I started journaling when I began traveling more, beginning with the first time I studied abroad in Spain for a month the summer after my first year of college. When I returned, I tucked away my travel journal and didn't pick it up again until I went to Greece the following summer. I wrote about my experiences every couple days for the two weeks that I was there. When I got home, my journal was tucked away again, collecting dust until I set off to study abroad in Spain again - this time for an entire semester.
This was one of the best experiences of my life, and I journaled RELIGIOUSLY recounting every thing I did pretty much every single day. While I was in Spain, I was offered an internship in Peru for that summer. I chose to take the internship, and ended up spending about seven months abroad in total - again, the best months of my life. The lifestyle I led in Peru was dramatically different than how I had lived in Spain. I went from discotecas and bouncing around to new countries every weekend, to spending most of my days practicing yoga, hiking, and reading when I wasn't working. I had gotten in the habit of recording literally everything I did which I continued to do while I was in Peru, but I kind of wanted more. This was a super introspective period of my life (during which I truly believe I experienced a lot of personal growth), and I began doing a lot of journaling exercises for self awareness, growth, meditation, etc. I think that these really helped me to pinpoint my values, goals, and generally become more confident as I became more self aware.
I continued journaling when I went back to school, but it was generally just a little life update every few weeks or so- which I still think is interesting to go back and read. Last March, when everything shut down for Covid, I moved to Hilton Head to be with my family, because I was feeling trapped in my apartment in Charlottesville, and was not in a great state emotionally. I picked up my journal again, with a whole new purpose. I knew I made the right choice coming to Hilton Head because I could enjoy a lot more time outside, and felt more stable being with my family (and I was so lucky that this was an option for me), but being 22 and having all my plans disappear AND having to move back in with my parents when I was ready to graduate and establish my independence was really hard. Journaling became an outlet for me and for my feelings, and it really helped me to feel better.
Journaling can have a lot of different purposes - introspection, a way to release feelings, a way to remember, or just a way to practice writing. Right now, I write in my journal every week or so (maybe more often, depending whats going on in my life) just to give a little life update, or express whatever I'm feeling. Whatever your intentions are with journaling, here are some fun and some deep prompts to get you started:
Fun Prompts:
What's the most outrageous thing you have ever done?
If you could meet a fictional character, who and why?
If you could be in a book or movie, which one would it be?
When you were a child, what were your dreams? What did you want to be when you grew up?
If you could be an expert/ professional in some field/ activity, what would it be?
Describe your perfect day.
What are you interested in learning more about?
Make some lists - favorite songs, movies, books, places, foods, whatever you want!
What color do you associate with yourself? What about with other people? Is there a reason for this? If you're interested, check out chakra theory and how the vibrations of certain colors resonate with certain chakras! Can you see this in the colors that you saw in others?
Describe your style!
What is the most useless utensil, a fork, knife or spoon? Why?
What do you think is your spirit animal?
What is your zodiac sign? Write about some of the characteristics. Do you think it accurately describes you?
Take a personality test like the enneagram or Myers-Brigg. Do you think that this is a good representation of yourself?
Would you want to live forever? Why or why not? If yes, what would you do with your infinite time?
Self Reflection:
When was a time in my life that I was happiest? Why did I feel this way?
Is there something that I still feel guilty about doing? Is there some kind of anger or grudge that I'm still holding toward someone else?
What is the dominant emotion in my life recently?
What would you do if money was no object?
What would you do if you could not fail?
What are your best traits? What do you like about yourself?
What always brings tears to your eyes?
What inspires you? Make a list or describe one thing in detail.
What do you believe in?
What are three things that made you smile today?
What is your relationship with your phone, technology, and social media?
Science says that we are most influenced by the five people we spend the most time with. Who are these people in your life, and are they people who you think influence you positively?
How do you want to be remembered?
What are your three greatest accomplishments and what do they mean to you? Why do you feel that these things are your greatest accomplishments?
When was the last time I performed a random act of kindness?
Self improvement:
What has been stressing me out lately? Is there a way I can lessen or eliminate this stress to be happier?
Do I have healthy habits? Is there some kind of habit I can incorporate into my routine to feel better?
How do I deal with anger? Is there a way I can improve this?
Do I have a morning routine? What does it look like?
How often do you indulge yourself? Is this something you should be doing more?
How have you supported a friend recently? Can you do the same for yourself?
How can you love yourself more daily?
At what part of the day do you feel the most energized and alive? How can you plan your day to maximize this time?
Choose a mantra for your life that you can return to in times of stress or when you need motivation. Why is this your mantra? Is it something you are trying to achieve or something that can bring you comfort?
Get you thinking:
Do you believe in soul mates? Why or why not?
What do you think unconditional love looks like?
If all people had this one characteristic, the world would be happier. What do you think that characteristic is?
Do you think most people live to work or work to live?
Do you think most people just exist in their comfort zones? Why?
How much do you think people are formed by their genetics and how much by their surroundings?
What is success?
Has the world become too reliant on technology? Is there a way to reverse or change this?
Is there a difference between happiness and fulfillment?
What is something that doesn't make sense?
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