5 Journaling Prompts to Help Reduce Stress

Sometimes our heartbeat can’t keep up with the worries racing in our minds. Sometimes all we can do is pace around the room and try not to explode. Sometimes we’re paralyzed and can’t even stand. If you’re struggling against the waves and just barely keeping your head above the water, you’re not alone. Everyone struggles with stress and anxiety, and it brings us into survival mode. When we stress over things, it’s more difficult to complete tasks and have a healthier and happier life.

As someone who gets stressed very easily, I’ve found that several things can help reduce it, one of which is journaling. Although it does not completely eliminate stress from your life, journaling might help you slow down and process your emotions.

Believe me, though, I know how hard it can be to figure out what to write about when journaling, and sometimes you just don’t feel like writing down every detail of your day. This is why I thought of some journaling prompts that will help you know what to write so that you can take a deep breath and get all your feelings on paper.

1. How would you describe your day in just three words?

This prompt is for those who don’t want to spend much time journaling. Just take a few minutes to reflect on your day and describe it with three, concrete words. Then you have not spent much of your time, but you processed your day and got your thoughts down.

2. Paint a word picture of your feelings

Describing your feelings is pretty simple, but challenge yourself by describing them without using words that indicate specific emotions. For example, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t say it. Show it by writing something like, “There’s a thousand boxes to sort through, and I’m still trying to find the scissors to open the boxes.” (That probably sounds silly, but you get the point.) This will help you process all your emotions more creatively.

3. What would your future self say to you right now?

Writing in the second person, pretend that your future self is writing you a letter. This will help you put things into more perspective. Do you think you’ll still have these worries in the future? What lessons do you think you’ll learn from this experience that will turn into advice years later?

4. Who can you always count on when you’re feeling down?

Using all your creative juices and plenty of imagery, describe the person you know will always be there for you. Do you smile when you think about that person? What do you think of when you think of him or her? What makes him or her so comforting and dependable? Don’t simply describe what they look like physically, paint a picture of their soul. This prompt will hopefully make you smile and will help you practice gratitude for the ones you love.

5. Describe your ideal, peaceful haven

Just like the last few prompts, don’t hold back on your imagery. Where are you most at peace? What time of day is it? Are you with anyone or are you alone? Describe every detail and create a little scene for yourself. This will hopefully calm you and get your mind off of your worries.

Final Thoughts

I hope this post will help relieve at least a little stress from your life, and if you have any other strategies, do share! Have you ever tried journaling? Did it help you? What other ways do you slow down and process your thoughts?

May you find rest and peace as this week comes to a close.