One Simple Journal Prompt for Capturing Powerful Memories in Minutes

One thing you may have noticed about my journal pages is that there isn't always a lot of space to write. In fact there's rarely, if ever, a lot of space to write.

Nowhere is this more true than in my journal calendar, where the events of an entire day are given a mere inch or two of writing space -- and yet, I've recently found a source of unexpected inspiration in the combination of one of my oldest, most straightforward prompts and those exceedingly short journal entries.

Case in point:

Late last year, when I reviewed the entries in my 2019 journal calendar, I was shocked to discover how many good things I had forgotten. Somewhere along the way, inexplicably, I convinced myself that I'd had a terrible, unproductive year. I will be forever grateful that my journal entries told a different story. They were filled with family and friends, triumphs - both big and small - and lots of fun (and funny) moments.

This year, I knew I could do even more with those ever-so-brief calendar entries. While there were many helpful entries, there were also numerous instances in which I just jotted out a quick, random list of the day's happenings. Looking back, I wish I'd spent my few inches of writing space journaling about why those events mattered.

This year, I've taken a new approach, one that is making me a better journaler, and it all comes down to one simple prompt:

What do you want to remember about today?

It's not even a new prompt. I've used it before in my journal pages. You might have seen it appear as "one thing to remember about today" or "one thing about today you hope you'll never forget."

Lately though, I see that prompt through new eyes. Asking myself what I want to remember helps me focus on the things that matter instead of the things that happened. And, best of all, I'm finding it works just as well on the bad days as it does on the good ones.

How can this simple question make a difference in your journaling?

On good days

  • If you're journaling an experience, writing down a few specific details will help you remember the day. Choose one part that stands out and engage your senses. What did it feel like? What did it look like? Who was there with you? Where were you when it happened? What did you say or think in that moment? What do you hope you'll never forget about it?

  • If you're journaling an accomplishment, think about your good day strategies. What worked today? What actions or routines do you want to repeat so that you can have more good days?

On bad days

This prompt really shines on the hard days. It reminds you that while you can't always avoid the bad stuff, you can absolutely choose what to take with you and what to leave behind.

  • Instead of dwelling on a difficult challenge, you can choose to remember that you did not give up.

  • Instead of reliving a heartbreak or unexpected disappointment, you can choose to remember your strength, kindness, grace, and dignity when they were put to the test.

  • Instead of agonizing over mistakes made, you can choose to remember what you learned.

What do you want to remember about today?

I hope you'll use this prompt to capture the memories that move you forward, to collect the best strategies and lessons you're learning along the way, and to remind you of the good things that are easily forgotten in the rush of a busy life.

Your turn

Whether you're having a great day or a not-so-great day today, what’s the one thing you'd like to remember about it? Share in the comments below!


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Hi, I'm Christie. I create printable guided journal pages filled with bright colours and a resilient spirit aimed at documenting life's celebrations and learning from its challenges. My goal is to give you a fun, quick, and colourful collection of good reasons to start journaling right now. For even more journal inspiration, sign up to receive my free e-book, 10 Good Reasons to Journal.


 

What Your Journal Should Do For You - Right Now and As You Move Forward

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I’m just going to put it out there. I want my journal to do it all.

I want it to be a tool for:

  • getting to know myself better,

  • noticing and understanding what’s happening around me,

  • making notes about the things I’m learning,

  • thinking through challenges and how to overcome them,

  • setting goals, moving toward them, and tracking my progress,

  • capturing important memories,

  • exploring new ideas before I put them out into the world,

  • developing my voice, improving my writing, growing my confidence, accepting and embracing who I am,

  • practicing my handwriting, lettering, painting, sketching, and other ways to express myself,

  • taking a close look at my days and thinking about how to make the most of them, and

  • just about everything else that involves creating a meaningful, purposeful life.

That’s a big ask for one journal, so I have three: a notebook, a sketchbook, and a binder. Between the three, I journal almost daily, either by writing in my notebook, playing with paint or collage in my sketchbook, and/or adding entries to my journal calendar or other printable pages in my binder.

As you may have noticed, I need a lot of variety in my journaling, along with a sense of spontaneity and an absence of limitations. It’s also important to me that my journal accommodate nearly every facet of my life. After many years of trial and error and no small amount worrying that I might not be doing it right, I have made my journal my own.

And therein lies my view of what our journals should do for each one of us. In my view, a rewarding journal practice should embrace and reflect the fullness of our lives -- for better or worse, in good times and in bad, so that we can write what needs to be written and remember what we want to remember and work to achieve what we want to achieve.

Further, I believe a rewarding journal practice has two parts:

  1. The journaling itself, in that moment while you’re writing or drawing or typing, should be rewarding. It should be interesting (even fun!), insightful, and moving. It should spark ideas and discoveries that you can explore further or put into use right now.

  2. The cumulative result of your journaling should also be rewarding. The work you do in your journal should be meaningful and significant to you as you learn and grow. It should help you become the person you want to be.

And since we are all different and unique, every journal will be different and unique.

I’d like to spend some time over the next few weeks writing about ways to make your journal your own. In addition to creating a wide variety of printable journal pages that aim to support a rewarding journal practice, I have collected a variety of tips and tricks over the years for making the most of your journal. To get the ball rolling, I’ll share the one thing I’ve learned so far that means the most to me: when you make your journal your own, you’re one step closer to making your life your own.

 

What/who are you admiring today?

It’s March! Time to start a new journal calendar page and I can’t wait!

Today’s prompt is “admired.” Lately, I’ve been admiring kindness. I’m seeing examples all over the place — at home, in my community, in my inbox, out in the world. I think I’ll write a lovely little list of kindnesses I’ve encountered or observed recently.

How about you? What/who are you admiring today?

 

What did you share today?

New month, new journal calendar page. Bring on the new.

Today’s prompt was “shared” and, at first, I couldn’t think of a single thing. Then I thought about my lost tripod and how I called my husband earlier today, hoping he would remember what I’d done with it — and how we shared our memories of the last time I used it — because it was new and figuring out the best setup became a group project — and how we ended up finding it, right where I left it.

(And then I discovered I didn’t need it after all. But I had the loveliest chat with my sweetheart, right in the middle of the day. So, it all worked out exactly as it was meant to.)

How about you? What did you share today?

 

What did you prepare today?

I love these little boxes and their odd questions.

Today, I prepared yet another batch of painted pages. I think I’m at 9 attempts now. Not quite there yet, but I’m learning to use a mop brush (and makeup sponges as makeshift brushes!) and my scanner’s settings make a little more sense every day. There might even be a new journal page, somewhere in the distance.

How about you? What did you prepare today?

 

What did you figure out today?

I’ve been thinking about new ways to play with colour and shapes in my journal pages — both my personal pages and my printables. Today, I think I figured out the beginnings of a new journal project — one that will involve a little paint, a scanner and lots of prompts. I love new projects!

What did you figure out today?