Journal prompts for the new year

How to use these new year journal prompts

You do not need to answer all of them. Most people do best with a short plan: three or four prompts on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, then one a day for the first week of January. Write quickly and honestly. Nobody else will read it. Your pages save in this browser on this device, so you can come back to them all year in the online diary.

1. Look back firstStart with the first two groups. It is easier to plan once you know what last year taught you.
2. Pick a word or three goalsChoose one word for the year, or no more than three goals. Fewer goals are easier to keep.
3. Write one first stepFor each goal, write a step small enough to do this week. Put a day next to it.
4. Read it again in a monthCome back in early February and reread your page. Then keep going with our February journal prompts.

Journal prompts for looking back on last year

1. What are three moments from last year you would happily live again, and what made each one good?Write
2. Which month of last year was the hardest, and what got you through it?Write
3. Name one thing you did last year that you were scared to do. How did it turn out?Write
4. Who showed up for you last year in a way you did not expect?Write
5. What is one belief you held a year ago that you no longer hold?Write
6. List the places you went last year, even small ones like a new coffee shop or a friend's new home.Write
7. What did you spend too much time on last year, and what did you not spend enough time on?Write
8. Which photo on your phone from last year best sums up the year? Describe it.Write
9. What problem did you solve last year that you are quietly proud of?Write
10. What did you learn about money last year?Write
11. Write about a conversation from last year that changed how you saw something.Write
12. If last year were a chapter in a book, what would the chapter title be?Write

Letting go before the new year begins

It is hard to start fresh while you are still holding last year's weight. These prompts help you put some of it down.

1. What grudge are you still carrying from last year? What would it take to set it down?Write
2. Write a short goodbye note to a habit you are ready to leave behind.Write
3. Which unfinished project from last year can you honestly let go of without guilt?Write
4. What did you keep saying yes to last year that you want to say no to now?Write
5. Forgive yourself for one thing from last year. Write it down, then write: I forgive myself.Write
6. What story about yourself are you tired of telling?Write
7. List five things in your home you could give away or throw out this week.Write
8. Which worry from last year never came true? What does that tell you?Write
9. Is there someone you need to thank or apologize to before the year gets busy?Write
10. Write down everything that is cluttering your mind right now. Then circle only what you can act on.Write

New Year's Eve journal prompts

Write these on December 31, before or after the countdown. If you want a full month of year end writing, see our December journal prompts.

1. Where are you tonight, who is with you, and what can you hear right now?Write
2. What is the best thing you ate this year? Describe it so you can almost taste it.Write
3. Write down the funniest moment of the year before you forget it.Write
4. What do you want to be doing at midnight next New Year's Eve?Write
5. Give out your own awards for the year: best song, best book, best show, best day.Write
6. What is one small win from this past week that nobody else noticed?Write
7. Write a toast you would give to the people who made your year better.Write
8. How do you feel about the year ending: relieved, sad, excited, or something else? Explain.Write
9. What is one New Year's Eve from your past you still remember clearly? Why that one?Write
10. Write three things you want to bring with you into the new year.Write

Choose a word for the new year

A word of the year is one word that sums up how you want the year to feel, like steady, brave or home. It is easier to remember than a list of resolutions.

1. Write down ten words that describe how you want this year to feel. Circle the one that pulls at you most.Write
2. What would change in an ordinary Tuesday if you lived by your word?Write
3. Where could you put your word so you see it every day?Write
4. What might get in the way of living your word this year?Write
5. Think of a person who already lives your word well. What do they do differently?Write
6. Is your word about doing more, or doing less? Why does that feel right?Write
7. Write your word in the middle of the page and fill the space around it with what it means to you.Write
8. How will you know in December that you lived your word?Write

New year goals and resolutions prompts

1. If this year goes really well, what is different by December? Describe it in detail.Write
2. What are the three goals that matter most to you this year? Why these three?Write
3. Pick one goal and break it into steps you could finish in the first 30 days.Write
4. What resolution have you made before that did not stick? What would you do differently?Write
5. Which goal are you setting because you want it, and which because you think you should?Write
6. What will you do the first time you miss a day or slip up on a goal?Write
7. Who could help you with your biggest goal, and how will you ask them?Write
8. Write about a goal you are afraid to say out loud.Write
9. What is one skill you want to learn this year, and what is the first lesson?Write
10. How do you want to grow at work or school this year?Write
11. What is one relationship you want to put more time into this year?Write
12. Plan a reward for reaching your first goal. Make it something you will look forward to.Write

Habits, health and home for the year ahead

1. Describe a normal morning you would love to have by spring.Write
2. What is one tiny habit you could start tomorrow that takes less than two minutes?Write
3. How much sleep did you get most nights last year? How do you want to feel when you wake up?Write
4. What kind of movement do you actually enjoy, not just put up with?Write
5. Which room in your home do you want to make more peaceful this year, and how?Write
6. What do you want your phone and screen time to look like this year?Write
7. What is one meal you want to learn to cook well?Write
8. Write a short list of rules for your weekends this year.Write
9. What would make your evenings calmer?Write
10. Which habit would make the biggest difference to your mood if you kept it all year?Write

A letter to your future self, and quick new year prompts

1. Write a letter to yourself to open on New Year's Eve, one year from now.Write
2. What do you hope future you will thank you for?Write
3. Describe the person you hope to be a year from today in five sentences.Write
4. What advice would the you of next December give you right now?Write
5. Finish this sentence ten times: This year I want to...Write
6. Finish this sentence: I am ready for...Write
7. What is one thing you will not change, because it is already good?Write
8. Write the first line of the story of your new year.Write
9. Name three people you hope to see more of this year.Write
10. What is your plan for the first day of the year, hour by hour?Write

New year journal ideas and tips

Prompts are one way to start. Here are other journal ideas for the new year that take only a few minutes.

• Make a one page year in review: top memories, top lessons, top people.
• Draw a simple grid of 12 boxes, one for each month, and write one hope in each box.
• Start a one line a day journal so you have a short note for every day of the year.
• Write your goals on the first page and leave space under each one to track progress.
• Keep a running list of firsts this year: first snow, first trip, first new friend.

Tips that make it stick

• Keep goals small enough to start this week. A goal you can begin on January 2 beats a perfect plan you never start.
• Date every entry. In December you will want to see when things changed.
• Be honest, not impressive. This is your private page, not a post.
• Come back each month. Our month by month prompts start with January journal prompts and run through the whole year.
• Want to grow, not just plan? Try our journal prompts for self-growth once the first week is done.

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