Is journaling one of your goals this year? If so, then I’ve got you covered with an ultimate list of journaling prompts for beginners.
Sometimes, developing a habit to journal every day can be difficult.
It’s one of the many things I struggled with as a beginner. I found it hard to remain consistent, and when I was ready to reflect on my day, I couldn’t think of what to write about.
My journaling routine turned into diary entries with no focus, rhyme or reason for completing the exercises other than to get my thoughts out of my head and down on the page.
Responding to the same prompts repeatedly got old pretty quick.
When I journal, my goal is to reflect on a specific area of my life that needs improvement.
With that said, there are several ways to approach journaling for beginners. Not to mention a plethora of journaling methods to choose from.
To save myself time, I found it easier to start with a lined notebook. A minimalistic design – nothing fancy or anything that required much thinking to start.
I compiled a list of journal prompts to use in each category, such as relationships, fitness, goals, self-improvement, career, and mental health.
Each morning or night, I’d select 2-3 prompts to focus on and I wrote at least 1-2 pages.
While there are many resources on the internet to find daily writing prompts, I’ve shared an exhaustive list of easy journaling ideas for beginners.
What are some easy writing prompts?
Productivity JournalIng Prompts For Beginners
What time wasting activities can I remove from my daily routine?
What does a productive day for me look like?
How can I develop better habits?
What distractions prevent me from being productive?
In what ways can I improve my productivity throughout the day?
What are the three things you’d like to accomplish this month?
Describe a routine you can follow for the next 30 days?
What steps can you take to prevent missing deadlines?
How will I stop procrastinating?
Who motivates you to take action towards your goals each day?
What is your why in life?
What changes in my behavior do I need to make to meet my goals?
What additional support do I need to produce more?
How can I change my surroundings or workspace to foster productivity?
Dating Journaling Prompts For Beginners
Why is partnership important to you?
List the traits of your ideal partner.
What kind of relationship would you like to have with your partner?
How did you view relationships and marriage as a child?
Which relationships do you value the most in your life?
How can you be more present when you’re with your significant other?
List positive and negative traits about yourself.
Name three ways you can improve your dating life.
How can you create genuine connections with others?
What are some things your friends and family would say they love most about you?
What bucket list items do you and your partner have in common?
If you could select one thing to change about the person you’re dating, what would it be and why?
Envision the type of future you would like to have with your significant other.
Wellness Journaling Prompts For Beginners
Who and/or what do I need to let go of?
What am I grateful for?
If I could assign a number value to my support system, what would it be from 1 out of 10?
What thoughts prevent me from reaching my full potential?
Describe your dream life.
What healthy habits can I practice to become successful?
What do I fear most in life and why?
What put a smile on my face today?
How did I feel when I woke up this morning?
Name three acts of self-care you can do right now.
How do I show up for others around me?
Positivity Journaling Prompts For Beginners
Describe three activities that instantly uplift your mood (then go do them).
What doubts do I need to remove from my mindset?
What’s one of your happiest memories?
Create a list of things you’ve changed your perspective on.
What did you accomplish today?
What motivates you to get out of bed every morning?
What are my best personal qualities, traits, and/or strengths?
Where do you see yourself in the next 3 years?
What daily exercises will help nourish my mind, body, and soul?
How can I be more intentional?
What action steps can I take to reduce the stress in my life?
Which personal achievements would your younger self be most proud of?
What are your top five talents?
Weight loss journaling prompts for beginners
What type of relationship do you have with food?
Do you eat to live or live to eat?
What do I like or dislike about my body right now?
What changes in my lifestyle do I need to make in order to develop healthier eating habits?
How do you feel after eating?
Which physical activities did you take part in today?
Why do I want to lose weight?
Describe your fitness wins and losses this week.
What foods will you remove from your diet?
How can I become more disciplined in my weight loss journey?
What is my fitness plan?
How can I change my mindset to develop a positive body image?
New year journaling prompts FOR Beginners
Write a love letter to yourself.
If you could choose one word for the year, what would it be and why?
What was your most memorable moment from the previous year?
What’s one thing you would like to make happen this year?
Describe three personal and professional goals you met last year?
Describe your vision for the year ahead.
How will you adopt an abundance mindset this year?
What are you willing to sacrifice to be successful?
If given a chance to live the previous year over again, what would you do differently?
What was the most inspiring book you read last year and why?
What are three lessons you learned last year? Why were they important?
Manifestation journaling prompts FOR Beginners
What are your long-term and short-term goals?
List 10 things you’ve already accomplished.
