Before you can start filling them, though, you need to let go of the idea that your content should be extra-special or next-level insightful. Some days you’ll drop nuggets of wisdom. Other days, you’ll write content that will embarrass your future self.

Things To Write In Your Journal (For Meaning And Self-Awareness)

Journaling is amazing, but you’ve probably heard this many times already. Journaling has lots of therapeutic benefits, plus it can simply be a lot of fun. So you decided that you want to get started with your journal. The next question is: What do you write in your journal?

Even though there aren’t any rules in journaling, you don’t want to mess it up either. You don’t want to fill an entire journal with thousands of words, only to later find out that you’d rather have written about something else. If you don’t know what to write in your journal, I’ll show you some of the things that have helped most people get started.

By writing these things in your journal, I guarantee that you’ll never regret any of your hard work. Here are 7 ideas to write in your journal that are both fun, meaningful, and make use of the many benefits of journaling.

Why it’s hard to think of what to write in your journal

It might look like my average diary entry amounts to no more than seven sentences, but in fact I spend an inordinate amount of time writing about my day – around forty-five minutes, usually.

If nothing big happened, I’ll reflect on a newspaper article or a report I heard on the radio. I’m not big on weather writing but have no policy against it. Thus when life gets really dull, I’ll just look out the window and describe the color of the sky. That will lead to something else, most often: a bird being mean to another bird or the noise a plane makes.

Theft By Finding by David Sedaris

While this may not directly produce the most insightful journal entry, it does help get my brain moving. Oftentimes, it’s much easier to write down something worthwhile when you already started with something insignificant.

Life Milestones

Some goals that you want to achieve could be small—like going to get groceries before Friday—while others could be actual milestones in your life. If you have a big goal that you want to focus on, like graduating from medical school, getting married, having your first child, or buying your first home, try writing about it in detail.

These events are not typically something that happened to you. Rather, they are world events that should never be forgotten. Journal prompts that fit into this category could be things like the collapse of the Twin Towers on 9/11, the state of current politics, or even the most interesting news item that happened each day. Throughout history, there are a lot of events that you could write about — the key is to write down these events in your journal.

Captured Moments

If you have already reached major milestones in your life, you can write journal ideas about those events. It could be a detailed recollection of your wedding day, the feeling you had when your child was born, your experience at a rally that you attended, or another unforgettable event. You can also write about specific events in the lives of others. If you get stuck, you can plan fun activities with your kids (here are 88 ideas) or do something new when you’re bored (and here are 151 ideas for that.)

We all face challenges in our lives on a daily basis. If you encountered a struggle today that was difficult for you, your daily journal is the perfect place to write it down. Describe the struggle that you had to face in detail. What happened? How did you feel? Were you able to meet and overcome the challenge that crossed your path?

61 Journaling Ideas to De-Stress and Feel Happy

1. Make a journal list.

2. A meaningful quote journal idea.

3. Affirmation journaling ideas.

4. Journal about something you’re grateful for.

Gratitude and journaling belong together. Start with one thing you’re grateful for, and either expand on that one thing or add at least two more. Pretty soon you’ll have a mood-boosting gratitude list you will find very uplifting.

5. Create an “I forgive…” journal entry.

No doubt, the words “I forgive” bring a certain person to mind whom you find it difficult to forgive. But for your own sake — so you can move past it — at least journal the words “I forgive ____, and I want only what’s good for him/her,” even if you’re not feeling it.

6. Write in your journal something someone said or did that made you smile.

7. Compliment yourself in your journal.

8. Journal a description of your morning routine.

9. Write down the answer to the question, “What would I love?”

10. Answer this journal question, “What am I thinking?”

11. Journal about a milestone you’ve reached or one you’re working toward.

12. Write in your journal about the perfect day.

This can take place in the present or three years from now. Put a description in your journal of the whole day, from waking up in the morning to going to bed that night. Write down all the important details — the big ideas that make your day perfect.

