As one year comes to a close and a new year begins, there’s quite a lot to think about. There is so much to reflect on from the past year, and simultaneously so much to look forward to in the next year. Honestly, it’s part of what makes New Year’s my personal favorite holiday. This inspiring time of year is all about reflecting on what’s coming to an end, as well as looking forward to what’s beginning. A New Year signifies the beginning of a new era, while reflecting on the lessons of the previous year. Certainly, we can’t help but break out our journals to dive into some reflective New Year’s journal prompts. While also planning out the next 365 amazing days of our lives.
With that said, you don’t necessarily have to be the type of person to go all out for the New Year to allow this to be a season of deep reflection for you. Nor do you need to have a single New Year’s resolution or even a word of the year to reflect and look ahead by sitting down and writing some New Year’s journal prompts. Although a moment of deep reflection and thoughtful planning will certainly enrich the experience for those of us who do. Whether you’re starting early on your New Year’s resolutions and preparing yourself in advance, or you’re quietly waiting for January 1st to arrive.
Whatever the case, it’s more than worth sitting down for a cozy moment of reflection at the end of the year. Or at the beginning of the New Year, and a new era in our lives. While also giving ourselves something we can read a year from now, and see how far we’ve come.
Setting The Tone For Your Reflective New Year’s Journaling Session
While it’s completely optional and maybe a little bit extra, I always find it quite lovely to truly set the tone for my journaling sessions. Especially when it comes to writing more seasonal and holiday prompts. And with New Year’s being my favorite holiday, of course, I’m going to want to make my reflective and New Year planning journaling sessions extra cozy. Especially as it doesn’t take much to make a New Year’s journaling session feel a little extra special. So why not mix that little bit of New Year’s sparkle with the coziness of a reflective journaling session? Perhaps with a calming cup of tea or a glass of sparkling water. Or even while wearing your favorite outfit or pajamas on New Year’s Eve.
Honestly, it all comes down to how you personally celebrate the New Year. And as I said, all of these steps are just for the vibes. So you don’t necessarily have to set the tone to write these New Year’s journal prompts. But it does make it feel a little more festive and special for this reflective time of year. Even if you’re not necessarily big on celebrating the New Year. Whether you’ll be heading to a New Year’s Eve party afterward, or your journaling session is your New Year’s celebration. Or if you’re choosing to write as the previous year is ending at the end of December, or the New Year is beginning in January.
Setting Up A Motivating and Reflective Journaling Space For The New Year
Whether you’re heading out to a New Year’s Eve party or staying cozy at home, I highly recommend taking a moment of solitude as you sit down to write your New Year’s journal prompts. Simply, so you can have a moment to focus your attention inward as you reflect and manifest. And honestly, reflective moments are meant to be quiet, cozy, and comfortable. So let yourself slip into your cozy space with some snacks and shut the door. Lock the door if you can, so you can fully lock in to your New Year’s journal prompts. Light a good-smelling candle, and let yourself reflect inward.
Whether you journal at the coffee table as the countdown to the New Year plays in the background, or in your bedroom, is entirely up to you. As long as you’re comfortable, cozy, and enjoying writing your New Year’s journal prompts, that’s what really matters.
- Make the lighting cozy and fun. Honestly, I’m not much of a partier. But I do love party lights, which is why I love to turn my galaxy lights and colorful lighting on while I’m writing my New Year’s journal prompts. As well as having some fairy lights on for a little extra sparkle and warmth.
- Bring your vision board(s) into your journaling space. Why not give yourself a visual reminder of what you’re manifesting in the next 365 days as you journal? And if you have a vision board from the previous year, you can reflect on what you’ve accomplished over the last year.
- Play some calming subliminals in the background. Listening to calming subliminals is a wonderful way to supercharge your manifestations for the New Year as you directly focus on journaling about them. And they’re the perfect background music that won’t become too distracting.
Maximizing The New Year’s Manifestation Magic and Reflective Vibes
A New Year beginning is certainly a wonderful occasion for reflection and manifestation. And honestly, the winding down of a previous era into the next is an occasion that deserves to be made truly special. While you don’t necessarily have to go all out for the New Year, it’s more than worth it to give this lovely time some special acknowledgement. And to make the most of the reflective, motivational, and manifestational energy of this season. While also making it a cozy, slow, and intentional moment. So why not incorporate as much of the festive, reflective, and manifestational energy of the New Year write your New Year’s journal prompts?
It’s more than worth it as you allow the previous year to come to an intentional close. And as you prepare for the next era of your life, and all that you will manifest in the next 365 days.
