Do you ever find yourself unsure of what to do when you have some free time? Or when you’re bored? I’m sure that we can all relate to this at one time or another. But have you thought about turning to your journal?
Journaling is talked about regarding morning pages, daily or weekly journaling when sharing your thoughts and working through journaling prompts. However, there are so many things you can use your journal for beyond those reasons.
What is journaling?
Journaling is simply recording your thoughts and feelings as well as your daily or weekly activities. Additionally, it can also be a simple bullet point list of your activities, feelings or even thoughts. It is a completely individual practice, so it will be different for everyone. There are so many different types of journaling; you don’t even need to put pen to paper as you can journal digitally too!
There are so many forms of journaling including paper-based and electronic. The types of journaling can depend on what you want to get out of the process. The types of journaling include:
- Morning pages
- Gratitude journaling
- Bullet journaling
- Art journaling
- Dream journal
- Food journal
- Pregnancy journal
- Reading journal
- Travel log
Why should you journal?
Journaling is such an underestimated practice, that should be discussed more. Journaling in whatever form you feel comfortable has so many physical and mental health benefits including:
- Lowered anxiety
- Reduction in stress
- Improves depression
- Boosts memory
- Improves your immune system
- Great to be able to reflect on previous years
So, during those free moments or when you are feeling a bit bored, grab your notebook or journal and try these ideas to help spark your creativity and be more mindful.
Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash
Here are 50 things you can write in your journal when you are bored:
- Write a list of 50 things that make you happy
- Write a list of places you would like to visit
- Look out of your window and write about what you can see
- Try to recall your earliest childhood memory and share how it makes you feel
- Share how you are feeling and how you look after yourself
- Compile a list of all the tasks you need to complete around the house
- Write a letter to your younger self
- Write a letter to your future self
- Share a list of your favourite quotes
- List the goals you want to achieve by the end of the year
- Write a personal poem
- Write a short story
- Share a review of a movie you have recently watched
- Do you remember a recent dream you had? What was it about and what do you think the dream meant?
- Compile a list of local places you want to explore
- Plan out your dream holiday
- Write a list of your pet peeves
- Positive affirmations regarding self-love
- Grab a dictionary (or online version) and pick a random word. Write about what that word means to you or write a story using that word
- Share your ideal lazy day
- Write a list of what you are grateful for
- Write about what you think is your best quality
- What things scare you? How do you think you could overcome this fear?
- Share the things that make you smile
- Go outside and listen. Write about everything you hear.
- Share a bucket list
- Create an art page in your journal
- List all your life lessons tat you have discovered so far
- Write a list of journal prompts you would like to answer
- Doodle or draw about how you are feeling
- Write about an event that changed the course of your life
- Write about a time when you’ve achieved something that you didn’t think was possible. How did it make you feel?
- Write about something that made you laugh recently.
- Shar what would be your dream job and why?
- Write a list of the accomplishments you are most proud of and why
- Create a reading tracker
- Reflect on a time where you had to stand up for yourself or someone else. What happened? How did it make you feel?
- Create a washi tape watch
- Rewrite the ending to your favourite book
- Share how your life would look if there were no phones or internet!
- List of your favourite musical lyrics
- Write down all your negative thoughts and then come back to them and analyse them with a clear head.
- List your favourite quotes that you can reflect back on
- Write self-reflective questions and answer them to learn more about yourself.
- Create a short story around an embarrassing moment in your life.
- Write a list of all your cleaning tasks that you need to finish
- Make an ingratitude list
- Write a poem
- Create a wish list
- List positive affirmations that you can refer back to when you are feeling low.
These are 50 things that you can write about in your journal when you are feeling bored. Some of these ideas are for self-reflection, productivity or some that help inspire your writing, creativity and fun. Sometimes it can be nice just to sit down, bust out your favourite journal and start writing.
Do you keep any journals? I’d love to hear in the comments.
Ever since I started journaling first thing in the morning I realized what a massive effect it has on setting the mood for the rest of the day. It has so many benefits and these ideas are absolutely brilliant additions to my morning journaling!
Teresa Maria | Outlandish Blog
I want to journal but often don’t know where to start, this is so handy, thank you
I hope this helps you. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I like your ideas. I think the childhood memory would be a good start to journaling.
These are cool prompts. I’m going to try some of these. I’m also planning to create prompt on crushes. Hehehe ^_^
That sounds like a great writing prompt. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Wonderful ideas as always! Thank you!
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts on the benefits of journaling and the different forms it can take. Your post is an excellent reminder that journaling can be valuable for self-reflection and creativity.
I appreciate your emphasis on the versatility of journaling and the many different forms it can take. Whether it’s morning pages, gratitude journaling, art journaling, or any other type you mentioned, there is a form of journaling that can suit everyone’s needs and preferences.
Your post also highlights the many physical and mental health benefits of journaling, including reduced anxiety and stress, improved memory, and a more robust immune system. These benefits demonstrate the power of journaling to promote overall well-being and personal growth.
So glad you could relate to this! Thank you for reading and commenting.
Wonderful journal prompts to use when you’re bored, such great ideas! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
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This is a great list of journal prompts! I’ve never been able to stick to a journal though.
Corinne x
https://skinnedcartree.com
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This is such great ideas for writing in your journal when you’re bored. I coulda used this when our internet was out the other day! Lol
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These are some great prompts. I am saving them!!
I am glad you found them helpful. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I used to journal a lot but I don’t do it so much any more. This post makes me want to get back into journalling again. Thanks for sharing such creative ideas!
I hope this post is helpful if you do get back into journaling.
I love these ideas. I do have a journal where I write about my plans and the things I’m grateful for. I should start making a list of positive affirmations and inspiring quotes. That will come in handy when I need a little motivation in my life.
I hope this helps you. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I love number 19 using the dictionary! It’s so out of the box and I’d never thought of it – great ideas!
Thank you for reading and commenting. Glad you found some ideas.
These are great journaling prompts! Thank you for sharing this!!
melissakacar.com
Thank you for reading and commenting. Your Taylor swift post is great!
This is very helpful and important things we need to write in our life. Thank you for sharing
Thank you for reading and commenting.
These are all such great ideas that I started journaling again. I bookmarked this for more ideas. I have a gratitude journal at the moment, but I saw some other ideas listed that I’m going to give a try
Thank you for reading and commenting. I hope this gives you some ideas.
Wonderful ideas!! I love the one where you write to your future or younger self. Thanks for sharing!✏️💫
Thank you for reading and commenting. I am glad you enjoyed the post.
I think it can be so useful to have a journal ready to go in those moments when boredom strikes — and the ideas you’ve included here will really help with that. Sometimes I don’t have anything specific in mind to write about and it can get a bit frustrating thinking of something so thank you for sharing this!
I am glad you found this post useful. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I can’t remember what it’s like to be bored, I’m so busy these days, but I love your list of prompts for another reason – relaxation. Stepping away from the super-charged daily cycle of work and personal responsibilities to inhabit your inner world of thoughts while journaling about something fun like a new ending for your favorite books sounds very, very restorative. Thanks for the ideas!
I am glad you enjoyed my post. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I’ve just built a new shelf to house my 30+ blank notebooks. I just don’t want to ruin them – but you’ve helped change that! I’m not ruining it if I use it. That’s the point!
That and not being allowed to buy any more info I use them lol.
Thanks for the read 🙂
Definitely use them and don’t be worried about making mistakes because it shows your journey!