How do we keep writing in hard times?

I was planning to host a self-love journaling challenge in February. But when I sat down to brainstorm prompts, I thought to myself – who’s going to feel like writing when the world is on fire?

Each day, we seem to face another horrific headline about another life taken or terrorized.

It leaves us feeling hopeless and helpless and staring at a blank page, wondering, “What’s the point?”

But silence is NOT the answer.

Your writing does matter.

There’s something powerful about starting the year with a blank page. And I do this quite literally by buying lots of new journals for the new year!

January feels like permission to begin again. It’s a time to reflect, reset, and recommit to the life (and habits) you actually want. If you’ve ever said, “This is the year I’m going to journal consistently,” this is your sign to start now, in January, and set the tone for the rest of the year.

Consider this your January Jumpstart. Here I offer you 31 journaling prompts designed to help you reflect on the year you’re leaving behind, get clear about what you want next, choose a word for the year, write affirmations that actually resonate, and set meaningful personal and professional goals.

You don’t need fancy notebooks (although I will never turn one down), perfect handwriting, or hours of free time. All you need is 15 minutes a day and a willingness to be honest with yourself.

Let’s do this!

There’s something magical about cozy season. The crisp air, the warm drinks, the chunky sweaters — all of it seems to whisper, slow down. But true coziness isn’t just about fuzzy socks and flickering candles. It’s about feeling safe, grounded, and at peace within yourself.

That’s why I love journaling this time of year. Okay, you know I love journaling any time of the year. But my journaling practice always seems to have a glow up in the fall. Cozy journaling isn’t just about recording your thoughts or recapping your day — it’s about reconnecting with yourself. It’s about finding warmth within, even when the world feels chilly or chaotic.

If you’re ready to grab your favorite blanket, light a candle, and fill your notebook with gentle self-reflection, these 30 cozy journaling prompts will help you nurture calm, gratitude, and comfort — from the inside out.

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.