Journal Ideas to Write About When Life Feels Boring
Day-to-day life can be so routine that when it comes to writing in your journal, you might get stuck. What do you write about when everything feels normal and routine?
If this sounds like you, it sounds like me, too. I work from home and live far from most of my loved ones. Talking to someone out loud besides my partner is definitely out of the ordinary. Even so, there’s always something noteworthy to write a journal entry for every day.
Life doesn’t have to be filled with new adventures to write in a journal. Your normal, everyday life is worth recording.
In this blog post, we’ll cover why journaling matters, some suggestions for journaling ideas, and a list of 25 easy journal prompts.
Why Journaling Matters
Journaling is more than just putting words down on paper. A journal is more than a place to write about exciting or dramatic things that happen. Of course, your journal is a place to capture those feelings. But what about all of the in-between times?
Journaling is about reflection, growth, and memory.
Writing in a journal allows you to think about what happened in your day and how it made you feel. Even if it feels like nothing really happened, small moments happen every day. Maybe you ate a yummy snack, your friend told you a funny joke, or your cat was being mischievous. While these are routine events in your day, they are still experiences that make you feel something.
It also gives you space to grow, because by writing about what happens in your daily life, you can examine what made you feel a certain way or why you responded a certain way. I’ve had several instances where I’ve argued with someone or seen something online that upset me, but I didn’t know why. But I could write about it, and even writing something like “I have no idea why I feel this way” is still helpful because it at least gets the thought out of your head. More often than not, I keep writing, and I’m able to understand why I felt the way I felt. It helps me be more understanding, for myself and for others.
Stickers featured in above bullet journal spread: Love Notes DIY Color Sticker Sheet, Love Notes Die Cut Stickers, Love Notes Color Sticker Sheet, Love Notes Decorative Sticker Sheet, Blank Mini Calendars
Journals are an incredible time capsule. Do you remember what you were doing on a random day in 2021? What about 7 weeks ago? Things can be hard to remember when there isn’t something eventful going on, but that doesn’t mean that these things aren’t worth remembering. One of my favorite journal pages is a page where I collect small jokes that are often repeated between my partner and me, because we stop making those jokes when new ones replace them. Looking back at my journal page with our old jokes brings me unimaginable joy. It doesn’t matter that these things are small, because they are important.
Journaling isn’t just about big events. It’s a tool for self-reflection and for mental health.
Easy Journal Ideas for When Life Feels Boring
I hope I’ve convinced you that your life is worth recording, but now you may be wondering what to write in a journal or if you need journal ideas for a boring life. I’ve got you covered with these creative journaling ideas!
One Line a Day
You don’t have to write a lot every day; you can write just one line a day. This could be a summary of your day, a highlight of the day, something you’re grateful for, a small win for the day, or anything else. Writing down one line is much easier than filling one or multiple pages, and it’s a great place to start. Using these vertical number stickers is a fun little shortcut for setting up a page like this.
Mood Tracking
Reflect on your emotions throughout the day and what made you feel that way. Even if it’s something like “I felt bored because I couldn’t find something I wanted to do,” it's still worth writing down. I’m a big fan of using colorable stickers like these to track my mood.
Habit Tracking
Part of growth involves sustained self-care habits. It means brushing your teeth, taking your meds, and washing your sheets. If you’re trying to be consistent with something, you can make a note of it in your journal and create goals involving these habits. Make it easy with these mini calendar stickers.
Stickers featured in above bullet journal spread: Morning Coffee DIY Color Sticker Sheet, Morning Coffee Color Sticker Sheet, Blank Mini Calendar Sticker Sheet
Media Consumed
Think about what you’ve read, seen, and played. Maybe you read a book, some fanfiction, an article, or a blog post. Have you watched a movie, some episodes of a TV show, some anime episodes, or a YouTube video? What about if you’ve played a game on your computer, phone, or gaming device? Any of these gives you something to write about in terms of what you’ve learned or something you enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy) from it.
Meal Related
Write down what you ate and drank for the day. If you’ve tried out a new restaurant or recipe, you can write about those. If you tried some new coffee toppings, you can write what you liked or disliked about them. New or old snacks are also worth noting down, especially if there is an emotion attached to them.
Planning
A journal is a great place to write down your to-do items and chores. You can write them in a list format and check them off. You could also use a planner that’s already set up and ready to go.
Planner featured above
Dreams
If you’re lucky enough to be able to remember your dreams, you can write them in your journal. You can also use your journal to write about the dreams you have or want to accomplish, like travelling somewhere or visiting a special place.
