✨📓 We’re just getting started! New products and features are being added each week. Thanks for supporting a small creative brand in its early days 📓✨

7 Journal Prompts for Busy Humans Who Want to Breathe Again

Feeling overwhelmed and out of breath? These seven gentle journalling prompts will help you slow down, clear your mind, and reconnect with yourself. Perfect for busy days when you need a little space to think.

Shirley McDonald-Brown

8/1/20252 min read

You know those days when your brain feels like it’s juggling flaming torches while riding a unicycle on a tightrope over a pit of hungry crocodiles?

Yep. Been there.

Sometimes, what we really need is not another productivity hack. We just need a quiet moment to take a breath, pick up a pen, and spill a little bit of what’s in our heads onto paper. That is where journalling can work its quiet magic.

If you have been meaning to start, or you have fallen out of the habit, here are seven gentle prompts to help you get going again. There is no pressure and no “perfect” pages required.

1. “Right now, I feel…”

Start with the simplest truth you can put into words. No editing and no judgement. Just notice what is here for you in this moment.

2. “If I could press pause on one thing today, it would be…”

Give yourself permission to name the thing that is draining you the most. Even if you cannot pause it in real life, just seeing it on the page can feel like a release.

3. “I’m proud of myself for…”

Big or small, it all counts. Maybe you landed a new client, or maybe you just remembered to drink water. Your wins matter.

4. “Something I’m curious about is…”

Let your pen wander into daydreams. Curiosity is a spark that keeps life interesting and you never know where it might lead.

5. “A small thing that made me smile today was…”

The way the light fell through the window. The smell of coffee. Your dog’s ridiculous happy dance. This is where joy hides.

6. “One thing I’m letting go of is…”

Old worries, other people’s expectations, the to-do list item you have been carrying for six months. Let the page take it for you.

7. “Tomorrow, I want to…”

End on intention, not pressure. Think of this as a gentle guidepost rather than a rigid plan.

A gentle reminder

Your notebook does not have to be neat, clever, or Instagram-worthy. It just has to hold your words, the messy, honest, beautiful ones that help you breathe a little easier.

If you are looking for a fresh page to start with, my Highland Whimsy Notebook Collection on Amazon is made for moments like this. If you would like even more ideas, you can grab my free Notebook Inspiration Guide here.