If you want to start journaling but don’t know how, this one’s for you. Here are five of my favourite prompts to help you reconnect with yourself when you feel a little lost.
Why Journaling Works
Journaling has been one of the best tools I’ve ever given myself. For the version of me who felt lost, who was overthinking at 2 AM, who didn’t know what I wanted yet—writing it down always helped.
Psychologist James Pennebaker’s studies found that writing about your deepest thoughts and feelings, even just a few minutes a day, measurably improves well-being and mental clarity. Research out of the University of Southampton also found that nostalgia doesn’t just feel nice—it actually works by increasing your sense of social connectedness.
But if you’ve never journaled before, staring at a blank page can feel more intimidating than clarifying. That’s where prompts come in. They are one of the best starting points there is.
5 Journaling Prompts to Try
1. What lit you up as a child, and how could you reintroduce it now?
Sometimes the thing you loved at 7 is exactly what you need at 27. It’s just buried underneath everything you’re supposed to want. If you loved singing, why not join a choir? Or even just start singing loudly again in the shower. You’d be surprised what comes up when you go back in time.
2. When was the last time you felt completely yourself, and where were you?
This one might be hard at first. The key is to not pressure yourself into an answer. If nothing comes to mind right away, take the question with you and observe yourself over the next few days or even weeks. Sometimes even just having the question in the back of your mind is enough for the answer to eventually surface.
3. What’s something you recently said yes to that you actually wanted to say no to?
This one’s for all the people-pleasers. It’s less about the yes you gave and more about noticing the pattern behind it. Ask yourself: what are you afraid would happen if you said no more often?
4. What’s a version of your life you sometimes quietly wonder about?
This prompt isn’t about picking a different life. It’s about noticing which branch you still glance at. Which path still holds a quiet curiosity for you, even if you never take it?
5. What’s something true about how you’re feeling right now that you haven’t said out loud?
Just write it down. You don’t have to show your answer to anyone. It can be as small as “I’m more tired than I’m letting on,” or as big as “I don’t think I’m happy with anything right now.” Both are the point.
The Purpose Behind These Prompts
What all of these have in common is that none of them have a right answer. They just ask you to honestly look within. And sometimes that’s the whole start of finding your way back to yourself.
