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Starting your day off right is essential for setting yourself up for the best kind of success. Journaling can be a great way to take a few moments to slow down and focus on developing your intentions, goals, and motivations—but it’s often hard to know what to write about each morning.
That’s why I created this list of 44 simple and inspiring morning journal prompts specifically curated for self discovery; questions that will help wake up your brain and heart as you start the day. These journal prompts can help you make journaling part of your daily routine.
Best Morning Journal Prompts
- What are you grateful for today?
- What is your biggest accomplishment?
- What are your goals for the day?
- What are your plans for the week?
- What are you looking forward to in the coming month?
- What are your long-term goals?
- What did you dream about last night?
- What is your favorite memory?
- Who is someone you admire and why?
- If you could have any superpower, what would it be?
- If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would it be?
- If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be?
- If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?
- Are you a morning person or a night person?
- Do you prefer spending time alone or with others?
- Do you like adventure or prefer to stay in your comfort zone?
- 17. Are you spontaneous, or do you like to plan everything in advance?
- Are you more of a ” big picture” person, or do you like details and specifics?
- Do you prefer to live in the moment, or do you like to reflect on past experiences?
- Are you more of a visual learner or prefer to learn through hearing information?
- Do you prefer to learn by doing or watching others do it first?
- Do you like working on a team or independently?
- What are your biggest fears?
- How do you show up as your best version?
- What makes you stay in the present moment?
- Describe your dream life.
- How could you make better decisions?
- When do you compare yourself to others?
- When do you feel like you’re not good enough?
- Do a brain dump of everything on your mind.
- What kind of friend are you?
- When do you put yourself last?
- What is your favorite thing to do in your free time?
- How do you react when someone criticizes you?
- How do you react when someone compliments you?
- Do you have a favorite song, or is it too hard to choose just one?
- Do you downplay your accomplishments or successes?
- Are there any areas in your life where you don’t allow yourself to be vulnerable?
- What are your most significant life experiences to date?
- When were you most proud in the past month?
- Write a list of specific goals.
- What would it look like for you to take more risks in your life?
- What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
- How can a positive outlook foster creativity and innovation in your life and work?
What should I write in my morning journal?
Writing in a morning journal can be a great way to kickstart your day. When I make it part of my morning routine, I find I can take charge of my day. It helps to fill the page with positive thoughts you can carry throughout the day to stay motivated and productive. There are several different ways to write in your journal.
The biggest challenge is making it a priority. Journal writing can be the first thing we push off when we’re overwhelmed or stressed. But often, it’s one of the best ways to relieve stress and positively impact your mental health. If the morning doesn’t work for you, you can try journaling at the end of the day.
Start by using the above morning journal prompts, making a list of what makes you happy, describing a goal for the day, setting intentions from kindness to yourself and others, or writing down meaningful positive affirmations and mantras.
Another idea is to start doing morning pages, a practice developed by Julie Cameron and described as Morning Pages, which are three pages of longhand, stream-of-consciousness writing done first thing in the morning. Open to a blank page and write exactly what comes to mind. This is really when your inner self will shine through.
Take time to write about anything else that comes up – your worries, reflections, dreams, and ideas – you’ll be surprised at how just spending a few joyful minutes each morning can contribute to having a fantastic day! It will also give you immense mental clarity, something we could all use more of!
How do I start a morning journal?
Using morning journal prompts is a great way to set yourself up for the day and reflect on your feelings or develop new ideas. To make it something you can look forward to, try and make your journaling practice more enjoyable by incorporating activities you love.
If you don’t want to write, try drawing or coloring pictures – it can be calming and meditative. Making your journal an artistic project can also help make the experience more rewarding and increase your creative energy. Experiment with different materials like pastels, pens, pencils, or even collages.
You could also add elements of mindfulness or talk about your personal goals – anything that makes your journaling session meaningful to you. Taking 10-15 minutes to focus on self-care is a small step that can have a huge impact in the long run, so stick with it and make it work for you!
