12 Meaningful Things To Write In A Journal

This post is all about journal ideas that will help you fill those empty pages with good meaning and intention.

Since the beginning of this year, I have been in a major journaling slump. I went days and days, and then months and months without writing anything in my diary.

This sucked, because journaling for me is a strong coping mechanism and a cozy ritual that connects me to my truest self.

When I am not maintaining a journal, I feel lost, heavy, and confused.

So, in order to shake things up a little, I decided to change my writing style a little and create new types of entries that I’ve never tried before.

And lo and behold, it actually worked!

I’ve been writing in my journal for about two weeks now, and it feels so good I could cry.

To quote Anne Frank:

I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.

What you write in your journal does matter, but there is no such thing as a wrong form of writing.

In this post, you’ll find 12 meaningful, creative, and fun things to write in a journal and fill up those blank pages that are waiting for you and your many thoughts.

But first, pin this post to save it for future reading!

If you’re ready to make journaling more interesting for yourself, then read on.

12 Things You Can Write In Your Journal

1. Morning Thoughts

I don’t think there’s any wrong time of day to journal, but if I had to pick the ‘best’ time, it would be morning.

During the fresh hours of the morning, your mind isn’t muddied by your routine yet, and positivity flows easily onto the papers.

So, if you’re someone who likes to prioritize morning self-care (which you should), then write some morning pages in your journal.

Start your morning entry by writing down everything your senses are feeling at the moment — what you can see, what you are hearing, and what your mood for today feels like.

You can then write about your dreams from the night before, things you’re looking forward to during the day, and things you’re worried about (and how you want to approach them).

If you can, write before you touch your phone or dive into work. That way, the words will be pure ‘you’, not yet mixed with the noise of the world.

2. Daily, Monthly, and Yearly Goals

Your journal is perhaps the best way to set intentions, track your progress, hold yourself accountable, and dream as big as you want to.

Whenever you’re writing a morning entry, you can also quickly write down your goals for the day (like workout).

At the start of the month, you can write your monthly goals and check back at the end of the month to see how you did.

It can include things like getting a haircut, losing X pounds, and drinking 8 glasses of water every day.

And of course, yearly goals are perfect to improve your life long-term.

You can add things like traveling, getting in shape, and growing a side business. Writing down these major goals will inspire you to achieve them before the year ends.

If you want to try this idea right now, do this: Write one thing you’d like to accomplish today, three for the month, and a big-picture goal for the year.

The best part is that you can go back and see how your goals have evolved. Some will have been completed, others will shift into new priorities, and that’s okay!

It’s a sign that you’re growing, which is what life is ultimately about.

3. Letters To Your Future Self

Have you ever written to a version of yourself you haven’t met yet? I’ve done it a few times, and it’s been a very joyful and surreal experience.

Pick a future timeline, like a year from now or maybe five years from now, and then write to your future self.

You can share what’s happening in your life right now, your hopes, your fears, and things you’d like to remind yourself of in the future.

Then, schedule a mail to yourself exactly X years later on the same date, and tell yourself to go back and read the letter.

When you actually get around to reading the old letter, it will be heartwarming, emotional, and remind you of how far you’ve come in life.

4. Letters To Your Past Self

Writing letters to your future self is fun and creative in a way, but I think letters to your past self are more important, and we need to talk about these more.

It can be deeply healing to write to a version of yourself in the past.

Your inner child feels heard, you close wounds you didn’t even realize you were harbouring, and you let go of anything weighing you down.

So often, we forget all the hardships we’ve endured to get where we are today. Writing to your past self is a great way to celebrate your past achievements and acknowledge your small and big efforts.

If the idea intrigues you, then pick a version of yourself from a specific year or moment and write to them in your journal with the wisdom and compassion you have now.

You can thank them for their resilience, reassure them about things that seemed impossible at the time, and tell them how proud you are of them.

This will help you forgive and love yourself more fully, which is a beautiful feeling, trust me, and will really help you move forward with a lighter heart.

5. Gratitude Lists

Even those who don’t keep a journal might be aware of the practice of making gratitude lists. If done right, it can be really life-changing.

In fact, I know some people who start keeping a journal just to write down the things they’re grateful for every day.

It is simple, but very powerful in reframing your mind.

In your journal, write three, five, or two things you’re thankful for. They can be big or small, because gratitude applies to every little and huge thing.

For example, today I am grateful for:

A good mug of healthy tea
YouTube workouts (what would I ever do without them)
Rainy days and how cozy they make me feel
My pet’s improving health (he was unwell for some time)
My new bedsheet

Even on bad days, there’s something to be grateful for, and putting it in writing makes it real and believable.

