I wanted to end the year by providing journal prompts that will make you think about your year - 2024.
Most of us would rather spend more time watching other people live their lives on social media. We do this instead of reflecting on our own lives. We scroll past hundreds of opinions every day but rarely stop to figure out what we actually think about things.
This is where journaling comes in. Not the "dear diary, today I ate a sandwich" kind, but proper, brain-clearing, perspective-shifting writing.
Think of it as Marie Kondo-ing your mind, except you don't have to thank your thoughts before letting them go.
Before we dive into the prompts, let's talk about why regular journal writing is worth your time. Research shows it can reduce stress, improve memory, and boost problem-solving skills. It's like having a therapy session with yourself, minus the awkward small talk and eye-watering bill at the end.
In our world of constant notifications and endless distractions, taking time to sit with your thoughts is becoming a proper superpower. It means not letting your brain be a browser with 47 tabs open. Instead, it involves actually closing some of those mental windows.
Here are 10 journal prompts designed to get you thinking about the past year in ways that actually matter:
"What did I do this year that surprised myself?" Write about the moments you exceeded your own expectations or stepped out of your comfort zone. Maybe you finally learned to cook something other than pasta. Or you spoke up in that meeting when everyone else stayed quiet.
"Which problem did I solve in an unexpected way?" Sometimes our best solutions come from thinking outside the box. Reflect on your creative problem-solving moments, even if they seemed silly at the time.
"What's the best mistake I made this year?" Not all mistakes are disasters. Sometimes they lead to better opportunities or important lessons. Write about one that actually did you a favour in the end.
"Which opinion of mine changed this year, and why?" It's healthy to evolve our thinking. Explore how your perspective shifted on something important to you.
"What's the most useful thing I learned from someone unexpected?" Sometimes wisdom comes from surprising sources. It could be your neighbour's kid. It might come from the barista at your local coffee shop. It can even come from that colleague you usually avoid.
"Which habit did I break or make this year?" Document how you did it - future you might need this information later.
"What do I want less of next year?" Sometimes knowing what you don't want is clearer than knowing what you do want. Start there.
"Which relationship changed the most this year, and how?" Relationships evolve, and that's normal. Write about how one of yours shifted.
"What did I achieve that isn't on my CV?" Some of our proudest moments aren't professional ones. Maybe you finally learned to parallel park. Or perhaps you managed to keep a plant alive for more than a month.
"What's the story I've been telling myself this year that needs to change?" We all have narratives running in our heads about who we are and what we're capable of. Which one of yours needs updating?
The trick with these journal prompts isn't to write perfect prose - it's to be brutally honest with yourself. No one else needs to read this. You're not writing for likes or shares. You're writing to understand yourself better.
Try to make journaling a regular habit. Do it first thing in the morning while your coffee's brewing. Or try it last thing at night when you're trying to avoid doom-scrolling in bed. Even five minutes of focused reflection can help clear your mind and give you better perspective.
Think of it as creating a user manual for your brain. Future you will thank you for documenting how you navigate life's challenges, celebrations, and changes. Plus, it's a lot cheaper than therapy and you can do it in your pyjamas.
Remember - the goal isn't to write something profound every time. Sometimes you'll write absolute rubbish, and that's fine.
The act of showing up and reflecting regularly is what matters. Your brain is like a muscle. Writing in a journal or notebook is like taking it to the gym. You don't have to wear lycra or pretend you know how to use complicated equipment.