Morning Journal Exercises to Try
- Draw a self-portrait.
- List your top favorite movies or shows.
- Write down your idea of a perfect day.
- Create a floor plan of your dream house.
- List your bucket list vacations.
How should a beginner journal write?
Writing in a journal can be an incredibly fulfilling experience, especially if it becomes a daily habit. As a beginner, you can start small. Set goals such as writing at least once daily, even if it’s only one sentence. With enough time, this will help you stay consistent, and that’s the most important thing.
Set aside five to ten minutes every morning to jot down your thoughts. Treat this time like an appointment with yourself and make it a priority. Also, develop some structure for your journaling so that you always have a launching pad; maybe write down three things you’re grateful for or three accomplishments from the day before.
Like the ones above, morning journal prompts will be your most powerful tool when you first start. Daily writing prompts take the guesswork out of journaling, making it easier to stick with. Your emotional health will thank you as you navigate your negative emotions on a daily basis. Journaling can be extremely healing.
Finally, keep your journal handy at all times; having it easily accessible will make it easier to stick with the habit of writing in it consistently. With enough dedication and patience, you’ll find that writing in a journal is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself!
10 Tips for Writing a Journal
Writing in a journal can be incredibly enjoyable, rewarding, and fulfilling. It is the perfect outlet for your thoughts and feelings. As such, you should follow some essential tips to ensure that your journaling practice brings you the greatest reward.
- Find a style that suits you – creative writing, stream of consciousness, or simply listing experiences of the day – and make sure you enjoy it.
- Plan to devote time to regularly writing in your journal and make it a great habit.
- Cultivate self-compassion and openness to feel comfortable expressing yourself without judgment.
- Use prompts to get the creative juices flowing and give you ideas for what to write about.
- Accept that some days may pass with no entries – after all, everyone has off days!
- Experiment with journaling apps if pen and paper aren’t working for you.
- Don’t be afraid, to be honest: whether happy or sad – write it down!
- If morning journaling doesn’t work for your life, try journaling before bed but don’t give up on journaling altogether
- Consider incorporating meditation into your journaling routine to take it to the next level.
- Start small and take note of the gratifying effects of writing in a journal. This will help keep you consistent.
What do you write in a 5 minute journal?
Writing in a 5 minute journal every morning is a great way to start your day! Taking time out of your busy schedule to reflect on yourself and your goals and prioritize tasks can give you an energizing sense of accomplishment.
To maximize the time, keep an eye on the clock and have your page prepped before you start. Divide each page into three sections: Gratitude, Accomplishments, and Goals. You can fill these sections with answers related to that particular day or sometimes use the same solution over multiple days – whatever works best for you!
Writing should not become a chore; be creative and make it enjoyable! When all is done, could you take a few minutes to reflect on how much you’ve achieved? This simple daily task will ensure you’re feeling refreshed and motivated for whatever comes.
Give Morning Journal Prompts a Try!
Journaling every morning is a powerful way to become aware of your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and reactions. It can provide clarity and strength so you start your day in a hopeful and grounded mindset.
Journaling can help reduce anxiety, increase creativity, build a growth mindset, and make you overall feel much happier. The benefits of journaling are so vast, it’s almost too good to be true. But I promise it’s not. So, try it out and see how it resonates with you!
You may find the perfect time in your day to journal is the morning when your mind is still clear and breathing in new possibilities; however, find what works best for you and make it a regular practice. Starting the day with journaling, rather than scrolling social media is one of the best things I can do for myself. No matter what time of day you dedicate to journaling, know that it’s an incredible tool to help cultivate presence and live life at your fullest potential.
What’s your favorite time of day to journal? Share it below in the comments section!
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Taran is a self-proclaimed undomestic mom. She thrives as a stay-at-home-mom by consistently carving out time for herself and practicing realistic self-care. As a busy mom of 3, she knows that if mama ain’t happy, nobody’s happy! With a focus on how SAHMs can carve out time for themselves everyday, she teaches fellow SAHMs how they can do the same.
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