Weekly prompts to help you think a little harder, write a little longer, and have a bit of fun in your journal. I provide the prompt and then a bit of discussion afterward to help you think beyond the prompt.
How To Use Weekly Prompts
Using weekly prompts can be as simple or as difficult as you would like. I do not use one every day, and sometimes I use several from the weekly prompts list at one time. Over time, I have learned that too simple doesn’t work for me. I like to push the question around in my mind, look at it from a couple of different perspectives, and see what comes out.
Imagine, if you will, the prompt as a unique piece of artwork. Put that piece of artwork on a pedestal and then move around it. Look from side to side, high to low, and anything between. I want it to speak to me, give me thoughts, and guide my thoughts into a deeper understanding.
In all seriousness, I do study the question. I don’t spend hours on it and sometimes not even minutes. A few seconds and a few pointed questions after. Generally, those questions begin with why. Why did the prompt spark that response? Does that matter to me, and why? Why did I choose that answer/point? My meanings and questions can be vastly different from yours. That’s okay! The prompts are supposed to spark YOUR thoughts and feelings.
Focus Quote
We’re drawn to making our mark, leaving a record to show we were here,
and a journal is a great place to do it.Keri Smith
Santa had it right all along. Make that list and check it twice! In the hustle of the season, we get wrapped up in the chaos of making it all happen. We want things to be perfect and joyful. Sometimes, we forget that in order for those things to happen, we must be happy ourselves. Don’t forget to stop and breathe this season and take time to keep yourself in good running order.
Take the time to make your lists. Check them often and grant yourself the grace needed when things don’t go according to plan. Everything will work out exactly as it is meant to.
This year, my husband and I will be alone in California. All of our kids, grandkids, and the rest of the family are in Texas and Oklahoma. Mark has a procedure scheduled for Christmas Eve. I won’t lie, there’s a part of me inside screaming because we have to be here. It’s absolutely the right choice, but it’s also my first Christmas away from my daughter. It’s incredibly hard. So, while you are out and about this year, if you see someone who doesn’t look happy, know that there are a million reasons why, and take the time to smile at them and share a kind word.
Weekly Inspiration
Creative Journaling Spread
I love seeing small collages like you see here in the bottom right corner. It’s just a few simple pieces placed strategically. I do not have an eye for collage, so I tend to admire it deeply in others’ work.
Creative Journaling Spread
This is amazing. The watercolor boxes on the side are so beautiful. It makes me want to grab my watercolor and get started!
Regular Journaling Spread
Some pages are only writing. I love these pages because I usually have a lot of these myself. But here, the use of different inks and handwritten titles really set off the sections well.
The images that I choose for inspiration are not about the links. They are solely about the images and what they represent. I love seeing other people’s journals. I love the inspiration that hits me to go write in my own. Sometimes, that inspiration leads me to try something I have seen on their pages. Mostly, it just inspires me to write!
Weekly Prompts
52.01 What is your New Year’s Resolution?
Do you even make resolutions? How often have you succeeded with them? Is it something you feel confident about, but then it loses its shine? Do you keep up with it all year long? Explain why you do or don’t do them.
52.02 Do you buy scratch-off lottery tickets?
I remember when these first became a thing. They were great fun to get and scratch off immediately in the car. Have you had any luck with them? Do you get them often? How much have you won with them?
52.03 Write about something you wish you had done differently yesterday.
This can be small or large, personal or impersonal. Perhaps you merely wish you had washed the dishes yesterday but didn’t. Maybe you wish you had responded differently to a situation. What could have changed if you had done that one thing yesterday?
52.04 Do you procrastinate doing things for yourself?
As a mom, I have a habit of doing for others and putting off the things I need to do for myself. Is this something that you do? Why do you put yourself behind others? Is it out of love for others or neglect towards yourself? Take time today to do something for yourself.
52.05 What is your relationship with salt?
Salt is a funny beast. Years ago, when eating at my sister’s, the food tasted bland. She didn’t use salt, and I used too much. I later found out that when you stop using it, suddenly, there are many other flavors you’ll taste. Have you ever gone salt-free? Are you brave enough to try? It takes a couple of weeks to adjust, but you will be so glad you did once you do!
52.06 What is a TV show you are watching this week?
It’s easy to get hooked on a show and binge all episodes. So what are you watching now? Is it a show you’ve watched before? Is it a continuation of a series you’ve been watching? Describe the show and what appeals to you about it and its characters.
52.07 Word of the week: Zephyr.
Look it up, write it down, and use it in a sentence or two. When was the last time you felt a zephyr?
I hope these weekly prompts inspire you to think harder, dig deeper, and write a little longer this week. Looking for more prompts? Check out the Divergent Dialogues category to see more weekly prompts, 31+ Fun Journaling Prompts, or head on over to my Pinterest board!
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Happy Journaling!
Sarah G.
