Journal Prompt Practice

Journaling is incredibly therapeutic for me, as it is for many others. I usually don’t journal every day about what I did or how I felt on that specific day; instead, I have a different journaling philosophy. Each morning, I take 30 minutes to ask myself a question. I believe in the importance of self-reflection—looking back at the past, understanding how it made me feel, and recognizing what has changed since then. It is important to reflect in order to move past experiences and handle things differently in the future.

Here’s my journal prompt routine: I start with my morning tea, either ginger, spearmint, or green tea. I use a specific journal just for writing my prompts and make sure to have two different colored pens—one color for the question and another for my response. I always date each journal entry. I often turn to Pinterest for question inspiration. Examples of questions I choose are: What have I outgrown this year? What makes me happiest? , and What is standing between me and my goals, and how can I fix that?

I don’t journal traditionally because emotions can come and go in an instant. I prefer to reflect and let my emotions simmer down before truly considering why I felt or acted a certain way; this helps me sort through my feelings. Daily questions help in understanding my emotions and how they come to play in our daily life. The benefits of this practice for mental health include releasing emotions, tracking progress, and cultivating self-compassion.

I encourage you to try this practice of journaling at any time of day and see how you feel afterward. It’s important to set aside time for yourself and focus on your own self-discovery. Please share your own questions as well!