We all have a few things in common: we’re human, we make mistakes, and sometimes lack motivation.
With that said, many of us have lost our creativity because of life’s struggles and the responsibilities of being an adult. The ability to think with a childlike imagination or simply play becomes a foreign concept. Still, creativity is something you need in life, especially if you want to write in your journal every single day.
Daily journal prompts are an easy way to get your creativity flowing and stay accountable for everyday writing. Journal prompts can help you find your voice and discover new things about yourself that you didn’t know before!
But most importantly, they can help you feel creative again by bringing back some of those lost childhood memories.
Whether through drawing, poetry, or prose, daily journal prompts are a great way to get your creativity flowing!
Here are 31 journal prompts you can mix and match on a weekly basis that will keep you writing:
31 Journaling Prompts
Use these journaling prompts to start or end your day.
- What am I grateful for today, and why do I feel that way?
- Did my morning routine change today? Explain why and what I’d do differently next time around.
- What does a perfect day look like for me? How many have I had, and how close am I to the next one?
- Channeling my mood, how would I describe myself to a stranger today? What would I omit and what new things would I add?
- What are the three most important things in my life today?
- Describe what it’s like to be happy, sad, angry, or frustrated.
- In detail, write three goals for tomorrow and how they will contribute towards my long-term goal(s).
- What did I do today that made me happy and proud of myself?
- What did I dream about last night?
- What is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about my childhood? Why?
- What is one thing that must be done today?
- How has my mood changed since yesterday, and what caused it to change?
- Describe in detail what happened the last time I had a rumbling belly laugh.
- What sensations am I feeling in my body right now?
- What are three words that describe me best, and why do those words resonate with me?
- What can I do, or what did I do to start my day off on a positive note?
- What did my workout consist of today?
- What are the three worst things about my day, and how can I make them better?
- If I could only wear one article of clothing for the rest of my life, what would that item be and why?
- What is the hardest decision I’ve had to make recently?
- What has been a defining moment in my life so far, and how did it change the course of my life?
- What did I recently do for the first time? How did it make me feel, was it unexpected, and was it anything like I imagined it to be?
- What are five things about myself that nobody knows or realizes until they get to know me better?
- What did I daydream about today?
- What are the top three things that trigger my anxiety and stress? How can I avoid them and still be productive?
- If I could change one thing about myself, what would it be and why?
- Who do I need to forgive for my own wellbeing and happiness?
- What are five life lessons I’ve learned this year?
- What happened the last time I became overwhelmed? How did I deal with it?
- What are three of my favorite things that I do not want to live without?
- How have I been more mindful today?
What Should I Journal About Daily?
If the daily journal prompts above don’t suit your mood or style, there are many forms of journal writing that you can use.
Journal writing like:
- Stream of consciousness
- Daily gratitude log
- Daily self-care check-in
- A list of affirmations and affirmation questions
- Daily mantras
- Drawing your thoughts
Journaling is about fully expressing your thoughts and feelings unapologetically, without judgment.
The key is to find the method of journaling that you’re most comfortable with and stick with it!
Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly ― whatever works best for you and your schedule.
Doing this will help keep you accountable and writing in your journal regularly. Plus, it will develop a healthy habit as well.
Evidence shows that just 15-20 minutes of writing about a traumatic event 3-5 times help the writer become better physically and psychologically. Schedule your writing times, and write about the things that haunt you so they can’t control you.
What Are Some Good Journal Prompts?
The purpose of a journal prompt is to get you writing about a time in your life or something you’re struggling with.
Some journal prompts that might work for you are:
- What did I do today, and how does it make me feel?
- How have I been more mindful of my thoughts and emotions lately?
- Where am I at in life right now, compared to where I was a year ago or a few weeks ago?
- If I had one wish, what would I wish for and why?
Ultimately the roadblock you face is your own fear of facing the truth about yourself.
You might have provided yourself with enough “evidence” of why some journal prompts suck so you can feel better about walking away from doing a deep analysis and avoiding analyzing your thoughts and feelings.
But if you’re genuinely interested in creating a better future for yourself and look forward to better days, then you must analyze your past week, day, month, and year. You have to inspire that change within you and free your mind by developing a healthy habit.
Use the above daily journal prompts as a tool to break through your fear barrier and face your fears head-on. Having a clearer understanding of the person you are and how to move forward is the reward and benefit you’ll ultimately gain.
It also helps keep your thoughts from spinning in circles, and it allows them to find a resolution to whatever problems you might be facing.
My advice: If you can’t find any journal prompt that works well for you, create them for yourself!
What Should You Journal About in the Mornings?
Journal writing is about you, understanding yourself, and planning your next move. Using your thoughts, hopes, dreams, and goals to guide your journal writing will help you to find meaning in your life.
For a morning journal, write about what you’re looking forward to the most during the day and why.
Clear your mind from the grogginess of sleep and write your stream of consciousness as if someone else was reading it.
Write a few words and then write some more. Don’t stop until either your timer goes off or you feel you’ve written enough for the day.
3 Things to Do Right Now
- Grab your journal and a pen, and find a quiet place where you will not be interrupted for at least 15 minutes.
- Go back through this list of daily journal prompts, pick one, set your timer for 15 minutes, and start writing.
- Grab your calendar and schedule your journaling time for tomorrow
Developing a journaling habit takes practice and dedication. If you set aside time every day to write your ideas, fun memories, unpack your traumas, and what you’re grateful for, you’ll start feeling better mentally and your journal writing will reflect that.
What would you like to write about today?
I love journaling before I go to bed it helps me relax
It really is relaxing Jimmy, thanks for sharing!
Love these thought-provoking journal prompts! They really give you the time and space to sort out everything you’re thinking about. Plus, these would give a great starting point if you don’t know what to write about that day. I look forward to reading more articles!