Does your daily morning routine include journaling or are you looking at starting a journal? If the answer is yes these journal ideas on what to journal about may help you.
Coming up with journal ideas when you first start journaling is hard. I know I sat in front of my journal many times thinking ‘what shall I write today? what do I journal about?‘
If you haven’t started journaling you may want to read 5 ways to start a personal journal as this will help you decide on which kind of journal to start. If you are new to journaling but struggling with what to write in your journal, don’t stop because it does get easier. The more you write the more journaling ideas and topics you have. Also, I”m sure you know or have experienced the many benefits of journaling.
Before I share some of the easy journaling prompts for beginners, let’s cover a few benefits of journaling.

The benefits of journaling.
Mental health – journaling helps with your mental health.
Tracking – Journaling helps you keep track of your progress, helping you achieve your goals.
Healing – There is something therapeutic when you write your feelings and work through your problems.
Diary – A journal can keep track of your experiences, emotions and daily activities. I so wish I had kept a journal when I was travelling, the stories and secrets it would hold.
Ideas – A journal can store the ideas you have for your projects and for your life.
Productivity – Journaling is a great way to be organized and productive. A place to keep your daily lists and to do lists.
Bucket list – Listing all your goals and writing about them is another way to use your journal. Your journal becomes your vision list, a reminder of all the things you would like to do. You can even use pictures and create your vision board in your journal.
Personal growth – Journaling helps with personal development. Journaling can improve your communication skills, your writing skills, your creativity and your confidence.

When is the best time to journal?
Hal Elrod the author of ‘The Miracle Morning‘ talks about what he calls SAVERS of life. Things to do in the morning on waking. One of the things is journaling (scribing).
Although many people recommend journaling in the morning, the best time to journal is the time that fits in with you best.
When I first started journaling, I wrote in the morning. Now, I find I sometimes journal mid-afternoon after my work shifts.
Many people also write at night, especially if they are keeping a gratitude journal.
So, really the best time to journal is the time that suits you. One of the best ways to start journaling is to create a positive habit trigger that enables you to journal at around the same time each day. This way journaling will become part of your routine.
Is journaling right for me?
In the post 4 reasons to journal daily, I share what Oprah journals about. This article shares info about 5 celebrities who keep a journal. Just because a celebrity keeps a journal doesn’t mean its right for you. It’s right for you if it feels right for you.
With so many different types of journals like bullet, diary, gratitude, healing, productivity, the first journal you try may not be the right one. It is ok to start with one kind of journal and change it as you go. It is your journal and your choice what to write in it.
For some people, it takes time to create a journal. For me, I stay with the KISS method. I write in a lined book, a ruled journal. It is simple. I use the journal for daily writing and also to write out my daily to-dos and ideas.
Is journaling right for you? You won’t know until you try. This list prompts for journaling though can help you with ideas on what to write about.
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52 Journal prompts and ideas on what to write about in your journal.
- List the daily tasks you’d like to do today.
- Write about your dreams if you remember them.
- Track your sleep.
- Write about what you look forward to today.
- Share gratitude in your journal on waking. There are so many things to be grateful for.
Here are 21 daily things we take for granted but shouldn’t. - Talk about your feelings and how you feel about the day that you have planned.
- Listen to the sounds around you and describe them.
- What if … write the what if of your project to work through any obstacles.
- List 3 things you plan to do today for your health.
- Write down your meal plan for the day.
- If you could be anywhere right now, write down where you would be and how it would make you feel.
- Write about what your ideal day would look like.
- Note down a list of 12 things that make you smile.
- Know that game 2 truths and a lie, if you were playing that what would you share.
- Describe a moment in your life that you will never forget.
- Write a list of questions you have for your mentor.
- Create a list of
- Favourite books or books you’d like to read
- Places you’ve visited or place you’d like to visit
- Your favourite songs that you like to dance too when no one is looking
- Your long term goals and the steps that will help you get there.
- Admit some truths. The secret you’ve been keeping.
- Write out a forgiveness note. The one thing you would like forgiveness for.
- The most important day of my life is …
- The most fun I’ve ever had was …
- Just 10 things. 10 people I’d like to meet, 10 foods I’d like to try. 10 sports or fitness activities I’d like to try…
- If I was in a movie, I’d be in… and I’ll be … this is the plot…
- My favourite thing to do on a Monday is ….
- The holidays I like best are …
- This is a family tradition I love that I still do …
- This is a family tradition I will start with my family …
- If I knew I couldn’t fail I would do this …
- If I was granted three wishes this is what I’d ask for …
- My core values are …
- This is what I like about myself …
- This is how I describe myself …
- This is how my family and friends see me …
- What did I read this week that inspired me …
- What podcast did I listen to this week that inspired me … how was I inspired …
- Just three things.
I took part in a gratitude challenge once where I wrote each day just three things that I was grateful for. A journal prompt was shared and each day I wrote the 3 things down that I was grateful for relating to that prompt.
- Just three things.
- What 3 things am I grateful for at this very moment?
- What are 3 things that opened my mind or changed my perspective of the world that I am grateful for?
- Who are the 3 people I’m currently grateful to have in my life?
- What 3 things about this time of year am I grateful for?
- What are 3 things about technology that I am grateful for?
- What are 3 things about difficult times that I am grateful for?
- What are 3 things about the country I live in that I am grateful for?
- If I had a magic wand I would wish for this … What stops me from taking steps forward to change my life.
- Where do I see myself in 1 year from now …
- Where do I see myself in 5 years from now … how about 10 years from now …
- What would I tell my five year old self …
- Who do I need to forgive and why?
- What is the best advice I’ve been given to date?
- What advice would I give myself?
- What is the one thing that causes me to self sabotage?
- If I could invite 5 people for dinner living or dead who would sit around the table dining with me. Why did I choose those people?
- If my life was a story and I was writing the final chapter what would this chapter say?
Download the journal prompts list.


Angie blogs about setting goals and mastering habits as well as productivity and living abroad. She started blogging while learning the skills to start an online business. Her goal to work online came about due to wanting to see overseas family and travel around Australia. Her mission is to help others succeed with their goals. Angie often shares tips and tricks while walking the beaches or near the lake on the Central Coast NSW Australia.
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You have a list of great ideas. I love when you say journaling can help improve your confidence, writing and communication skills.
Thank you, Divine, those are just a few of the wonderful benefits of journaling. Have an awesome day and happy journaling.
I’m a therapist and recommend journaling to all of my clients and this list is fab!
Thank you, Erin, It is great to hear you suggest journaling to your clients, it certainly is a great tool for healing and personal growth.
What a great list!! Very concise and detailed 👍
Thank you, Monica.
You have such an incredible website! I just can’t seem to get enough of it! I just keep moving from one article to another.
Anyway, I can’t thank you enough for this post! I have just recently started writing Morning Pages and I struggle every morning to come up with topics to write on. But I have decided to not give up so soon because on days that I write I feel so much better and helps me tide over the balancing act of working, staying indoors with a baby, doing household chores without getting enough sleep! Thank you!
Thank you. I understand you, balancing life with children especially a baby does take so doing. My children are now young adults. Writing certainly helps with feeling better and clarity. Keep on writing.