When you write gratitude lists in your journal, it changes you in the moment. The more you practice this, the more you change, and the more you love your life.

6. End-Of-Day Reflection

Instead of scrolling before bed, you can end your day by writing a short reflection in your journal. You can answer questions like:

What went well today?
What didn’t go so well?
What’s something you learned?

You don’t have to journal every night, but do it when you are in the mood and your mind needs to vent. It’s a gentle way to process your day and go to sleep with a clear head.

Over time, bedtime journaling will also help you notice patterns in your daily habits, mood, and priorities. You can use it to make necessary changes.

You can also use these bedtime journal prompts if you don’t know what to write about or just want to make things more fun.

I use prompts from time to time, and they make my journal more lively.

7. Manifestation Entries

I am going to be very honest with you. I don’t know much about manifestation, but I do know about self-belief, and I do my best to use it to make my dreams come true.

Before I started this blog, I would write entries in my journal dedicated just to my dream of being a blogger, and I’d write as if I were already successful.

I guess you can call it a manifestation entry?

When making a journal entry on a big goal, write as if what you want has already happened. Instead of writing ‘I want a new job’, write something like ‘I am so grateful for my new job. It challenges and inspires me.’

And if this seems too far-fetched an idea for you, write it like ‘I am going to get this joy and I am going to slay it.’

Manifestation journaling is all about training your brain to believe your dreams are possible. You’re not just wishing, but you’re rehearsing the reality you want to step into.

So, do it whatever way works for you, but believe what you’re writing, and victory shall be yours, even if it takes some time.

8. Affirmations

Some days, you just need words that remind you of your strength in your own words. On such days, just pen down some affirmations in your journal.

Here are some of my favorite ones:

I am capable of figuring things out.
I am worthy of the life I dream of.
I release what I cannot control.

I sometimes just pick up one simple affirmation and write it over and over again in different colors until the page is full, and until I’ve absorbed the truth fully and wholly.

See: 101 Beautiful Affirmations For Self-Love And Healing

9. Quotes

Search for quotes online for whatever state you’re in and write a few down. It feels really good.

You can also collect quotes from books, movies, or conversations that strike you in the heart.

Write these quotes down in your journal in a separate section as soon as you find them. Maybe decorate the page, and let the section be your go-to when you need a little mood boost.

Quotes are also fun to write when you’re just bored or have nothing else to write in your journal.

Over time, this section of your journal will be like a personal library of encouragement you can flip to whenever you’re feeling low or stuck.

10. Memories You Want To Remember (With Pictures)

Whenever you experience something powerful and beautiful that you’d like to remember, then write it down asap. Don’t just rely on your phone’s gallery for this.

You remember memories strongly if you relive them by writing them down immediately.

Take your journal on vacations, weekend trips, and cozy cafe outings. Sit down somewhere quiet and write about what you see, smell, hear, and feel.

Capture the little moments in your journal, the ones you think you’ll never forget but often do.

When you get home, print out the photos and add them to your entry. You’ll have a memory you can revisit in full detail, words and images together.

11. Journal Entries From Your Friends

This is something a friend of mine did back in school. She kept a journal with an entire section left blank for her close friends to write an entry about her.

She said she wanted to look back on it whenever she felt low, as a reminder of all the love in her life.

What a beautiful thought, and what a great idea to try in your own journal.

Start with your closest friend; ask them to write an entry in your journal.

I know your journal is a very private thing, and you might not want to let yourself in, but it does us good to be vulnerable sometimes.

You could have several people add their pages over the years. Think how nice it would be to look back on these entries a decade later.

It’ll be a time capsule of your friendships. Something to cherish and look back on with fondness.

12. Bucket Lists

What are the once-in-a-lifetime things you want to do? Do you want to travel to Japan, learn to play the piano, or run a challenging marathon?

Well, the concept of bucket lists exists so that you can fulfill all those desires, and a journal is the perfect place to write them down.

Creating bucket lists in your journal makes them feel more real and gives you a place to check things off when you’ve done them.

Make bucket lists whenever a new season begins (spring, summer, fall, and winter).

Make a bucket list for the new year, and even a new month (even if it has just three activities listed).

You can also make a bucket list for special days like your birthday!

That feeling of checking every single task off is very satisfying and pure joy.

Steal some ideas from: 30 Bucket List Ideas For Women

What Are You Going To Write In Your Journal Next?

If you’ve been stuck in a journaling slump like I was, or just want to try something new in your journal, then you’ll love exploring these 12 meaningful ideas.

They’ll make you fall in love with your journal and with the person you are when you write.

So, try on, and do let me know in the comment box which ideas call out the most to you.

And if there’s something I missed here, then be a good soul and let me know what other ways one can write in their journal.

Have fun in your next journaling session!