20 Mental Health Journaling Prompts

Journaling is a brilliant way to keep track of your mental health highs and lows, as well as practicing daily gratitude and sharing your inner thoughts in a private, safe space. 

Sometimes when you get ready to start journaling, you may find yourself overwhelmed or uninspired. It can be difficult to know what to write about, especially if you’re new to journaling. 

To help you out, I’ve put together this list of 20 journaling prompts which make for great inspiration when writing about mental health.

If you’re ready to be inspired, here are 20 mental health journaling prompts. These are listed in no particular order.

1. Write about your biggest fear. Why do you have it, is it rational, what triggers you to feel this way?
2. Write about what makes you feel happiest. What gives you that overwhelming feeling of pure happiness? Why does it make you feel that way?
3. Who can you truly be yourself around? Who puts you at ease and makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. How much do they mean to you, how do you know them, do they know how much you value them? 
4. Write about a difficult memory you have. How did you cope at the time, what would you do differently if you could relive it?
5. Write an open letter to future you.
6. Write an open letter to your younger self.
7. Describe your absolute perfect day – include as many details as possible.
8. Write about the coping mechanisms you use most often. Do they actually help, are they healthy? What mechanisms do you think would be more beneficial if these ones are working as well for you as they could?
9. Write a letter to the person who hurt you the most. Let all of your feelings out and put them all onto paper. Cry, scream, scribble – do whatever you must. Journaling does not have to be pretty.
10. Talk about your top 5 favourite songs. Why are they your favourites, what do they mean to you, are they lyrics particularly meaningful or poignant? 

1. Write about your dream house. Where is it, what does it look like?
2. What’s your biggest worry?
3. What 5 things would you do if you had no fear or anxiety holding you back?
4. What makes you laugh the most?
5. Describe a memory that makes you laugh. Why does it make you laugh, who were you with?
6. Write about the best day of your life so far – describe your emotions, why is it your happiest day? 
7. What are your favourite books? Write about them and explain why you love them so much.
8. When was the last time you did something selfless for someone else?
9. Who or what motivates you the most?
10. If you had no barriers, what type of person would you be? Describe yourself, and think about how you could work towards being that person.