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
Your journal will stand as a chronicle of your growth, your hopes, your fears, your dreams, your ambitions, your sorrows, your serendipities.
Kathleen Adams
One of the most fascinating parts of journaling is seeing where you have been. My journaling has two main parts: bullet journaling and morning pages. I do not look back at the morning pages. I write them and let them go. But the bullet journaling is a different matter. I can look back to a day three years ago and see the weather, where I was on my journey (I number the days of completion), the tasks I completed that day, and notes about what was happening then. At the start of each month, I have trackers that show what my entire month looked like in activities, stat pages that keep up with health information, and financial areas that show me what was going on with our stocks and savings at that time.
Also, I can also see my intentions and focus for that time period. I love stepping back in time and seeing those prior days that didn’t seem so important at the time. I am always surprised to see how the unassuming, dull days are just as fascinating as the more monumental days down the road.
It took some time to figure out what I enjoyed most looking back at. My journey has evolved to a path that leads me to purposely write down what I will want to see later. I’m a data girl, so all the data points of the day are what make me happy.
Weekly Inspiration
Commonplace Book
Starting a new year is a great time to start a commonplace book. These collection books are great for keeping up with the random bits of life that you need access to all the time.
Year Cover Page
The yearly cover page can be as simple or as complicated as you would like. My cover pages, generally, stay blank until I am confident of the design I want to use.
Smashbook Journaling
January is an excellent time of year to do a smash page or three. Using up all those random bits of memories from the year before can fill up your pages quickly.
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
53.01 Write about an everyday item you use every day.
Perhaps it’s a dish towel, a favorite broom, or a notepad in the kitchen. It could be a blanket you snuggle with each night watching TV. I use the same coffee cup, at least for a while. I switch out occasionally and then go again for months with that same cup. Faithfully! It will even travel with me.
53.02 Have you ever donated your time to a charity?
What charity was it? How were you able to help? How did it make you feel? Helping others can be incredibly rewarding. The most rewarding help I participated in was when we were packaging and handing out food to those in need. It feels great to give your service to a worthy cause.
53.03 Do you hide money or valuables?
Once upon a time, I was lucky if I could find extra change in the cushions to help get me through the week. Because of that time, I now stick money back in odd places. I’m always afraid that one day, I may need to search for enough to survive again. Write about what you hide and why. You don’t have to reveal your secret places!
53.04 Do you speak any other languages?
Spanish? Italian? French? German? Languages are a beautiful thing. It’s how we communicate and connect. I am only a single-language gal. I did well in Spanish in high school but have since forgotten most of what I learned. I wish that I knew more!
53.05 Do you play a game online?
It could be a calm game like Solitaire or Candy Crush. You may play something more complicated, like the strategy puzzle game Puzzles and Chaos. Years ago, I started Candy Crush, and it took years for me to let go of it and move on. Only now, I am playing a different game and so I didn’t solve the addiction at all. How about you?
53.06 Write about the worst part of your holidays.
Did you travel and have a stressful time? Was there the one relative that made things hard? Maybe you were sick and didn’t get to participate? I am blessed to say that the worst part of my holidays was not being with family. There are many other things that could have happened, so I feel lucky that’s the worst that did happen.
53.07 Word of the week: Popple.
Have you ever experienced popple on the open seas? Look it up, write it down, and use it in a sentence or two.
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.
