Of all the amazing tools available to people who are beginners in the journaling space, having the right set of prompts is probably the most important one.
If you’ve ever journaled, you’ve probably had the experience of setting the scene for the perfect journaling experience: You turn off your phone notifications, light a candle, brew a cup of coffee with just the right amount of cinnamon and milk, and put on your favorite (non-distracting) music. Then … you have no idea what to actually write about.
That’s where journaling prompts come in. Not only will they save you from that head-scratching moment, but they’ll inspire you and push you to explore unexpected, important topics—especially if you’re a beginner. Here are 50 awesome journaling prompts for beginners.
Journaling prompts for beginners
- Write about what your perfect day would look like.
- Name 10 things that make you smile.
- List 3 things you’re grateful for. The more detail you go into, the better!
- Write a letter to someone you need to forgive, explaining why you forgive them.
- My favorite thing to do on a Monday is…
- My favorite thing to do on a Saturday is…
- What advice would you give to your younger self?
- Think of a problem you’re dealing with. If your best friend came to you with this exact problem, what would you tell them?
- What people or things add the most distraction to your life?
- What’s your favorite family tradition?
- What does your ideal morning look like?
- What does your ideal evening look like?
- What time would you like to go to bed and wake up every morning, and what’s stopping you. from keeping this schedule?
- Describe a moment in your life that you will never forget.
- List your three favorite hobbies, and what you love about each of them.
- What’s your favorite season? Why?
- What are your core values?
- How would you describe yourself?
- Name three things you love about this time of year.
- Create a travel bucket list.
- Think back to a trip you took that you really loved. Write down what you loved about it.
- Think back to a time in your life that was very difficult. What were some silver linings that came out of it?
- Make a list of goals, or things you want to accomplish over the course of your lifetime.
- Write about your favorite smell
- What’s your secret superpower?
- What scares you?
- What’s the biggest lie you’ve ever told? How did it make you feel?
- The most surprised I’ve ever been was…
- List three things you’d take with you if you were stranded on a desert island
- List your top five pet peeves.
- What are your three favorite TV shows of all time?
- What are your three favorite books of all time?
- What’s your favorite item of clothing?
- List the 10 people you love most in the world.
- My saddest memory is…
- Write about something you can start doing on a Sunday to make Monday feel less daunting.
- What do you feel guilty about?
- Name something you accomplished that felt impossible when you first set out to do it.
- What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
- If you had three wishes, what would they be?
- When are you at your happiest?
- Who is your best friend? What do you love about them?
- What's your favorite activity to do when you're alone?
- What's the best piece of advice you've ever received?
- What is your favorite season, and what do you love about it?
- Write down a quote that really resonates with you.
- What's your favorite creative outlet? Do you feel you spend enough time engaging with it? If not, what's stopping you?
- What's your favorite area of your home, and why?
- What does "self-care" mean to you?
- Describe your ideal vacation.
Here’s what else you should know if you’re new to journaling
Having the right prompts is one of the most important things when you’re new to journaling. But there are other tools that can elevate your experience as well:
- Finding the right journal. Check out your local bookstore, or browse online to find a journal design that really speaks to you.
- Make a journal jar. Find or buy a big jar, and write down these prompts on little pieces of paper. Place them all in the jar, and pull one out at random whenever you’re ready to journal.
- Find pens you love. The right set of pens can make a world of difference when it comes to your journaling experience. You can check out some of our favorite pen brands at Sillk + Sonder here.
- Find an undistracted chunk of time that you can dedicate to journaling. Making journaling a habit is key, so try to find a daily chunk of time that will work best for your schedule. For example, we typically think of journaling as something that should be done in the morning, but if that’s a busy, distracted time for you, move it to nighttime. When it comes to journaling, the most important thing is not when you do it … it’s that you do it all.
Journaling can be a life-changing practice, so congratulations on your decision to get started. Enjoy the ride!
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