what would you change?
23. Make a list of 10 positive adjectives to describe yourself.
24. Write a letter to your younger or older self.
25. What are some of your biggest regrets?
26. What is something you’ve always wanted to do but haven’t yet? What’s holding you back?
27. If you could go back in time and change something, what would you change and why?
28. List five things that you fear and why.
29. If you could have one wish, what would you wish for and why?
30. List 20 things that you’re grateful for.
Edited by Morgan Mitchell
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