Have you ever pulled out an old puzzle only to realize at the very end that you’re missing pieces? The same thing happens to memories over time. Bits and pieces start to fade as time passes. Journaling helps preserve those little details so you’ll always remember them.
Along the way, many people discover a sense of self and see improvements in their daily lives. Studies have found numerous benefits to journaling, including the following:
- Better sleep
- Relieved tension
- Improved mental health
- Increased awareness
- Heightened immune system
How does it work? Writing out your thoughts and feelings gives you the opportunity to work through them. The process can stimulate your immune system and lighten your mental load.
Getting started can feel a little awkward, and forming a new habit takes practice. Try using these journal prompts to get you going. FamilySearch Memories also offers a free and easy platform to write your journal and preserve it alongside your favorite pictures.
Quick and Easy Journal Prompts
If you’re just getting started, these quick and light-hearted prompts might be the perfect place to try your hand at journaling. Or if you’ve had a long day, light topics can be just the thing to get your mind off things as you write.
- What was the best thing that happened today?
- What are your favorite and least favorite flavors of ice cream?
- What are you excited about in the next week?
- Create a list of your favorite foods, hobbies, movies, songs, and so on.
- Name a place you hope to visit one day. What would you like to do there?
- If you could choose a superpower, what would it be?
- Who’s your favorite character from a TV show?
- What would your ideal pet be?
- What’s your favorite season of the year?
- If you could choose a fictional world to live in, which would it be?
Journal Prompts to Capture Your Early Memories
Nostalgia is a powerful force with many benefits. It can alleviate stress and anxiety and help you feel happier. Capture some of those early memories to strengthen your ties to your past.
Don’t shy away from difficult memories either. Working through those emotions can help you accept them and move on.
- Describe your childhood home. Do you miss anything about it? What did your room look like? Did you move around?
- What were your favorite meals as a child? Have you made any of them recently?
- What are some of your favorite holiday traditions? Include specific memories.
- Who was your best friend as a child? What did you do together? Are you still in touch today?
- What schools did you go to? What was your favorite subject? Did you have a favorite teacher?
- What do you remember about your hometown? Do you still live there? If not, have you ever visited?
- Who did you look up to as a child?
- What’s your most embarrassing memory?
- What was your favorite book as a child?
Journal Prompts to Capture Your Family
Exploring family memories and history opens avenues to discovering who you are. Finding family and cultural roots fosters a sense of belonging, which brings with it increased self-worth and resilience. Writing about your family is one of the many ways you can strengthen those ties.
If you’re interested in further exploring your family roots, try learning about your family tree.
- Describe your parents. What did they look like? What did you do together? How do you feel about them?
- Do you remember your grandparents? What type of relationship did you have with them?
- What did your parents do for work?
- If you have siblings, what memories do you share?
- Describe your current family relationships. Who do you feel closest to?
- What are your favorite family memories?
- Did you ever have family reunions? Describe them.
- Describe challenges you’ve faced with your family. How did your family navigate those challenges?
- How does your family show love to one another?
- If you could say anything to your family, what would it be?
- What are your family’s cultural roots?
Personal Journal Prompts
Journaling provides an outlet to work through your thoughts and feelings. Try writing about what’s going on in your life right now and your feelings. You may find the experience to be a needed release.
- What do you hope to accomplish this year? In the next five years?
- When do you feel the happiest? The saddest?
- Has anything bothered you lately?
- What’s your current profession? Are you satisfied in your job? If not, what would you like to change?
- What’s on your bucket list? How can you achieve those dreams?
- What are your fears? Why do they scare you?
- What is your favorite place in the world?
- How do you make important decisions?
- What is something you would like to learn to do? What’s holding you back?
- What are you most proud of?
- Share any regrets you have and what you would do differently.
- What motivates you?
Hopefully this list of journal prompts helps you get started on the path to recording your personal story. Journaling is a fantastic way to explore your past, your family, and your sense of self. This list just scratches the surface, so continue finding new topics to write about.
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