25 Journal Topics (1)

Writing a journal can be a great way to record your life, practice writing skills, and build materials for other writing projects. Here are some ideas for topics to write about rather than just chronicling what happened on a given day.

  1. Describe an important event that happened today (or this week). How do you feel about what happened? Why is the event important?

  2. Look out your bedroom window for a while. What do you see? What do you think about it?

  3. Choose a person you know. Describe that person—both in terms of physical appearance and personality. Why is this person important to you?

  4. What is your favorite song? What is the song about? Why is it meaningful to you?

  5. Choose an event you have heard or read about in the news. What happened? What is your interpretation of the event? How does it affect your life?

  6. Describe your family’s holiday celebration for a holiday that is significant to you.

  7. How would you define happiness? What makes you happy?

  8. Choose something in your life that you see as a problem. Describe the problem and try to list possible ways to deal with it.

  9. How would you describe the ideal relationship? How does one of your current relationships fit with your ideal?

  10. What is your favorite activity? Describe what the activity involves. Why do you enjoy it?

  11. How would you describe yourself—both in terms of physical appearance and personality? What are some things you like about yourself?

  12. Describe your family of origin. What is your home life like? What are the roles and relationships of the members of your family?

  13. What would you consider the most significant event of your life so far? How did the event affect the way you see yourself and your life?

  14. Tell about one of your best accomplishments? Why is it important to you?

  15. Do you have a favorite place? Describe the place using all five senses. Why is it special to you?

  16. What do you consider to be one of your best attributes? Why?

  17. Describe an event that you think shaped who you are. What exactly happened? Why was the event significant?

  18. Describe a person who influenced who you have become. What is that person like? What is a typical action or behavior of this person? Why did he or she have influence over you?

  19. Do you consider yourself religious? How would you describe your core religious beliefs? Where did they come from?

  20. What religious or spiritual practice do you engage in regularly? What does it involve? Why is it significant to you?

  21. If you had to pass on a life lesson to a younger person, what would it be? How did you learn this lesson? Why do you think it is important?

  22. What is your favorite food? Why? Describe how you prepare it and what it tastes like.

  23. Does your family have a tradition? What is it? What does it involve? Where did the tradition come from and why is it meaningful?

  24. What do you know about your family’s history? Does your ethnicity play an important role in your family or individual life? In what ways?

  25. If you had a beautiful day with nothing required of you, what would you do? Why did you choose this option over others?

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