Daily Journaling Prompts | January 2022
Journaling is a powerful self-help tool that is gaining popularity, especially over the past couple of years, but I hear from so many of you that you don’t like to write.
If it’s the physical act of writing that you don’t like, my first question to you would be, have you tried digital journaling?
Sometimes the need to have perfect handwriting and make everything look just right can take over your process. Typing your journal in a Word or Pages doc would help alleviate all of those problems so you can just focus on your journal entry.
Create a folder on your computer just for your journaling documents. It’s totally up to you how you organize the files. You can have separate docs for the different journals you’d like to keep like a gratitude journal, personal journal, family journal, sentence a day journal, business journal, etc.
So how can you journal if you hate writing but still want to journal?
There are quite a few ways that you approach this…
Speak It
While writing using a pen and paper is probably the most powerful method of journaling you can also use dictation software. You will need the software and a computer with a microphone to use this method.
I think the best approach is to speak to the computer and imagine you’re talking to a friend or just yourself. The software will 'write' what you say and you can save the document so that you can review it later.
You may decide to keep your journal electronically in which case you can review it and add in later thoughts and feelings by typing or dictating. I suggest saving the documents by date so they’re easier to organize and sort.
You can also print it out and keep it in a binder. This way you will have the opportunity to embellish it or make additional notes on the hard copy.
Draw Pictures
From simple to elaborate, any kind of picture that expresses your emotions and situation will help. After you've drawn the picture you can label and annotate it.
Leave a blank page opposite your drawing then you can come back and review it at a later date and jot down any additional thoughts, emotions, and responses. Quite often this simple method will actually get you writing quickly.
Why not try using different types of pen or pencil to make your journaling more interesting and exciting?
Create a Collage
Get some magazines or newspapers and cut out words, phrases, paragraphs or even articles that relate to your situation or emotions at that particular point. Add in pictures that you find that could demonstrate how you are feeling or want to feel.
Again you can annotate it to make it truly personal. Leave a blank page so that you can revisit and review at a later time and add in additional journaling.
Be Flexible
Journaling does not have to be done every day for a set period of time if that’s not your thing. Many people journal every day for 20 minutes as that is the method that suits them best. However, it may be that once a week is enough for you and that’s perfectly fine. There’s no right or wrong here.
Alternatively, you may decide that you will journal when you feel you need it.
Some days it may be that you use a prompt or picture to kick-start your writing. Other days you may find that the words flow and you can write without stopping.
Use Prompts
Using a simple prompt such as a word or question can help break the blank page syndrome and inspire you to unburden yourself onto the empty page in front of you.
It's important that you don't feel that you have to write a lot or even in full sentences. The journal and act of journaling has to relate to your needs at that moment in time and this will vary day to day.
Here are this month’s daily journaling prompts and they’re just what you need to jumpstart your thinking process as you journal!
Choose ONE prompt each day and dedicate 5-10 minutes to writing your answer. If your time runs longer because you have a lot to write, it’s okay. Keep writing!
Be as creative as you like here…the sky’s the limit!
DAILY Journaling Prompts - JANUARY 2022
What do you want to do this month? Write your goals for the month, and think about what you need to do to accomplish them.
What are you excited about in the coming month?
What is something you want to achieve this year?
Start a bucket list… or add to it if you already have one. Grab this freebie to help you get started.
What is a behavior that is holding you back? How can you change it?
Do you think you are a positive or a negative person?
What negative mindsets do you need to let go of this year?
Name three bad habits you’d like to break this year.
What are 5 ways you can get out of your comfort zone this month/year?
What is your favorite self-care activity? Do you practice self-care enough? How can you add more of it to your day/week?
List 5 ways you can add more happiness and joy to your daily life.
Write 5 affirmations for when you’re stressed or in a bad mood.
What made you smile today?
List 30 things that make you smile.
Mid-Month Review: We’ve been focusing on your annual goals, but how are your goals for this month coming along? What can you accomplish in the remainder of the month?
Are your current routines getting you closer to your goals? If not, what do you need to change?
What do you appreciate most about your life right now and why?
Name the three biggest priorities in life right now.
What are 5 childhood memories that you’re grateful for?
List the 10 best moments in your life.
What is your theme song and why?
Who inspires you the most and why?
Think of someone you love; write about that person and why they mean so much to you.
Write about lost friendships.
Write about a turning point in your life; how would life be different if you made different decisions?
What has been your best trip so far in life? Why is it the best?
List 10 places you would love to visit.
If money was no object, where would you live? How would you spend your time?
When you think about the future, what excites you the most?
Month in Review: What lessons did you learn this month?
Month in Review: How did this month go? Which goals did you complete? What do you still need to work on?
BONUS PROMPT: What is your 5-year goal? What actions can you take this month/year to start working towards that goal?
Download the Prompts and take them with you…
JOURNALING SUPPLIES I RECOMMEND
Even though you only need a pen and paper, here are some of my favorite journaling supplies if you want to check them out:
I like to use a few different notebooks for journaling but my favorite is this Leuchtturm1917 Softcover. I prefer the squared pages but you can also get the dot grid, lined, or blank formats.
If you would rather use a spiral binding, these notebooks are the best! I love that they come in a three-pack so I always have an extra one on hand. These are also a squared format but I think they are available in lined and dot-grid too.
To be honest, my go-to pen is a simple, classic black Bic but when I want something a little fancier I use either use these Muji Gel Pens or these Micron Sakura Pigma.
Get creative with your journaling and add some Washi Tape, Stickers, or if you’re artistic you can draw your own doodles.
Sometimes I like to add photos to my journaling and over the years I’ve tried a bunch of different printers. I started out using this Fujifilm Instax Mini but it wasn’t very practical to carry around all the time. Since the quality was so much better when I use my phone for pictures I decided to splurge on the Canon Ivy Mini Printer. It connects directly to my phone through the app and easily prints on 2x3 sticker photo paper that I can add right to my journal page instantly.
I hope today’s post inspires you to pick up your journal and start writing! Here are a few Everyday Journaling Prompts to get you started.
The new daily journaling prompts for February come out on the last Monday of the month. Look for them on January 31st.
Here are some of the previous monthly prompts if you want to check them out:
I’m so happy you stopped by today! Thanks, ❤️
BEFORE YOU GO:
Here are a few more journaling posts you might like:
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