As 2020 comes to a close and classes begin again for many students, now more than ever is a perfect time to reflect and reset. Creating goals and intentions at the start of a new year is an amazing way to build new habits and get rid of old ones that have served their purpose or have not been helpful to the self.
Journaling is one of the many methods that people can use to build these goals and habits as it helps an individual visualize and reflect, often due to its nature of being done on pen and paper and its ability to help ground disorganized thoughts.
“Journaling requires the application of the analytical, rational left side of the brain; while your left hemisphere is occupied, your right hemisphere (the creative, touchy-feely side) is given the freedom to wander and play [sic]! Allowing your creativity to flourish and expand can be cathartic and make a big difference in your daily well-being,” according to Courtney E. Ackerman, MSc. on Positive Psychology.
When you journal, it is best to write down the first thing that comes to mind rather than fighting it, as this can be the most successful way to find your innermost or internalized feelings. Your journal does not need to follow any certain structure. It’s your own private place to discuss whatever you want. Let the words flow freely. Don’t worry about spelling mistakes or what other people might think. You don’t have to share your journal with anyone.
With that in mind, here are 6 journaling topics for the start of 2021 that can help you de-stress, wind down, and begin anew:
- Last year was a year of “…”
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Definitely a year of change for everyone. It brought many challenges and divided us in the ways we should have never been divided. For me, it was a year of growth and learning for myself. I was spending more time with my family and friends, albeit mostly virtually. I was beginning to learn more about who I am as a person and what I wanted to do as I got older.
- I want to leave “…” in 2020
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In 2020, I personally want to leave doubt and self-hate. Even in the smallest ways, we tend to bring ourselves down and compare ourselves to others. Instead, we should remind ourselves of how capable and powerful we are and how much worth we hold simply from existing. Personally, I want to be more confident in myself and accept that things will be okay, even if they do not seem that way. I want to let go of obsessive thoughts, irrational fears, and limiting beliefs.
- 2021 will be a year of “…”
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Possibly more challenges but even greater success. We may finally be able to unite ourselves and grow in a direction that can prove to be more positive and bright. I want to do things that will also help push me forward in life, rather than take me back. I want to take care of myself while also being mindful about how others feel and growing those relationships in the healthiest way I can.
- This year I openly and lovingly welcome “…”
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Change. I think we should all welcome change so long as that change will help us be where we want to be. For myself, I am ready to welcome independence and responsibility while still remaining connected to others around me who are willing to help me and allow me to make my life better. Tell yourself, “I welcome new cycles and am ready to let go of old ones.”
- My ideal life in 2021 Mind Map
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Rather than a sentence-structured reflection, this prompt could be started by creating a mind map. Wherever you see fit, whether it is the center or on the side, begin by writing “my ideal life in 2021” encircled by bubbles or simply leaving it as is. Follow by creating lines that extend from that phrase into other blank areas of the page. Start imagining what kind of ideals you would like to see become reality in 2021, and write those at the end of the lines you created. In this way, you are able to best visualize and account for the goals that you want to see manifest themselves in the new year.
- I can start living that life right now by:
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From the goals or intentions that you created in your mind map, begin to develop what you will do specifically to make those things happen. For instance, I spoke about wanting to fix my sleep schedule in my 2021 mind map, so for this journal prompt, I would state how “I can start living that life right now by reducing screen time before bed, waking up consistently by 10:00 AM, and going to bed consistently by 12:00 AM.”
Keeping a journal helps you create order when your world feels like it’s in chaos. You get to know yourself by revealing your most private thoughts, fears, and feelings. Although these prompts were most useful for the start of the new year, they can also be used in the future to reflect further on your intentions and see how they are working in your present life.
Even so, journaling is a time of self-reflection, so only you can decide what is best for yourself and what prompts may suit your needs, such as those that involve motivation, self-care, wellness, or even improving your sleep schedule. In her classic book “The Artist’s Way,” with accompanying workbooks and journals, Julia Cameron encourages people to start with a morning ritual of writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing in longhand. Ryder Carroll, the author of “The Bullet Journal Method: Track the Past, Order the Present, Design the Future,” writes that your journal can take any form, even just a simple list of things you have to do today.
As you move forward in the coming weeks, remind and affirm to yourself that, “2021 is my year to release the past, move boldly forward, and grow.”