Journaling Prompts That Saved Me When I Didn’t Know What I Needed

There are seasons where I feel everything all at once.
The pressure. The pace. The weight of being the one who keeps everything running.
And then there are seasons where I feel nothing at all. Just flat. Disconnected. Foggy.

Journaling has carried me through both.

Not because I always know what to say or because I have the perfect morning routine. But because writing gives me a place to hear my own voice again, underneath the noise.

When I don’t know what I need, I stop trying to think my way through it. I let the questions lead.

These are the prompts that helped me come back to myself

If you're feeling scattered, tired, or just a little off, try one. Don’t overthink it. You don’t need to write a novel. Just follow the thread of whatever feels true.

1. What’s taking up most of my mental space right now?

Let it spill out. Half the work is naming it.

2. What have I been avoiding, and what would feel easier than forcing it?

Sometimes there's another way. Or it’s time to release the thing altogether.

3. What version of me is showing up today?

The achiever? The nurturer? The avoider? Say hello to her instead of resisting.

4. What do I wish someone would do for me right now?

There’s usually a need under that wish. This is your clue.

5. What do I need in order to feel safe being fully myself today?

Is it space? Reassurance? Less screen time? A soft reset?

6. What’s no longer mine to carry?

Even if you can’t let it go completely, naming it helps loosen the grip.

7. What’s something I can do today that future me will be grateful for?

Make it small and doable. Think gentle support, not a full makeover.

8. What am I craving that I haven’t given myself permission to want?

This one can get emotional. Be honest.

9. What does enough look like for me today?

Not the ideal day. Not the fantasy self. Just enough.

10. What would it feel like to be on my own side right now?

Write it like a love note to the you who’s trying her best. (This is a personal favorite of mine, because so often we forget to treat ourselves like we would a loved one.)

A place to hear yourself again

Journaling isn’t about having the perfect answer. It’s about creating space for your own truth to rise to the surface. Not the performance. Not the productivity. Just the part of you that knows what you need, even if you haven’t said it out loud yet.

That’s why I created Prompted: The Journaling Guide. It’s full of questions like these—simple, meaningful, and designed to help you reconnect with yourself when everything else feels loud.

You don’t have to fix anything.
You just have to listen.