Brain Dump
This one is one of my favorite ways of writing because it’s a way to get everything out of my head and onto paper. There are two ways you can do this. The first is to treat it as an eventual to-do list that you can later categorize and start making plans for. The second is to free-write without caring about spelling or legibility, because it’s just to get your thoughts out on paper.
Lists
When all else fails, you can write down lists of almost anything. Write down your favorite movies, shows, meals, books, creators, hobbies, or snacks. Write down things you want to watch, or read, or play, or purchase. Make a list of things in your room, in your car, or on your desk. There are tons of ideas for list-making. These are usually called collections in bullet journals, so searching for collection ideas for bullet journals may give you even more ideas.
About Me Page
Introduce yourself to your journal with an About Me page. Make a page that’s about your likes, dislikes, and what you’re like in this moment.
Stickers featured in above page: Paper Stars in a Wish Jar Die Cut Stickers, Dappled Koi Color Sticker Sheet, DIY Color Stars & Sparkles Sticker Sheet
Non-Writing Options
When putting words together seems too difficult, you can still journal. You can draw or doodle, even if you don’t have any artistic experience. You can create a sticker collage that matches how you feel. You can create a memory spread with receipts, tickets, photos, and other paper items collected over a period of time.
Need More Ideas for Journaling?
Check out these blog posts on 14 creative bullet journal ideas for non-artists and 20 creative journal ideas to fill up your blank journal.
25 Daily Journal Prompts & Ideas to Inspire Writing
If free writing feels daunting, you can always use these creative journaling prompts to get you started. There are, of course, plenty of prompts to be found across the internet, but below is a list of my favorite prompts. There’s a Pin-able list for you to save after the list. So without further ado, here are 25 easy journal prompts for when you feel like life is boring:
- Note 3 things that made you smile or laugh today.
- Write down the best and worst parts of your day.
- Make a list of 5 things you’re grateful for today.
- Track your mood by filling in a coloring sticker, making a doodle, or writing down a sentence.
- Jot down what you’re currently reading or watching.
- Write about a song that’s stuck in your head.
- List what you ate today, including meals, snacks, and drinks (include your coffee or snack run).
- Note one thing that you want future-you to remember about today.
- Make a to-do list at the beginning of the day, prioritize 1-3 of these, then reflect on what you accomplished at the end of the day.
- Describe the dream you had last night and include as much detail as you can remember.
- Summarize today in one sentence.
- List 3 routines you did today and how you felt about them.
- Write about what the weather was like today and how that affected you and your mood.
- Jot down something funny you heard or saw.
- Record a small win from your day.
- Write about what you’re currently procrastinating on.
- Make a list of things you’re looking forward to.
- Write about 5 comfort items (could be a show, tea, a blanket, etc.).
- Reflect on something you’re worried about right now.
- Write a mini review of your day as if it were a movie.
- Make a list of 7 things in your room that bring you joy.
- Journal about your morning routine and your evening routine.
- Draw a sketch or doodle about something that represents your day.
- Write down one question you’d like to answer in the future.
- Give today a chapter title for your life story.
FAQ
Do I have to write a whole page in a journal?
Nope! You can write a little bit (like One Line a Day using these vertical number stickers) or as much as you want. I like splitting my spread into rough eighths so I have space for a header and 7 days in a week. These planners are set up in the same way!
What should I write about in my journal if nothing happens?
You can write about what you’re watching, reading, or eating. You can also try prompts like the ones listed above or make an About Me page!
Do I have to write every day in my journal?
A journal is super flexible, so you don’t have to write in it every day. Journaling works best when it fits in with your lifestyle. That can mean daily, weekly, or when you feel like it. I do believe journaling more often can lead to benefits.
Can I use stickers or doodles instead of writing in a journal?
Yes! A journal is exactly what you need in the moment. So when words are difficult to put together, you can use stickers, washi tape, collages, or easy doodles as alternatives when you want to express yourself without writing.
What if I run out of things to write in my journal?
Use journaling prompts like the ones above, focus on gratitude, or switch up the type of journaling you’re doing with trackers, lists, or creative pages. You can also do some journal reflection to figure out what’s working in your journal, what isn’t, and how to change it.
No Life is “Too Boring” for a Journal
It doesn’t matter how ordinary your life may feel, because your life matters and is worth writing about. The important thing to remember about a journal is that it is your journal and it isn’t meant to be read by anyone else, so feel free to express yourself openly and honestly.
If you’ve been struggling with what to write in a journal, try one or two ideas from this post tonight and let me know how it goes. Hopefully, reading this post has given you some journaling inspiration, and you’re ready to write in a journal.
Whether you’re looking for journal prompts, daily journaling ideas, or creative ways to fill your pages, the key is to start small and stay consistent.
I would love to see what you come up with! You can leave a comment below or find me as TabletAndQuill on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
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