13. Create an entry with someone who is on your mind (and why).

14. Journal about your vision for the future.

15. Write out your personal vision for this day (your intentions).

16. Journal about the food you’ve eaten and what you will eat today.

17. Write about an important event.

18. Describe a challenge you’re facing — or one you’ve overcome.

19. Write about your solution to a particular problem or challenge.

You probably know solutions to some problems or ways to overcome a particular challenge. Maybe you learned it the hard way. Your journal entry about it could turn into a helpful blog post or even a book.

20. Journal about something you’ve read.

Whether you’re thinking of a memorable passage from a book you’re reading, a blog post or article you’ve read recently, or a magazine headline you saw while standing in a check-out line, write about what sticks in your mind and why it matters to you (if it does).

21. Write about a fear you have and how you choose to respond to it.

22. Begin a journal entry with a prayer.

Whether you have questions you need to be answered, or you’d like help with something, writing about it makes it more likely that you’ll get closer to the answers, blessings, and accomplishments you’re seeking.

23. Write about a “note to self.”

24. Write a letter to someone.

A great journal writing prompt is to write a letter. In your journal you can prepare the message to someone with whom you’re having a dispute, someone you need to reconnect with, or someone you want to share your love for.

25. Write a letter to someone who has passed.

26. Start with a memory (recent or distant).

27. Use an image that sparks an idea for journal writing.

If you’ve ever bought a painting that made you imagine a life that might one day be your own, or if you saw an image in a magazine or on the internet that caught your attention and took you places in your mind, write about that.

28. Journal about a dream you remember.

29. Use a timer for a journal writing sprint.

30. Small daily journal sentence.

Write a single sentence. Then another. Then a third sentence. You can stop then, or you can keep going. Maybe one of those sentences will trigger something. But even if they don’t, you’ve written three sentences, and that’s something.

31. A creative character sketch.

32. Write about something absurd.

33. Write an encouraging personal note to yourself.

Begin like your writing in a diary and write an encouraging note to yourself about the day you’re going to have or about a challenge you’ll be facing today. Be a friend and write the words you need to hear.

Sources:

https://www.trackinghappiness.com/what-to-write-in-your-journal/
https://www.developgoodhabits.com/what-write-journal/
https://liveboldandbloom.com/11/writing/journaling-ideas

It started with Generation X, people born between 1965-1980. The preceding generation was the Baby Boomers, born 1946-1964. Post-World War II, Americans enjoyed newfound prosperity, which resulted in a "baby boom." The children born as a result were dubbed the Baby Boomers.

What Are Baby Boomers? – Definition, Age & Characteristics

Individuals born in America between 1946 and 1964 are referred to as ‘baby boomers’ as a result of the significant increase of births that occurred during that 22-year period. Learn about the definition, characteristics, and effects of baby boomers on the aging demographic in America. Updated: 09/21/2021

Baby boomers are a designated group of people who were born between 1946 and 1964. They are labeled as ‘baby boomers’ because during this period of time, there was a statistically significant increase in the number of births that occurred. In 1946, the first year of the ‘boom,’ there were 3.4 million babies born in the U.S., a record number during a 1-year period. These numbers steadily increased to roughly four million babies born each year between 1953 and 1964. By the end of 1964, when the trend started to decline, 76.4 million people were born during that 22-year period, which comprised about one-quarter of the U.S. population.

People grow older. Birthdays stay the same.

A common source of confusion when labeling generations is their age. Generational cohorts are defined (loosely) by birth year, not current age. The reason is simple — generations get older in groups. If you think of Millennials as college kids (18 – 22), then not only are you out of date — you’re thinking of a stage in life, not a generation. Millennials are now well out of college, and that life stage is dominated by Gen Z.

Another example, a member of Generation X who turned 18 in 1998 would now be over 40. In that time, he or she cares about vastly different issues and is receptive to a new set of marketing messages. Regardless of your age, you will always belong to the generation you were born into.

Gen A: Generation Alpha starts with children born in 201 2 and will c ontinue at least through 2025, maybe later (approximately 48 million people in the U.S.)

