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Journal prompts

50 evening journal prompts for tonight.

Updated . Written by the Evening Pages team.

Here are 50 journal prompts for the end of the day, grouped by how it went. Pick one that fits tonight, set a five-minute timer and answer it in a few sentences. One short page is enough.

What should I journal about at night?

Write about how the day went: one moment you want to remember, one thing that was hard and one thing you are letting go. If you are stuck, pick any prompt on this page and answer it in a few sentences.

How long should an evening journal entry be?

One short page is enough. Three sentences count. A small habit you keep beats a long entry you skip, so aim for five minutes or less.

How do I use these prompts?

  1. Choose the group that matches your night. A hard day and a good day need different questions.
  2. Answer the prompt in your own words. No grammar, no polish.
  3. Stop when the timer ends or when you have said the thing. You can always write another page.

Closing the day (1 to 8)

Good when you do not know where to start.

  1. What is one moment from today I want to remember?
  2. What took most of my energy today, and was it worth it?
  3. If today had a title, what would it be?
  4. What did I do today that I am quietly proud of?
  5. What did I need today that I did not get?
  6. What surprised me today?
  7. What am I still carrying that I can set down for the night?
  8. If I could replay one hour of today, what would I do differently?

Small good things (9 to 15)

For ordinary days. Keep it short.

  1. What was the best thing I ate or drank today?
  2. What made me smile, even a little?
  3. Who or what was kind to me today?
  4. What small thing went right that I almost did not notice?
  5. What did I see, hear or smell today that I liked?
  6. What is something ordinary in my life that I would miss if it were gone?
  7. What did I look forward to today, and did it live up to it?

When the day was hard (16 to 23)

No need to fix anything. Say it plainly.

  1. How am I really feeling right now? Say it in three plain sentences.
  2. What is bothering me, and what is the smallest thing I could do about it?
  3. What am I worried about that might never happen?
  4. What do I want to say to someone but cannot?
  5. If a friend had my day, what would I tell them?
  6. What am I tired of pretending?
  7. What is one thing that is not in my control tonight?
  8. What would help most right now: rest, company, a plan, or just being heard?

People (24 to 29)

Keep other people’s private details out of pages you share.

  1. Who did I think about today, and why?
  2. Who do I want to thank, and for what?
  3. Who is easy to be around, and what do they do that makes it so?
  4. Is there a conversation I have been avoiding?
  5. What did someone say to me this week that stayed with me?
  6. Who would I like to hear from?

Body, rest and sleep (30 to 35)

A slower page for the last hour of the day.

  1. How does my body feel right now? Where am I holding tension?
  2. What did I do for my body today, good or bad?
  3. What is keeping my mind busy tonight, and can it wait until morning?
  4. What would a perfect, slow evening look like, and what is one piece of it I can do now?
  5. When did I feel most rested today?
  6. What do I want my sleep to be like, and what is one thing I can do to help it?

Tomorrow and a little further (36 to 42)

Write it down so your head can let go of it.

  1. What is one thing I want to do tomorrow?
  2. What is one thing I can let go of tomorrow?
  3. What would make tomorrow feel like a good day?
  4. What am I looking forward to this week?
  5. What is a small thing I have been putting off, and what is the first step?
  6. What do I want more of in my life this month?
  7. Where do I want to be a year from now, and what is one small move toward it this week?

Playful and curious (43 to 50)

For nights when you want to write but not think too hard.

  1. Describe your day as a weather report.
  2. If today were a song, what would it sound like?
  3. Write a letter to yourself five years ago, in three sentences.
  4. What small rule would you add to your own life?
  5. Describe the room you are in as if you were a stranger who just walked in.
  6. What would your younger self think about your evening?
  7. Finish the sentence: “Tonight I wish…”
  8. What do you know now that you did not know a year ago?

Is it good to journal before bed?

Many people like to, because it gives the day a place to land before they sleep. There is no rule. If evenings do not suit you, write at another time. This is not medical advice.

Can I share my answers to these prompts?

Yes, on Evening Pages you can share any page anonymously, and a few real readers get it at 8 pm. You choose page by page. Keep other people’s private details and your own contact details out of shared pages.

Want a reason to keep going?

Writing alone fades for a lot of people. Evening Pages keeps it small, with one page a night, a gentle streak and the option to share a page with a few kind readers. Any page counts for your streak, private ones too, and you can fill in a missed day up to 2 days later. New to journaling? Start with our guide on how to start journaling.

Write tonight's page.

Evening Pages is a free diary app for iPhone. Answer a prompt, keep it private or share it.

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