Journal Prompts for the Year Ahead

written by Annette Furio

“with intentionality, you can bring focus to working on one or two areas at a time and build upon them to create your own version of a well-rounded life.”

In December, we published Journal Prompts for Your Year End Reflection. We shared that it’s important to look back before looking forward — especially because we tend to highlight or idealize all of the great moments and bury the bad ones in the back of our mind. But we can learn from both the “highlight reel” AND our missteps. That’s the insight we want to channel as we write our plan for the next year ahead. 

Now, some of you may be thinking “It’s February! It’s too late to start goal-setting!” But the good news is that it’s never too late. There’s always another year, another season, another month to set goals and intentions. Here are some questions that can help you journal your way to finding what you want to accomplish this year.

Annual Questions

• What is one area in my life that I want to give special attention to this year?
  
  Keep in mind, it’s a challenge to give 100% in each area of your life. “Balance” doesn’t always need to be the goal, as many authors have found this to be limiting and unrealistic. But with intentionality, you can bring focus to working on one or two areas at a time and build upon them to create your own version of a well-rounded life.
  
  Focus Area Examples: Career, Family, Marriage or Relationship, Physical Health, Mental Health, Spirituality, Service, Personal Finance, Travel, Hobbies, Creativity.
  
  
• Name three concrete ways that you will give this focus area time, space, and resources.
  
  
• What does a fulfilling year look like for me? Do a little future-dreaming. It’s December 2022. 
• What is one thing that made me happy? 
• What is one thing that made me proud? 
• What is one thing that made me feel truly alive? 
• What is one thing that pushed me out of my comfort zone?

It may help to look back on your answers from your Year End Reflection to prompt some ideas.

Seasonal Questions

Winter

Use this season to focus on challenges that you are currently facing or that you anticipate facing this year. At the beginning of the year, we may have the energy and ambition that comes from the “new year” to take this challenge head-on.

• What is one challenge that I’m currently facing that I’d like to work to overcome?
• What is the FIRST step in taking on this challenge?
• What will happen as a result of overcoming this challenge?
• How will I feel?

Spring

As we move into spring, focus on change. Change is inevitable and all around us. Making peace with it has great benefits for us mentally.

• What is one change that I’m contemplating or experiencing in my life? 
• What feelings does this change bring up for me?
• How do I normally feel about changes throughout my life? Am I open to them or do I feel resistance?
• What would happen as a result of accepting this change?

Summer

Summer brings excitement, energy, and long daylight hours. Focus on what brings you alive. 

• What is bringing me vitality so far this year?
• How can I make a conscious effort to surround myself with people and activities that bring me joy?
• What bad habits are creeping back into my life?
• How can I make a conscious effort to replace a bad habit with something or someone that supports my vitality?

Fall

Throughout fall, take note of how far you have come. With one season left in the year, reflect on the previous seasons and set any final intentions for what you want to accomplish this year.

• Look back at the focus area(s) that you set intentions to focus on this year. How have working on these areas changed your mood? Your relationships? Your outlook on life?
• What is one roadblock standing in the way of a fulfilled life in your selected focus areas?
• What is one thing you can do to bring you closer to your goal by the end of the year?

About Annette

Annette is the Founder and CEO of Season Journals. She creates, writes, and designs journals that facilitate expression and dialogue for the many seasons of our lives. She also publishes the weekly Season blog and oversees marketing, sales, partnership and operations at Season. She has a true entrepreneurial spirit and passion for the intersection of business and people.

Furio resides in downtown Columbus, Ohio with her husband, Giovanni, and their menagerie of houseplants. In her free time, she enjoys running, cooking, learning about wine, and reading.

Photo by Lauren Pennington Photography