Sometimes labeled with the moniker “Zillennials”, those wedged at the tail end of Millennials and the start of Gen Z are sometimes labeled with this moniker — a group made up of people born between 1994 and the year 2000.

Originally, the name Generation Z was a placeholder for the youngest people on the planet — although Generation A has now taken over that distinction. However, in the same way that Gen Y morphed into Millennials, there is certainly a possibility that both Gen Z and Gen A may adopt new names as they leave adolescence and mature into their adult identities. While the label Gen A makes discussion easier, it may not be the last word on this group of humans.

Characteristics of Baby Boomers

Hard-working and focused: The baby boomer generation worked hard for their livelihood. They were born to realize the American dream, and they strived to reach it. It is the generation that witnessed the civil rights movement, women’s empowerment, and the moon landing – tasks that required hard work and goal getters.

Competitive : By virtue of being born in a period of high birth rates, baby boomers grew up competing for things in school, society, and the economy. In the early years of the generation, schools were overcrowded, colleges saw limited capacity, and jobs were limited. Therefore, baby boomers grew up fighting to compete for resources and win. They would not settle for second if the first was attainable and are defined by this need to succeed.

Value relationships: Baby boomers grew up together, some as large families and some as friends. Together with family values, such relationships strengthened over time, helped in part by increasing labor laws, which created more free time.

Independent: Baby boomers developed an independent mindset and self-confidence through hard work and abilities. In addition, they are resourceful and confident to handle matters themselves.

Pursue excellence and quality: Baby boomers lived through a period of change after the war period, causing them to accept quality and excellence for all goods and services. They are also prepared to pay top dollar for a commodity they perceive as high value.

What Generation Came Before Baby Boomers? Which Came After?

As noted, the Silent Generation came directly prior to the Baby Boomer generation. This generation, which spanned from 1925 through 1945 was an era in which these individuals were considered more cautious than their parents were. This generation was responsible, though, for shaping the 20th century pop culture and they brought with them television legends, filmmakers, gonzo journalists and political satirists. Interestingly, there are no presidents born in this generation.

Generation X came after the Baby Boomer generation. These individuals were born between 1964 and 1982 (sometimes this is from 1965 through 1979.) No members of this generation served as president. However, this generation is known to have done well. The group collectively learned more than Baby Boomers did when they were the same age. However, only 36 percent of them have more wealth than their parents. That’s due to the increased amount of debt held by this generation. By 2028, Generation X will outnumber Baby Boomers. As of 2016, there were between 61.2 million and 65.6 million present in the country.

What Generation Are You If You Are On The Cusp?

On 10-21-2017 we added info on iGen, and changed their start date from 1996 to 1995, and changed Millennials end date from 1995 to 1994. To be consistent with Jean Twenge PhD’s work. Also changed iGen end date from 2010 to 2012 for the same reason.

Why make these changes? The cut off dates for each generation vary over time as the characteristics of that generation become more well understood. In the US, it appears demographers are trying to stick to ranges of 15 years (Japan uses 10 years). Finally, as the public pays more attention to generations, such as Millenials, certain dates become more accepted.

The bottom line is that the experts do not agree on when generations begin and end. Sorry for this confusion. I would prefer to have things nice and tidy, precise and exact.

On 5-30-2017 I clarified that the weapons of mass destruction the Bush Administration lied to us about, was of the nuclear and biological types. They did find chemical weapons which are considered WMDs (I did not know that), although that’s not what scared us into war. It was the fear that Iraq could use nuclear and bio weapons against us. They already had a history of using chemical weapons against their neighbors and their own people.

References:

https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-are-baby-boomers-definition-age-characteristics.html
https://www.kasasa.com/exchange/articles/generations/gen-x-gen-y-gen-z
https://corporatefinanceinstitute.com/resources/knowledge/other/baby-boomers/
https://www.seniorliving.org/life/baby-boomers/
https://www.careerplanner.com/Career-Articles/Generations.cfm