A new year means a new journal but how do you fill the pages? If you’re not sure where to start, check out these New Year journal prompts for 2025.
I can almost guarantee I’ll receive a journal for Christmas every year. If you’re anything like me, collecting beautiful journals is a hobby in and of itself.
Yet, keeping blank notebooks around doesn’t do much good. A good place to start is to try journaling with journal prompts. (And if you need additional ideas for filling your journals, check out these journaling ideas.)
If you want to try a daily journaling habit in 2025, check out these 25 New Year journal prompts to get started.
These will help you reflect on 2024 as well as your hopes, dreams and goals for 2025. What do you want to do, who do you want to become, where do you want to go and what do you want to accomplish in the new year?
Checking in with yourself through a guided practice will help you with self growth, goal setting and so much more.
25 New Year Journal Prompts for 2025
New Year journal prompts for self growth
In what ways can I prioritize my mental, physical and emotional well-being this year?
Reflect on ways you can care for your mind, body and spirit to find balance in the coming year. Think about how you can make these self-care practices a regular part of your routine.
How can I step outside my comfort zone to find new opportunities for growth?
Embracing new adventures or taking risks can be a part of growing. Write about setting intentions for ways to challenge yourself this year.
What strengths did I discover about myself in 2024 and how can I cultivate them even more this year?
Taking time to celebrate your personal growth from the past year can help set you up for even more growth in the coming year. Reflect on these qualities and look for ways to embrace them in 2025.
What empowering thoughts or affirmations do I want to embrace in 2025?
Limiting beliefs and negative self-talk can hold us back, so take this opportunity to write about the positive affirmations or encouraging thoughts that will help you grow this year.
What is one area where I can use more self-compassion? How can I be kinder to myself in 2025?
We cannot grow if we do not give ourselves grace. Think about an area in your life where you tend to be hard on yourself and brainstorm ways to show yourself more kindness and compassion in the new year.
Deep journal prompts
What does true happiness look like to me and what would it take to create more of that in my life?
Identify and explore your definition of happiness. Write about ways you can experience that feeling on a daily basis by creating a space for joy.
If I could sit down with my future self 10 years from now, what advice would she give me today?
Taking a future-focused perspective can help you find the things that matter most to you and identify areas in your life that no longer align with your future vision. What would an older, wiser you tell you today?
What is my soul longing for that I have been ignoring and what would it take for me to listen more deeply to my inner voice?
We often ignore our deepest desires for things that call away our time and attention. What would honoring your inner voice look like? Would you make more time for the creativity, passion or freedom you’re craving?
What am I most afraid of and how are my fears holding me back from my true potential?
Our fears can hold us back from taking risks or realizing our full potential. Identifying your fears and taking steps to work through in a healthy, productive way can help you make strides toward your goals in 2025.
What past challenges have shaped who I am today and what lessons have I learned from them to carry forward?
We all face hard times in one way or another, but how we overcome them and move forward helps us grow. Write about the resilience, strength and wisdom you gained and how these qualities can continue to shape the person you are becoming.
Fun journal prompts
Create a playlist for the upcoming year. What songs do you want to carry you into the new year and why?
Creating a personal soundtrack can help you identify songs that make you feel empowered, happy and motivated. Think about the themes of your soundtrack and why you want to bring them into the new year.
Write about your dream day from start to finish. What would you do, who would you be with and where would you go?
Reflecting on your desires for the perfect day can help make it a reality in the new year. What activities, people or places would bring you the most joy and how can you make that happen in 2025?
Write a letter to yourself 12 months from now. What advice or encouragement would you give your future self?
Reflecting on where you’d like to be one year from now can help you take actions throughout the year to get you there. Talking to your future self in a positive way can give you the motivation you need to get to where you want to be.
What is one thing you’ve always wanted to learn or try but never made time for? Will 2025 be the year you take the leap?
Whether it’s learning a new language or taking a cooking class, think about areas in your life where you want to grow. Will you make time for a new adventure in the new year?
If you could travel to any year in your life, which year would you visit and what would you do there?
Thinking of good times in the past or where you want to be in the future could be a fun exercise to align your present self with your desires for where you want to be in life. Maybe you want to experience the joy of childhood again or manifest a future happiness.
Unique journal prompts
Pretend you are a character in a book. What is your backstory and what would your journey look like in the next chapter?
Writing your life as a book character can help uncover an alternate reality where you can choose how you look, act, feel and live. How does this character reflect your true desires for yourself?