I will be successful because…
What brings me joy and peace?
How would you describe a “perfect” day?
Write five affirmations you live by.
Do you feel aligned with your purpose in life?
How can I be a resource to others?
What will your life look like 5 years from now?
I will leave ____ in the past and bring _____ into my future.
Self Love Journaling Prompts FOr beginners
Who am I…?
What are my favorite hobbies and habits?
What are three quotes that motivate you?
Describe when you feel the most confident.
I am happiest when…
What do you love most about yourself?
What self-loathing beliefs do you need to release?
Why are you worthy?
If you could go on a spontaneous adventure, where would it be?
What does self-care mean to you?
What are five unique qualities that make you stand out from the crowd?
Money Journaling Prompts for beginners
I will be a millionaire by the year of _____. This is how I will reach my financial goals…
What is my budget plan?
What’s your definition of wealth?
How can I save more and spend less?
What money management skills do I possess?
How will I reach my financial goals?
What money habits did you learn from your parents?
How can I reframe my money mindset?
How can I improve my financial status?
Money is __________ to come by because:
My money goals for the future include:
How will I change my spending habits?
How do I start my first journal?
Invest in a quality journal
Completing writing prompts in a spiral notebook is one way to start, but I highly recommend investing in a guided journal.
There are various types of journals you can choose from, but selecting one that’s simple is a great way to start.
Personalization with the year and your name on it are minor details that will come in handy years from now.
One way to track personal growth is going back and reading old journal entries from when you were younger.
I’m always amazed at how far my mindset changed overtime regarding certain things. It helps me to identify which areas of my life I need to focus on more.
Some journals come with inspirational quotes and prompts, which may be helpful when you’re starting.
But, as you gain more experience in the journaling practice, guided journals can feel limiting.
Bullet journals are popular among people who want more freedom to complete journaling exercises as they see fit and allow more room for creativity!
Follow a schedule
I struggled with picking up my journal throughout the week, because it wasn’t something I looked forward to.
Journaling wasn’t on my daily to-do list and I thought of it as just another daunting task rather than an activity that would set my day up for success.
I recommend you include journaling as a part of your morning or afternoon routines.
It can help you clear your mind, because you’re steadily getting your thoughts out of your head.
I’ve discovered that creating a mood for my writing sessions works best. At night, I turn down all the noise, and seclude myself in a room away from family for twenty minutes to sit with my thoughts alone.
I like to journal right before bed, because it allows me to answer my reflection questions and wrap up my day on a positive note.
Journaling will eventually become an activity you enjoy when you make it a priority.
Take a different approach
You don’t have to stick to journaling in the same format. The short essay approach can get boring quickly, so don’t be afraid to switch the type of journaling you do up a bit.
I’ve listed several types of journals you can start with as a beginner:
- Reverse Bucket List
- Dream Journal
- Travel Journal
- Blank Journal
- Food Journal
- Fitness Journal
- Pocket Journal
- Pregnancy Journal
- Prayer Journal
- Memory Journal
- Time Capsule
- Wellness Journal
What should I focus on when journaling?
What are the 3 types of journaling?
Free write is the easiest type of journaling and most similar to the diary entry format. All you have to do is write your ideas, feelings, or thoughts down on paper.
One-Sentence is a journaling technique that’s quick and to the point. It’s also a great way to capture memories in a creative way as you reflect on the most important lesson learned or events from the day before.
Brain dumps don’t require any type of formats or writing prompts. It’s a journaling method that involves creating lists to help you organize your thoughts into various categories.
You can write lists, draw diagrams, bullet points, or checklists for this type of journaling.
I listed some other types of journaling ideas you can use below:
- Memory Keeper
- Reflective
- Gratitude
- Unsent letters
- Artistic
- Morning pages
- Journal prompts
- Scrapbooking
The purpose of using a journal
Many people use journaling on a day-to-day basis to relieve stress, set and track goals, develop healthier lifestyle habits, and record memories.
Professionals often recommend journaling exercises to support those struggling with mental health.
It’s a different way to process how we think, manage, and collect our thoughts in written, drawn, or typed formats.
The journaling practice helps people to achieve goals, remain organized, decrease anxiety, boost confidence, and improve critical thinking skills.
How will you include journaling as a part of your daily routine?
Incorporate journaling into your lifestyle by following a monthly challenge to develop the habit.
Download the 31 Day Simple Living Challenge in the FREE RESOURCE LIBRARY to get started today!
I teach entrepreneurs how to simplify their life and business with less + own their time and maximize productivity towards their personal and monetary goals.
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