Let me guess: You hit the snooze button a few times, reluctantly crawl out of bed, pour a cup of coffee with one eye open and drag yourself into the shower — if this sounds like you, then your morning routine is in desperate need of a makeover.
In just the first 20 minutes of waking up, the tone is set for how the entire day will go, which is why it’s so important to start off strong. This is especially crucial if you work from home — immediately jumping into answering emails right after you wake up can suck you into a vortex, and suddenly it's 6pm and you are still in your pajamas.
So instead of drudging through another mundane morning, try this instead: Leave your phone in another room, grab a pen and paper, and try a few minutes of morning journaling.
Your ability to seize the day is always up for grabs, even if you don’t consider yourself a morning person. All it takes is a bit of intentionality and discipline, which sounds scarier than it is, I pinky promise. Morning journaling is a fantastic daily habit to get into, even if you aren’t perfectly consistent. And today, I’m here with a few easy morning journal prompts to help get you started.
Pssst... Here are a few printable planners I thought you might like!
Prompt 1: Throw a Gratitude Party 🎉
Before diving into your more tangled, complex thoughts, start with some good vibes. Crack open your favorite notebook and scribble down as many things that you can think of that you are grateful for. It could be big things like your health, your home, your family — but don’t forget to include all of the tiny things that bring a smile to your face each day.
You've probably heard it before I know it sounds a bit cliché, but gratitude really is a super power, and it's the best way to keep things in perspective when we have a stressful work day or are dealing with a bit of bad news. It’s like training a muscle — the more you practice gratitude, the more often you will recognize it throughout your days. Plus, there’s no downside whatsoever, so why not give it a try? I bet you can list 20 things you're grateful for right now.
PS: Check out my gratitude journal prompts workbook if you need a little nudge to get started! ☺️
Prompt #2: Find Your Why 📍
A great tip for kicking off a new journaling habit is to write about your “why” — what is your primary purpose for journaling in the first place? Is it to stay on top of your goals? Is it to tackle deep-seeded emotions that you are finally ready to address? Is it purely for creativity and to let your thoughts flow?
Whatever your reason is, writing it down early on is a helpful strategy, as you can flip back and re-read it whenever you need a small motivation boost. It becomes almost your personal mission statement which guides everything else that you do — that’s why morning journaling is so impactful, because recognizing this purpose each day right off the bat becomes a clear target to work towards the rest of the day.
Prompt #3: Start a Dream Journal 💭
Write about whatever you dreamt about, and what you think the significance of each element is — the people, the setting, the feelings, all of it. Some people have an easier time remembering their dreams than others, but by keeping a notebook and pen on your nightstand and jotting down anything you can immediately upon waking up will help you improve your recall ability.
Our subconscious is packed full of insights into our most authentic thoughts, which is why using a dream journal is such a powerful tool. Analyzing your dreams, particularly over the course of a few weeks in order to reveal secret patterns, will no doubt provide clarity about the things you are worried about, what you should be prioritizing, and any suppressed emotions that you might want to bring to the surface and finally come to terms with.
Prompt #4: Envision Your Perfect Day ☀️
It’s a shame that some people doubt the power of manifestation, because envisioning positive outcomes is one of the most effective ways of arriving at your goals. As they say, where your mind goes your energy flows, which is essentially a less scientific way of saying that the things you focus on and put your effort towards are bound to become a priority and achieved more quickly. Sounds a bit more valid when you put it that way, no?
A wonderful way to harness the power of manifestation is to map out your ideal, perfect day. From the moment you wake up until you lay back down at night, write about an the ideal scenario of what you will accomplish, the nourishing meals you’ll eat, the quality time with family and friends, all of it. The more detail the better, as specifics quickly turn into actionable steps. While it might be unrealistic to expect having the perfect day every single day, gaining clarity on what that hypothetical day would look like will bring you one step close to actually living it.
“Your morning sets the tone for the rest of your day. Master your mornings and you master your life.”
– Robin Sharma
Make sure to stick with your new morning journaling habit for a couple of weeks in order to really feel the impact on your mindset and daily actions. It won’t happen overnight, and it can’t be rushed, but little by little, a ritual of answering morning journal prompts will get you there.
P.S: If you are ready to take your journaling habit one step further, check out my entire collection of journaling tools — vision board templates and journal prompts designed to help explore your most profound, innermost thoughts.
Have a fantastic day, and happy journaling! 🤓
