Chances are you’ve heard of Morning Pages—the practice popularized by Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way, where you begin your day with three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing. Morning Pages can help clear mental clutter and spark creativity. But if you can’t pick up your journal until the end of the day – that’s OK! Maybe I should have titled this post “In Defense of Evening Pages.”
Journaling doesn’t have to be reserved for the morning hours. And I believe “evening pages” can be just as powerful. Writing at night helps you process the day, reflect on your wins, release frustrations, and set intentions for tomorrow. Evening journaling can calm your mind before bed, improve your sleep, and allow you to end the day with gratitude and clarity.
Since October is often seen as a season of reflection—with the year winding down and autumn inviting us to slow our pace—it’s the perfect time to start a nightly journaling ritual.
To help you get started, here are 31 evening journaling prompts for October—one for every day of the month.
Evening Journaling Prompts for October
- When I look back at September, I am most proud of…
- Three things I am thankful for today are…
- What was the best part of my day and why?
- Make a list of fun things you want to do this fall.
- Set 3 intentions for the week ahead.
- List 3 things that went well today.
- How do you want to show up in the world tomorrow?
- What do you wish you’d done differently today?
- What are you excited about right now?
- Write about something new you’ve tried lately.
- Write about something new you’d like to try soon.
- What did you enjoy most about last week?
- How can you be kinder to the people around you tomorrow?
- How can you be kinder to yourself tomorrow?
- What activities or practices energize or nourish you most?
- Describe the perfect weekend.
- Write about a great conversation you had recently.
- Write about a meal you enjoyed recently.
- What did you enjoy most about the weekend?
- How do you feel right now, why, and what are you going to do about it?
- What made you feel happy today?
- What made you feel confident today?
- What value would you like to guide you for the rest of the year?
- What are three simple pleasures that made you smile this week?
- What do you love most about the place where you live?
- Write about a small act of kindness you witnessed or experienced today.
- What is a challenge you faced today and how did you handle it?
- What would you like to accomplish by the end of the year and how are you going to do it?
- What did you learn about yourself this month?
- When you reflect on this month, what makes you most grateful and most proud?
- Set 3 intentions for the month ahead.
How to Use These Evening Journal Prompts
You don’t have to answer every prompt in order—pick one that speaks to you each night. Try writing for at least 10 minutes before bed, or simply jot down a few sentences. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s reflection.
By the end of October, you’ll have a collection of insights, intentions and gratitude lists that not only capture this season of your life but also help guide you into the rest of the year with purpose.