Journaling is an effective way to boost mental clarity and improve one’s mental health. For those just starting out, journaling can feel daunting, as you may not know what to write. However, with just a few journal prompts on hand and some practice, journaling can become effortless, enjoying and reflective.

On a scale of 1-10 how do you feel? What can bring it up to a 10?

Reflecting on your emotional well-being allows you to become more mindful and aware of your mental state. This allows you to figure out possible solutions to improving your happiness.

What made you happy this week and how can you implement more of that into your life?

When you pinpoint the experiences, people or objects that bring you joy, you’re able to actively implement them into your routine. This will help you look forward to parts of your week and greatly improve your quality of life.

What are 5 things you are grateful for?

Gratitude practices are known to increase happy hormones, reduce anxiety and depression and strengthen mindfulness. Writing them down in a journal is a great way to voice these appreciations.

What do I need to forgive myself for?

We are often our biggest critics and need to forgive ourselves in order to cultivate self-love. Start by reflecting on what has been holding you back and let go of those negative thoughts. This will increase emotional well-being and allow you to move forward.

What has been stressing me out lately? How can I mitigate that stress?

Determining what causes your stress allows you to pinpoint your anxiety triggers. From here, you can plan out solutions for eliminating that stress so that you can channel your energy into more positive activities.

How do I want to grow?

Every day we have an opportunity to improve ourselves whether that be intellectual, emotional, spiritual or physical. Pinpoint an area in your life where you can cultivate new skills so that you can refocus your attention into developing a healthy habit.

With a notebook and pen, everyone can journal. This quick and easy activity will have lasting impacts on your mental health and you can easily use these prompts to kickstart your journaling journey.