35 January Journal Prompts for a Clean Slate

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Last Updated on June 21, 2024

What better time to reflect on the past and plan for the future than January 1st?! With all of the holiday festivities coming to a close, now is a good time to step into the year with a clear mind and an opportunistic outlook.

Maybe last year went awesome for you, or maybe it presented way more challenges than you anticipated. Whatever the case may be, all you can do is move forward and aim for an even better year this time around!

These January journal prompts are just the thing to get you thinking about all your new year plans. They’ll help you recognize what you need to focus on and where to go from here. Identifying your goals, then the habits necessary to achieve those goals, is the best game plan!

Table of Contents

What should I write about in January?

First, think about what’s unique to January. January is a time for fresh starts, new goals, and a hopeful mindset. Of course, you want to be thinking about your goals all year long, but January provides a good opportunity to get started if you haven’t already!

Some things to think about as you write in January include…

How your New Year’s Eve went
What you want to do different this year compared to the last
Reflecting back on last year’s goals–were you consistent? Why or why not?
How have your goals changed from January 1st of last year to now?

So it’s certainly a big chance for reflection and planning ahead with these January journal prompts. Start thinking about what went well last year, what didn’t, and which areas of your life could use more attention this year. Remember, as always, to strike a balance between productivity and self care for the best results.

35 January Journal Prompts for a Better New Year

Are you ready to take charge of your life, goals, and dreams for this next year of your life? These January journal prompts will help you insightfully and strategically do just that!

Don’t forget about these January journal prompts! Pin ’em to come back later!

Think back to last year’s goals (whether you set them on January 1st or throughout the year). How did they go?
It’s very common for goals to change throughout the year. Did any of your goals change in the last 12 months? What made them change?
Did you face any unexpected challenges last year? What did you learn from them?
What lesson or focus from last year do you want to bring with you into January and the year ahead?
What is the biggest way you’ve grown as a person in the last year?
List your top 3 mental health/wellness goals for the new year and the habits you’ll perform to achieve them.
List your top 3 self care goals for the new year and the habits you’ll perform to achieve them. (self care activities here!)
List your top 3 career goals for the new year and the habits you’ll perform to achieve them.
List your top 3 spiritual goals for the new year and the habits you’ll perform to achieve them.
List your top 3 financial goals for the new year and the habits you’ll perform to achieve them.
List your top 3 social/family/relationship goals for the new year and the habits you’ll perform to achieve them. (journal prompts for all your relationships here!)
What is the biggest thing you can do to keep yourself on track with goals?
Did you meet any new people last year? How did they impact you?
Did you let go of any people last year? How have you felt since doing so?
What is the biggest epiphany you realized last year?
What boundaries do you need to get better at enforcing?

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Think of one way you plan to push yourself out of your comfort zone this year.
What is something you neglected last year that you want to pay more attention to this year?
What is something you want to add to your daily routines this year?
What changes do you want to make to your home this year, if any?
What is one trait you’ve noticed about yourself last year as a result of personal growth?
Write down 5 new years affirmations you want to keep with you in the new year
What is one way you can improve your journaling practice this year?
What does your ideal morning and night routine look like?
Think about the goals in each area of your life and create a vision board to represent them all.
What will you do to stay motivated throughout the year?
How will you practice more self love this year?
Is there anywhere you want to travel this year? Write out a brief plan and estimated budget.
What are 5 things you’re grateful for from this past year?
What are 5 things that frustrated you from this past year?
What are 5 things you’re looking forward to about the new year?
How did your support circle look like last year? Is there anything you feel you need to add or change?
What are some ways you can strike a better balance in your life this year?
What were your top 3 wins of last year?
Visualization practice: what will be your top 3 wins of this year?

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Final Thoughts on January Journal Prompts

If you needed some direction to start your new year off right, I hope these January journal prompts helped you with that! There’s so much you can learn and take from the previous year and use to your advantage to improve upon next year.

You can make a change at any point in your life, of course, but January is a prime time to do so. There’s just something about the new year that gives you that little extra push to take action, so take that and run with it!

Remember, even if this year throws you curveballs, the things you do have control of are your mindset, intentions, and ambition! You got this.