Journal On Both New Year’s Eve AND New Year’s Day
Honestly, there’s so much to look forward to in the New Year and reflect on from the previous year that New Year’s journal prompts call for multiple journaling sessions. Which is why it can be quite lovely to sit down on both New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day to reflect and manifest in your journal. Perhaps, New Year’s Eve could be all about reflection on the previous year. Then, New Year’s Day could be about planning and manifestation for the next 365 days. Or, perhaps, vice versa, or even a bit of both on each day. Although you may be so excited that you’ll likely want to do a bit of New Year’s journaling in the days and weeks following and preceding the New Year as well.
Enjoy Some Festive New Year’s Treats
Having something to snack and sip on as you journal is a wonderful part of the experience. And as the New Year comes in, I can’t help but want to snack on some cheese and crackers as I write my New Year’s journal prompts. Or perhaps a few pieces of fine chocolate and some cookies. Paired with a calming cup of herbal tea. Or some pomegranate juice or sparkling water. I also have a love for sparkling cider as I’m journaling. You may even wish to have a glass of wine or champagne as you journal. Or whatever screams “New Year’s treat” to you. Honestly, a cup of hot cocoa is also great for the New Year!
Make It Visual With Sparkly and Motivating Ephemera
If you’re into creative journaling, adding in some sparkly and shimmery ephemera to your New Year’s journal entries is a lot of fun. It’s also a fun way to visually represent what you’re looking to manifest in the next era of your life, if you have some fun stickers to add in. Or even some printed images to stick into your journal to turn it into a vision board, or to add your own memories from the previous year. Your creative possibilities are absolutely endless. Heck, even simply writing with a silver or gold glittery gel pen adds some extra flair to your entries.
Certainly, all of this is 100% optional. All you really need is a notebook and a nice pen. Or even your iPad and your favorite journaling app. But it’s fun to add some visual interest to your physical or digital journal entries.
Reflective and Inspiring New Year’s Journal Prompts For Stepping Into Your Next Era
As one year draws to a close and a New Year begins, there is truly so much to think about. It is such a wonderful time to sit and reflect on the past year. A lot often happens in a year, both good and bad. So why not take a moment to reminisce on the highlights of the year and solidify them in your journal? While also reflecting on the lessons you learned over the last 365 days. Even if they were hard lessons learned. Remember, even the hard moments of our lives are worth reflection, as they often teach us the most. And let’s not forget those mundane moments we’ve had in between, and how our everyday lives looked over the last year.
That said, this is also a time of release. As some things aren’t meant to follow us into the next year. And your reflective journaling session is a wonderful way to release and let go of what is no longer serving you. As well as recognizing what can’t come with you into the next era of your life. Be it certain patterns, routines, people, or even physical belongings. Seriously, take a moment to sit down and really consider what it’s time to release before the ball drops. And allow your New Year’s journal prompts to put the release into words.
And of course, we also want to be looking forward to the New Year and the next era of our lives. That said, journaling is certainly a wonderful manifestation technique. It helps us put our goals and desires for the next 365 days into words. And to even feel our next era through the words we write in our journal. Which is the most important step in the manifestation process.
Reflections On The Past Year
- What were some of the highlights that made for your favorite memories this past year?
- What were some of the hardest parts of this past year? How did you find strength through them?
- What surprised you the most in the past year?
- What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned over the last year?
- Did you learn any new skills or take up a new hobby this year? Write about the learning process and your progress.
- Was this the year you finally took a step towards your dream life? Take a moment to reflect on it and thank yourself.
- Think about the goals you set for this past year. How many of them did you achieve? Are there any you may need to rethink or pay more attention to in the next year?
- Think about your small wins of the past year, and acknowledge them.
- What wonderful things did you manifest in this past year? List out the big and small things. They all matter as proof of your manifesting abilities.
- If you made one, take a look at your vision board for the last year. How much of it came into fruition? How much of it is still on its way to you?
- Did you have a word of the year for this past year? How did that word show up in your life over the last year?
- Was there someone special who made an impact on your life this past year?
- Did you undergo any major life transitions this year?
- What did you say “no” to this year? How did it feel to protect your boundaries?
- Write a letter to yourself back on January 1st last year. What do you want her to know? What advice do you have for her?
Releasing, Letting Go, and Moving Forward
- What are you walking away from as you head into the next year?
- Are there any cycles or patterns that you weren’t expecting to end this year, but did? How does that feel for you?
- Are there any connections that aren’t serving you, and that need to be severed before the next era of your life?
- Did any friendships or relationships end in the past year? How can you heal and move forward from them?
