5 simple but powerful journalling prompts to ask yourself at the end of January for a positive, creative and growth-filled February

We made it to the end of January! First things first - the most important question: How are you feeling?

If the answer is sleepy, focused, wobbly, cold, hopeful, miserable, calm, cosy, apathetic, or even (a possibly rare) energised, one thing’s for sure - you’re not alone in feeling that way.

Let’s face it, January is a complicated month. For some, it’s a motivating and focused time; for others, it’s about prioritising self-care and recharging. And for many, it’s just a downright struggle.

However your January has been, I highly encourage you to join me in taking a pause - even just for the smallest of moments - and reflect on the past 31 days before you launch yourself into a pancake-filled February.

Why bother? I want my pancakes now.

OK, OK, I hear you. You want to plough headfirst into next week, next month, the next goal… the next pancake. I get it.

But before you do, here are just some of the reasons I believe so strongly in taking a moment to reflect through some gentle journalling:

• Journalling is a pressure-free way to let thoughts flow and gain clarity around feelings, challenges, growth, and achievements you might not have even realised were there, (which, let’s face it, is pretty amazing).

  
  

• If we never take a moment to look at the progress we’ve made, we risk running full steam ahead - gradually losing motivation, self-worth, and any joy in our journey.

  
  

• Checking-in like this allows us to become our own advocates and guides rather than always relying on external validation. This one is huge and has been one of the most powerful shifts for me: a regular journaling and reflection practice has built my self-trust and self-belief. All with a pen and paper!

  
  

• Because it gives you a wonderful opportunity to put on some chill music, light a candle, make a hot chocolate, and feel like a ZEN god or goddess for a few minutes. (If that’s your jam, that is - if you prefer fluorescent lighting and heavy metal during a journaling sesh, you do you!)

Reflecting to grow, not wallow.

Just to be clear (because this is where the word reflection gets a bad name), we’re not looking back just for the sake of it - we’re doing it to help us move forwards. So much can be learned by looking at what has passed (just ask a history professor).

5 questions to ask yourself as you step into February.

Below are five journalling prompts for your transition into February. Let them be your starting points, put pen to paper and let anything that comes into your head spill onto the page. There's no right wrong here. This is an exploration and it's 100% for you.

What I promise you is that this short practice will help you take stock, feel more grounded, and move into February with intention - rather than risking February just happening to you. No one likes that.

And, after all, this wintry time of year is a time for gentle and deliberate growth.

Just ask the crocuses.

Your Journalling Prompts:

1. What felt good this month, and how can I bring more of that into February?

2. What challenges came up, and what did they teach me?

3. What’s one creative or mindset goal I set in January, and how have I moved towards it?

4. What’s one word to describe how I want to feel in February?

5. Is there anything I need to let go of before stepping into the new month?

Whatever answers came up, you can congratulate yourself for showing up for yourself - that's the biggest achievement of all and don't you forget it!

Now then, February here we come. Wishing you a wonderful one filled with self-care, growth, creativity - oh and pancakes. Obviously.

Essie 💛

P.S I have become aware since writing this post that pancake day is in fact the 4th of March this year - a fact that I’m going to have to take some serious time to process...

If you’d like to develop a regular weekly practice of checking in alongside a gorgeous group of like-minded creatives from a variety of fields, come and join us for our Monday evening online sessions.

We offer two weeks of calls for free so you can get a taste of what happens during the sessions and enjoy a glorious dose of intention-setting and co-working - no strings attached.

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