Commute Then, Reflect Now: A Journaling Exercise on Time and Terrain
Think back to your daily commute from a decade ago. It might have been a trip filled with monotony or moments of quiet reflection. Close your eyes and picture it clearly.
What mode of transport were you using? Did you catch a train, hop on a bus, or drive a car?
Perhaps you cycled or walked?
Was the journey long or short?
What stands out most in your memory—the people, the scenery, or perhaps the feelings?
Describe the little details: the hiss of the bus doors, the rumble of train tracks, or the smell of freshly brewed coffee from a commuter’s takeaway cup.
What did the weather look like on most days? Was it a typical day, drizzle, the crisp cold of winter, or the muggy air of a summer morning? Reflect on how that commute shaped your day. Did it give you time to prepare mentally for work, or was it a source of stress?
Now consider how your perception of that journey has changed. Ten years on, do you feel nostalgia for it?
Perhaps a sense of relief that it’s behind you?
Let your words transport you back to that time, exploring how it shaped not just your routine but your mindset. What lessons or insights does that journey reveal now, through the lens of time?
Use Your First-Day Anxiety to Discover Your Story
I was eleven. I wore a blazer that was too big. "Room to grow into it," Mum said. I stood at the gates of my new secondary school. Everything felt so large. The building, the older students, my shoes that hadn't been broken in yet.
Up until this point the walk to school was from my house to the end of the road. Now, I had a 20 minute walk to school, minimum, if I walked at a brisk pace. Things were going to be very different.
I remember the smell of floor polish in the corridors. My new shoes squeaked against it. I can still picture the girl who smiled at me as we walked into the classroom. Her name was Sarah, and she wore red shoes. She would become my best friend for the next four years.
Today's Journal Prompt: Write about your first day at secondary school. What can you still see clearly?
Think back to your very first day at secondary school. The mix of excitement and nerves, the smell of new books and freshly polished floors. What can you still see clearly in your mind’s eye? Was it the sight of the towering school gates? Maybe it was the sharp creases in your uniform. Or perhaps the unfamiliar faces of classmates who would later become friends—or rivals?
Reflect on a specific moment from that day that has stayed with you. Perhaps it was a teacher’s warm welcome, an embarrassing mishap, or a surprising act of kindness. How did that first day set the tone for your secondary school experience? In looking back, what would you say to your younger self, standing on the threshold of this new chapter?
Celebrate What You Do Best: A Journal Prompt to Honour Your Strengths
We are often our own worst critics and it is so easy to focus on what we think we lack or where we feel we fall short. Today we flip that script. Instead of zeroing in on what you can’t do, focus on the things you can do. Really honour your talents and qualities. They make you uniquely you.
Think about your strengths—the things you’re naturally good at or have worked hard to develop over the years. Maybe it’s being a great listener, staying calm in chaos, or making a mean mocha that brightens someone’s day. Whatever it is, it’s time to give yourself some credit. Celebrate those parts of yourself, even if they seem small.
Recognising your strengths isn’t just about boosting your confidence; it’s also about understanding how these traits shape your life. Leaning into your strengths helps you become the best version of yourself. This benefits the people and things that matter most. Your calm nature helps you soothe a friend in need. Alternatively, your creativity can inspire a solution to a tricky problem at work. Take a moment to appreciate how these qualities ripple out into your world.
In your notebook today, express gratitude for these strengths. Think about how they’ve helped you overcome challenges. Consider how they’ve made life a little sweeter. Reflecting on your strengths reminds you of your capabilities. It also offers a foundation to build upon as you take on new goals.
Journal Prompt: What are four strengths you have, and how do they show up in your life?
From Coffee to Calm: Journaling Prompts That Capture Your Morning Spark
Let's think about how we start our days. Morning rituals are fascinating. They're often so automatic we barely think about them. Yet, they set the tone for everything that follows.
My morning ritual has changed so much over the years. I used to be a dedicated tea drinker - strong breakfast tea with just a splash of milk. It was as much a part of my morning as breathing. But last year, something shifted. Now, my morning starts with a glass of cooled boiled water with a slice of lemon floating on top.
It's funny how such a small change can feel so significant. That first sip of lemon water is now my quiet moment of the day. It's a pause before the world rushes in. Sometimes I miss my morning cuppa. There's something cleansing about this new ritual. It's like I'm washing away yesterday and starting fresh.
Today's Journal prompt: What is the first thing you do each morning? How has this ritual evolved over your life?
This isn't about what you think you should do each morning. This is about what you actually do. Do you reach for your phone? Stumble to the kettle? Stand at the window for a moment?
Think about how this has changed over the years. Perhaps you used to leap out of bed but now savour those extra minutes under the duvet. Or maybe parenthood completely transformed your morning rhythm.
Writing Tip: Try writing this in real-time tomorrow morning. Keep your journal by your bed and capture those first fuzzy moments of consciousness.
My Favourite Pet
Pets are often our first experience of unconditional love. Was your first pet a dog, cat, hamster, goldfish maybe. Reflect on your relationship with your first pet or one that holds a special place in your heart.
I had to wait until my children were grown before I was able to have my first pet, a cat called Mollie. My parents, especially my dad, did not want animals in the house. I remember we somehow ended up with a duck in the back garden. Can't remember how but there it was, loud quacks and runny shit. I think my dad claiming to be the big man he was, was meant to kill it so we could eat it, but he never could and so it stayed a while.
My ex-husband didn't want a pet either and I went along with that - once that relationship was over and the kids had grown a little I decided it was a great time to get a cat. A couple of years later she ended up with my daughter and is still there.
Mollie is, as cats are, totally independent. You get cuddles only when she wants them. She appears only when hungry. The rest of the time she likes to be outside hunting.
Journal prompt: Write about a moment when your pet did something unforgettable. Was it funny, heart warming, or a little naughty?
Journal exercise:
-
Describe your first meeting with your pet.
-
Write a letter to a pet you’ve loved and lost.
-
Imagine what your pet would say to you if they could talk—what would they think of your life today?
Bourbon or Digestive? What Your Favourite Biscuit Says About Your Story
This memoir prompt takes us into dangerous territory...biscuit preferences.
Remember when someone in your office caused absolute chaos by suggesting that Jaffa Cakes were actually cakes, or that colleague who dunked their Rich Tea for so long it plopped into their tea?
A friend of mine enjoys eating his biscuits with a cold drink rather than a hot one. Who does that??
Memoir prompt: Write about your family's biscuit traditions. Was there a "posh" biscuit tin that only came out when visitors arrived? Did your mum hide the good biscuits?
What about that time someone ate the last chocolate digestive and put the empty packet back in the cupboard (you know who you are!)?
In your journal, explore your biscuit-related memories: Your first taste of a Wagon Wheel (weren't they massive back then?), that time you tried to make your own chocolate digestives, or your secret technique for eating a Bourbon cream.
What does your favourite biscuit tell you about your story? How does it add to it?
Maybe you hated biscuits or have terrible biscuit related memories. Use today's journal prompt and see what you discover.