What to Journal About in the Beginning of the Year (A Year of Journaling: Week 3)

Welcome back to our “Year of Journaling” Series, Every Monday you will find a new post that relates to journaling and how it can help you.

Last week we went over some First Quarter Journaling Tips and Ideas.

In the year ahead we shall be covering things such as:

How Journaling Can Help Your Relationships
Preserve Memories With Your Journal
Boost Your Confidence With Your Journal
And so much more…

So be sure to pop back every Monday for your next installment, or check out all the Year of Journaling posts so far!

What are some habits you want to implement?
This weeks journal prompt

What to Journal About at the Beginning of the Year

There are a few times of the year when people tend to start journaling for the first time or get back into it during a break – when they are dealing with something difficult, near the beginning of the next quarter, and the beginning of the year.

If you are journaling as part of your new start this January, here are some things you can write about.

Your New Years’ Resolutions and Annual Goals

Naturally, the first step to journaling at the beginning of the year is to write about your goals for the year, and your resolutions if you have them. I like to think of resolutions more as 1-3 things you have been wanting to do, but haven’t really gotten the right kind of motivation.

Think of those things you keep saying you will do someday but never do. It could be ending a bad habit like drinking too much caffeine or biting your fingernails, or maybe it has to do with wanting to finally start the manuscript you keep talking about.

Write it all down in your journal and really set your sights on what you want to accomplish this year.

Areas of Your Life to Improve

You can also write about different areas of your life that you want to improve, such as your health, your finances or work, spending time with loved ones, being more active in your community, or starting a new project. These are more general improvements you want to make, as opposed to super-specific goals that turn into resolutions for the year.

New Habits and Routines You Want to Implement

Are there habits you feel like you are slacking on, or do you want to start a new routine that serves you better? Your journal is a great place to get started. It might be a good idea to first write about your routines now, then kind of pinpoint either what you want to add, or areas of your daily routines that don’t really serve a purpose and no longer fit in with your current lifestyle or your future goals.

Focusing on Growth and Self-Improvement

Journaling is an amazing resource when it comes to personal growth. It really allows you to become a better, healthier, more productive person. Use this time at the beginning of the year to write about how you want to grow and improve this year.

Do you want to read more self-help books? Are you interested in learning something new by taking courses?

Do you want to develop a more positive mindset?

Really focus on this and write it all down in your journal.

Full Year of Journaling Free Printable

Enjoy journaling this year by printing out this free printable journal full of prompts. This will help you get started with your journaling in an organized way and will provide you with many thoughtful reflection topics.

This is the journal for the whole year, with 53 weeks of journaling pages, one for every week of the year, plus a variety of other lined and doodle pages as well.

Journal Pages Include:

Cover Page
“This Journal Belongs To” Page
Journal Prompts Pages (1 for every week)
Lined Pages
Lined Pages with Image Spaces
Doodle Pages
Stream of Consciousness Pages