- Are there any lifestyle choices or habits that you’re ditching in the New Year? This includes habits and daily routines that may look good on paper for others.
- Is there a New Year’s resolution that you’re not making this year, because it doesn’t align with you?
- What are some beliefs or thought patterns about yourself that need to stay in the previous year?
- What parts of your old identity are you still holding onto that need to be released in the New Year?
- Are there any fears that you need to release and face head-on in the New Year? How are you summoning the strength to do so?
- Step into the version of yourself that you’re becoming. What does her daily routine look like? What does she believe? Write from the perspective of the future you.
- Write out your top limiting beliefs. Then rebut them into oblivion, so they hold zero power.
- What do you welcome into your life moving forward in the next year? What is not welcome in your next era?
- How can you prevent old patterns, routines, and beliefs from creeping back into your new era?
- What have you already moved on from in the last 365 days, or even from years prior?
- How does it feel to be free of old burdens as you step into the New Year?
Next Year’s Intentions
- What is your word of the year for the next 365 days? What does this word mean to you, and how can you embody it?
- Write out your New Year’s resolutions for the next year, with measurable goals and an actionable plan.
- What habits are you looking to adopt in the New Year? Why are you choosing these habits?
- Who are you hoping to become in the next year? Write out what her typical day looks like, and envision yourself as her.
- What amazing things could happen if you started early on your New Year’s resolutions? Write yourself a permission slip to start early.
- What are you looking to manifest in the next year? Be specific about what you’re desiring, and script as though you already have it.
- What is your biggest goal or desire for the next year? Plan it and write as though it’s happening in real time.
- What dream or growth path are you committing to this coming year? Even if it feels scary.
- What are you most excited about for the coming year? Get yourself hyped!
- Is there anything that you’re nervous about in the coming year? How can you best prepare yourself for it?
- How do you intend to add a bit more leisure, luxury, and self-care into your life this year? Yes, you need to.
- How can you honor your time and maintain your boundaries over the next 365 days?
- What kind of people are you inviting into your circle in the next year?
- Unfortunately, we already know that not every day is going to be amazing. Write a letter of forgiveness to give yourself grace and permission to rest on the off days.
- Write a letter to yourself on December 31st of next year. What are your hopes for the person she’ll be?
Embracing The Fun, Memories, and Inspirational Spirit of New Year’s
- What are some of your most common New Year’s resolutions? Do you achieve them and build on them every year? Or do you find yourself restarting them every January?
- Have you ever had a New Year’s resolution stick as a permanent lifestyle change? How did you make it stick?
- What do your New Year’s resolutions look like now versus when you were a child or teenager?
- What is one New Year’s resolution you’ve completely stopped making? What led you to stop making that resolution?
- What is one New Year’s resolution that others make that you find a bit silly? Or even completely humorous.
- What is your personal favorite New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day tradition?
- What traditions would you like to start celebrating for the New Year this year?
- What is your favorite New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day memory from years past?
- Is there anything about New Year’s that irks you? Let yourself vent about it in your journal.
- If you’re into tarot and oracle readings, do a reading for the New Year. What cards did you pull? What is your interpretation of the cards?
- If you could celebrate New Year’s from any place in the world, where would it be and why would you choose that place?
- Create a bucketlist of fun things you want to do in the next 365 days.
- Curate a playlist for the next era of your life to act as your soundtrack for the year.
- New beginnings don’t just have to start on January 1st. How can you embrace this new beginning energy on any day of the year?
- Wrap up the previous year by listing your favorites from the past year. Whether it be songs, books read, movies and shows watched, outfits worn, or whatever else.
Conclusion
New Year’s is quite an exciting time for looking forward to the next era of your life. There’s no denying that the energy of a New Year is perfect for manifesting your desires and making action plans for your goals. And as the previous year draws to a close, it’s also a time for deep reflection. Whether you’re looking back on the year’s highlights and taking a moment to reflect on what you’ve learned. As well as considering what is no longer yours to carry in the New Year. And how you wish to move forward as you begin the next exciting chapter of your life.
Regardless of whether you’re simply looking forward to the New Year and putting your dreams into words, or you’re taking a moment to reflect, New Year’s is such a wonderful time for journaling. Especially if you’re looking to do a bit of both. Or even just solidify your memories of this inspiring, reflective, and fun holiday.
Did any of these New Year’s journal prompts inspire you for your New Year’s journaling session? What are some of your personal favorite prompts for stepping into a New Year? Do you personally celebrate the New Year, or is it simply another day for you? I’d love to read your comments!
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