Dreams & Goals

45 Birthday Journal Prompts

Today is my birthday, and I kicked off my own personal new year with two hours of journaling. Yes, TWO HOURS. You know journaling is my jam.

Some people think of journaling as juvenile, equating it with the “Dear Diary” ranting and raving we did as kids or angsty teens. But I turn to journaling for self-reflection, self-awareness, and self-care. I turn to journaling to grow up and glow up. In fact, the older I get, the more important journaling becomes. At this point in my life, it feels as necessary as water and air.

It’s my birthday, but I want to give you a gift. In honor of my 45th birthday, I’m sharing 45 birthday journal prompts for you to try when your special day comes back around — or even right now.

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Word for the Year 2026

What’s your word for the year 2026?

I’ve been choosing a word for the year for several years, and it’s a practice I’ve happily passed on to the women of the See Jane Write Collective.

Some years, I’ve picked three words. In other years, I’ve chosen a phrase.

Some years, I get completely obsessed with the word that I chose. It becomes my mantra or prayer that I constantly whisper. Other years—like this year, I must admit—I forget which word I picked until someone asks me.

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How to Set Writing Goals That Actually Work

I’m obsessed with goal setting. I set writing goals and goals for other areas of my life each year, each quarter, and each month. Because I’m so passionate about goal setting, I’m constantly reading books, attending workshops and listening to podcasts to help me get better at setting and achieving my goals. I take what I learn, tweak it and try it out. Then I figure out how to share what I’ve gleaned from my personal experiences with you. That’s why I get so excited for my annual Write the Vision Workshop! (This year’s workshop is on Sunday, December 14 at 4 p.m. CT. You can sign up here.)

Why You Aren’t Achieving Your Writing Goals

If you HATE goal setting, it’s probably because you’re not following through. And if you’re setting writing goals each year and nothing in your writing life is changing, chances are it’s NOT because of laziness. You work hard. Probably too hard. You are NOT lazy. But I think I know what’s holding you back.

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My Mid-Year Mantras: Making the Most of the Rest of 2025

One of my favorite podcasters – Les Alfred of the She’s So Lucky podcast — recently released an episode during which she shared the Lucky Girl Commandments – a list of tips or words of wisdom to help us all create our own luck for the rest of the year and beyond. And of course, this inspired me to write some commandments of my own. I’m an Enneagram 1, which means I crave order. Rules don’t feel like restrictions to me. Instead, they’re the boundaries I need to keep from running myself off a cliff. (Side note: I also give myself permission to ditch any and all rules that don’t align with who I am and what I want. For example, you say every woman should be a mother. I say I’m quite content living my rich auntie life. But I digress.)

Because I know the word “commandments” can be triggering to some (#churchhurt), I’m calling these my mid-year mantras instead. Here are the rules I’m following to make the most of the rest of 2025.

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Journal Prompts for Goal Setting: Start of a New Quarter

Using journal prompts for goal setting is a great way to ensure you’re setting goals that truly align with your vision and values and that you’re not just drafting a laundry list of tasks or habits that your favorite TikTok creator said would be a good idea.

As we start a new quarter today, this is a perfect time to revisit and revamp our 2025 goals. Spring is here and this may also give you a boost of energy to go after your dreams.

I’ll be meeting with the women of the See Jane Write Collective today to help them with their Q2 goals. Of course, I’ll be using journal prompts to guide them—the same prompts that I worked through a few days ago to set my goals for this new season.

Here are 11 powerful journal prompts for goal setting that will help you pause, reflect, and reset.

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