How to write a diary about myself

How to write a diary about myself in 6 steps

1. Pick a private place to writeYou will only be honest if you feel safe. Use a notebook you can keep somewhere private, or a private online diary like the one on this page.
2. Write the date and how you feel in one wordTired. Hopeful. Annoyed. Calm. One word is a quick check in and helps you see patterns when you read back.
3. Write about one moment from todayNot the whole day. Pick the moment that stuck with you. What happened, who was there, what was said.
4. Ask yourself whyWhy did that moment matter? Why did it make you feel that way? This is where you start learning about yourself.
5. Notice what you needRest, a talk with a friend, some time alone, a plan, a treat. Write it down.
6. Close kindlyEnd with something you did well today, or something you are looking forward to. Write to yourself like you would to a good friend.

How to write a diary about your day

Writing about your day is the easiest way to start writing about yourself, because the day gives you the story. The trick is to add you to it: not only what happened, but what you thought and did.

How to write a diary about your feelings

Feelings can be hard to put into words. These simple moves help:

• Name it. Use a specific word. Not just bad, but lonely, embarrassed, disappointed or overwhelmed.
• Find it in your body. Tight chest, heavy shoulders, a lump in your throat. Writing where you feel it helps you notice it sooner next time.
• Find the trigger. What happened just before you felt this way?
• Let it be messy. Write in fragments if you want. A diary is not an essay.
• Ask what it is telling you. Anger can mean something felt unfair. Sadness can mean you miss something that mattered.

If you want to track feelings over time, a mood journal can help you spot patterns.

Prompts to write about yourself

Press Write to open any prompt in the diary at the top.

Who you are right now

1. Describe yourself in five words, then explain each one.Write
2. What do people usually get wrong about you?Write
3. What are you proud of that nobody else knows about?Write
4. What does a really good day look like for you?Write
5. What is something you used to believe about yourself that is no longer true?Write
6. Which three people know you best, and what would each say about you?Write
7. What are you curious about lately?Write
8. What part of your personality comes from your family?Write
9. Describe a place where you can fully relax and be yourself.Write
10. What do you do when you are avoiding something?Write

Your feelings

1. What emotion have you felt most this week, and where did it come from?Write
2. What is weighing on you right now? Write all of it, then circle the part you can do something about.Write
3. When did you last cry, and what was it really about?Write
4. What makes you angry faster than anything else?Write
5. What scares you about the next year?Write
6. What helps you calm down when you are upset?Write
7. What feeling do you hide from other people?Write
8. Write about a time you felt completely safe.Write
9. What would you say to a friend who felt the way you feel now?Write
10. What is one thing you need to forgive yourself for?Write

Your past

1. What is a memory that shaped who you are?Write
2. What did you love doing as a child that you have stopped doing?Write
3. Who was your hero when you were ten?Write
4. What is the hardest thing you have been through, and what did it teach you?Write
5. What is a decision you are glad you made?Write
6. Write a letter to yourself at age eight.Write
7. What advice would you give yourself one year ago?Write
8. What moment are you most grateful for?Write
9. Which place from your past would you visit again for one hour?Write
10. What has changed most about you in the last five years?Write

Your future

1. What do you want more of in your life? Less of?Write
2. Describe your life five years from now on an ordinary Tuesday.Write
3. What is one small habit that would make next month better?Write
4. What are you putting off, and what is the first tiny step?Write
5. What would you try if you knew nobody would judge you?Write
6. What kind of friend, sibling or partner do you want to be?Write
7. What would a good, successful year look like for you?Write
8. What do you want to learn this year?Write
9. Write a letter to yourself to open in one year.Write
10. What do you hope never changes about you?Write

For even more questions like these, see our journal prompts for self discovery.

Tips for honest writing about yourself

• Write as if no one will ever read it. Then make sure no one can. Keep the diary private.
• Do not edit while you write. Get the thoughts out first. Spelling does not matter.
• Be fair to yourself. Write about mistakes, but also write about what you did well.
• Notice repeats. If the same worry shows up every week, that is worth paying attention to.
• Read back once a month. You will see how you have grown, and what still needs care.
• Keep it short on hard days. One line like "Today was hard and I got through it" is enough.

New to diaries? Start with how to write a diary, browse diary ideas, or read real diary entry examples to see what others write.

Questions people ask