31 Morning Journaling Prompts to Start Your Day With Purpose

Do you want to start your mornings feeling pumped? Here are 31 morning journal prompts for a great day.

For mornings when you feel overwhelmed, unmotivated, or just in need of inspiration, journaling can help you connect with yourself.

But knowing what to write can sometimes be a barrier. In this guide, I share 31 morning journaling prompts to help you set the tone for your day and make choices that align with who you want to be.  

What is a Good Morning Journal Prompt?

A good morning journal prompt helps you envision and plan a positive day ahead. Every morning prompt should do the following:

1. Be open-ended enough to allow you to explore your mind
2. Encourage positive thinking and self-reflection
3. Help you set intentions for the day
4. Be simple enough to tackle when you’re still groggy
5. Inspire new perspectives

The goal of making journal entry a daily habit isn’t to write a masterpiece each morning. It’s not an article. It’s to document your thought process as they come to get clarity. And that’s exactly what Morning Pages are about.

The Concept of Morning Pages

The concept of Morning Pages is a journaling technique developed by Julia Cameron, author of “The Artist’s Way.” 

The idea is to write three pages of raw, unfiltered writing every morning. Brain dump everything on your mind onto paper. No edits, no judgment, just you and your thoughts—even if your thoughts aren’t coherent. 

She describes Morning Pages as “spiritual windshield wipers” because they clear away the gunk of self-doubt, anxiety, and creative blocks. In the end, what you’re left with is a clutter-free and peaceful mind.

How to Start Morning Pages

There are many benefits of journaling daily. It helps you develop a growth mindset, including:

• Creative thinking
• Positive outlook
• Emotional health
• Personal development

To make morning pages a part of your daily routine, all you need is three simple things.

A notebook, a pen, and a few quiet minutes to yourself. 

Here’s how to start your morning journal practice:

1. Get a Blank Notebook

Any journal notebook will do, but choose one that you enjoy writing in. You could choose if you want it dated or undated, plain or bulleted. If you prefer to journal digitally, get a journal app or digital notebook to write in.

2. Find a Quiet Space

Choose a corner of your home where you can have some serenity and settle in there. You can make it even more enjoyable by making a cup of coffee/tea and lighting a candle.

3. Write Three Pages

Set an alarm for 30 minutes and write whatever comes to mind. Don’t censor or overthink—just write. Forget about logic or spelling errors. Keep going until you’ve filled three pages.

That said, there’s no “right” way to journal. 

Your journaling process is uniquely yours. Don’t give in to the challenge of writing. Experiment and find what aligns with you. Some days you might be full of journaling ideas for pages of your notebook; other days just a few lines. And that’s okay. 

The goal is consistency, not perfection.

Morning Journaling Prompts for a Great Day

If the idea of free-writing three pages feels overwhelming and leaves you wondering what to write every morning, starting with prompts can be a great alternative. 

Here is a list of 31 daily writing prompts to help you begin your day with clarity and a sense of control:

1. My intention for today is… 
2. Today, I’m most excited about…
3. What’s one challenge I might face today, and how can I prepare for it?
4. One small thing I can do to make today great is…
5. Three things I’m grateful for this morning are…
6. If today was going to be the best day ever, what would happen?
7. My biggest priority for the day is…
8. The person I want to be on this day is…
9. I will be more present and mindful throughout the day by…
10. I feel most energized when I…
11. One way I can show kindness to myself today is…
12. What’s a small win I’d like to celebrate by the end of the day?
13. I can make today a little bit better than yesterday by…
14. If I could give myself one piece of advice for today, it would be…
15. Today, I will challenge myself by…
16. I can do to bring more joy and creativity into my day is…
17. Today, I will nourish my body by…
18. Something I can do today to make my dream self proud is…
19. My mantra for today is…
20. The biggest opportunity in my day is…
21. I can show appreciation to someone in my life today by…
22. One small pleasure I want to savor today is…
23. One way I can step out of my comfort zone today is…
24. If I could send a message to myself at the end of the day, what would it say?
25. I’m proud of myself for…
26. If I had unlimited energy today, what would I do?
27. One thing I can learn or discover today is…
28. I will show up as my best self today by…
29. By the end of the day, I want to feel…
30. The person I want to connect with today is…
31. If today was a story, what title would I give it?

Final Thoughts: Morning Pages Prompts for Journaling Beginners

Morning journaling practice is an awesome way to improve your mental health and overall daily well-being. You can choose to follow the Morning Pages route or simply use the guided prompts.

When you show up for yourself like this, day after day, you can sort out mental clutter and start every day with clarity and a positive mindset.