Write about an “ordinary” object in your life that holds great sentimental value. What stories or memories does it hold for you?
Diving into those things in our life that hold the greatest meaning can help us uncover what we’re most grateful for. Practicing gratitude in this way is a great way to feel peace.
Imagine you can live in any period of history for a day. Where would you go and what would you do?
Thinking about historical periods prompts curiosity for learning and discovering. Write about a time that fascinates you and explore why it resonates with you.
If you could have a conversation with your past self, what would you tell her and what advice would you offer her?
We all reflect on our past and how we would do things differently having the perspective we have now. Writing advice or guidance to your past self will help you uncover the lessons you’ve learned over the years and how you hold yourself in the present.
Pretend you have a magic mirror that shows you living your most authentic life. What do you see in your reflection?
Describe what you see and feel in your vision of authentically living. How can you embrace these same qualities in your everyday life?
New Year journal prompts for goal setting
What is one big, bold goal you want to achieve in 2025 and why is it important to you?
Describe your most ambitious goal for the year. Explore why it matters and what it means to you.
What are three small habits you can start this year that will bring you closer to your bigger goal(s)?
Breaking down your bigger goal into small, actionable steps can help you see progress daily. Incorporating small habits into your daily routine helps build momentum.
Reflecting on 2024, what is the biggest lesson learned and how can you use that lesson to fuel your goals in 2025?
Looking back on the past year and the wisdom you gained can help you apply it to the goal-setting process for the new year.
What is one obstacle that may hold you back from achieving your goal(s)? How can you overcome it?
Identifying things that can stand in the way of your goals can help you prepare yourself with practical solutions to face them with confidence.
How can you practice self-compassion while working toward your goals in 2025?
Writing down ways you can show yourself kindness will remind you that achieving your goals is all about progress, not perfection.
Why journaling for the New Year is helpful
Whether you already have a regular journaling habit or you’re just starting out, beginning the year with New Year journaling prompts can help set you up for success in 2025.
Studies have shown journaling may help with our physical, mental and emotional well-being. The benefits of journaling include better sleep, improved immune function, decreased anxiety and depression, and more.
Further, New Year journaling can help you prioritize your goals for the year ahead. By setting aside time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings about the past year and year ahead, you can develop a better mindset for positive results.
By journaling at the start of the year, you can accomplish a few things:
- Self-discovery – Journaling can help you connect to a deeper understanding of self. These prompts look to help you navigate your inner desires, fears, strengths, weaknesses and aspirations.
- Find clarity – Daily life is often chaotic, but taking time to write down your thoughts is a form of self-care that can help you find some perspective.
- Goal setting – Writing down our goals and aspirations makes it more tangible and actionable to stay accountable to ourselves.
- Personal growth – As journaling becomes a habit, you can begin to see changes within yourself through past entries. This is a powerful tool to help you realize the positive growth you accomplished.
- Mindfulness – Taking time each day to journal helps ground you in the present moment and can help align your values and actions throughout the day.
Tips for getting started with journaling
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few easy tips to ease into the practice of journaling.
- Set aside time. Whether you prefer first thing in the morning or ending your day with writing, scheduling time makes you more accountable to the practice. Just 10-15 minutes a day (sometimes even less!) can have real benefits.
- Find a peaceful space. Writing takes some concentration, so your space is super important to being present in the moment. Whatever helps you find peace is right – sitting at a desk, lighting a candle, playing some calming music – it’s all about what helps you!
- Start with imperfect action. Journaling is not about perfectionism or writing beautiful prose. It’s simply taking your thoughts to paper. Try to let your thoughts flow freely and jot down whatever comes to mind.
- Celebrate progress. The more you write, the easier it becomes. As you form a journaling habit, you will begin to see your own progress and personal growth.
Again, journaling is deeply personal and there are no right or wrong ways to do it. Simply writing down your thoughts and feelings is a great place to start. Using prompts is helpful to trigger your mind to think through what you want to write.
Final thoughts
A New Year journal is a wonderful way to start the year off strong, helping you find clarity and process your feelings for the upcoming year.
These New Year journal prompts are intended to help you reflect on 2024 and prepare for your hopes and dreams for 2025. Remember, journaling is about what you need at the moment. There is no pressure for perfection or big epiphanies.
Allowing yourself the time and space to write down your goals and desires for the new year is a great first step to setting yourself up for success.
Continuing on with your journaling practice will help uncover your progress toward goals and show your personal growth.
I hope these New Year Journal prompts help you be your best self in 2025!