16 Prompts You Can Use in Your Journal, Right This Moment!

I'm momentarily overwhelmed by goal setting & have been noodling around a vibe check page, but that didn't make for a catchy title, so here, have a prompt!

I want to apologize for the lighting of this photo, but no overthinking allowed, I’ve been working on this post for not that long and I want to KEEP IT THAT WAY!

It’s October in my bullet journal.

Normally (all year, really), the monthly layouts go like this: a collaged cover page for the month. I title the page after that Monthly Moods; then I do my goals, all nicely broken down for the month so I can not think about them again.¹ After that it’s money tracking, sometimes tracking where I see good in a day, and then getting into some of the bullet journal meat and potatoes.

But not October! I’m feeling weird, unfocused, and semi-unable to make goals. This won’t last, but it wouldn’t come today. I feel blocked, uninspired by my annual goals, , but still wanted to get some of my thoughts down on paper — and thus, I wrote down “October Vibe Check” at the top of the page, in a light purple Tombow marker.

I’ve mentally been playing around with the idea of a “Where I Am” page at the beginning of the month as a snapshot in time. What am I watching, what am I reading, what feels important, what am I avoiding. Maybe I’ll do that for November. (Steal this idea, buddies! I’m certain it would probably serve you!) And I, like everybody else, love the weekly R.E.P.O.R.T.S popping around on social media these days. What I love about journalling is that it’s a cutie lil snapshot of a moment in time.

For today: it was a snapshot of my hopes for the month. I told myself I wouldn’t overthink it, which feels rare for these recent days, and like a very nice gift to give myself. I wrote down silly little prompts of things that have been zinging around in my brain. I truly cannot overstate to you how much getting thoughts out of my brain and onto paper is the kindest gift I can give to myself and everyone around me.

I wrote down different things as they came to me, and then thought, “Wait. This might be kind to share with others if you don’t really know where to start for setting goals or vibes for the month… or any time you feel weird, really, and need 5 minutes of reflection. Or if you really just want journal prompts, because that helps!”

So, I share with you these silly little prompts I answered for myself tonight… in eager expectation of you sharing what you would add to this list. I forsee this becoming a regular and fluid part of my monthly planning and reflection, and I’m pumped. Even now, I’m thinking about sharing three meals I want to make in the month! There’s richness here!

1. A book I want to pick up: Beartown

2. A rhythm I want to maintain: Watching Survivor with Katherine on our lunch breaks

3. A rhythm I want to re-start: Writing a page every day

4. A rhythm I want to experiment with: What happens to my energy, overall outlook, and life if I do not have coffee first thing in the morning?

5. Three things I want to enjoy: Sending work Christmas projects to print, having our gym set up be something truly out of my dreams, all the plans we have with family and friends this month

6. Three ways I want to move my body: walks, Peloton, yoga

7. Playlists / music I want to listen to: Nostalgic Fall, golden, and Noah Kahan on endless repeat.

8. Three things I want to do less of: Hyperfixating on the show I’m watching (shout out to my Grey’s Anatomy re-watch), not sleeping through the night, meetings

9. Three things I want to do more of: During the day walks with Pippin, staying at home, an evening tea time

10. Something I want to do with Dave²: Go for a fall walk in a different neighbourhood.

11. Three life admin things that would be good to do: Measure the plates, paint the closets, go through the bookshelves

12. A few items high up on my wishlist: A couple of pairs of boots; a perfect sweater vest

13. A person I want to celebrate / connect with well: For legal reasons, I cannot answer this question.

14. One challenge to take on: At some point in here, a 21 day break from social media.³

15. A vibe to chase down: Reducing so much of my very real, very present decision fatigue.

16. A question I’m asking: Why is breakfast truly so hard for me?

Okay, what are you adding? Are there questions you ask yourself at the beginning of every month? (Or at the end of every month?) TRULY I AM ALL EARS.

1. Most of the time, the goals get done but I am a visual person who has to see everything everywhere, pls and thanks.

2. Or that you want to do with a buddy, partner, etc. of your own. Unless you really want to do something with Dave, I know there’s a couple of you who would like to do something with him.

3. AH I KNOW BUT THIS IS A VIBE CHECK, NOT GOAL SETTING YET, SO DO NOT PERCEIVE ME YET, PLS AND THX.