Prompts for a “Future” Journal – 20 Prompts for Something to Look Forward To
If you’re anything like me, you probably spend a lot of time worrying about the future. Those of us with anxiety have to actively fight to remain in the present and stop ourselves from fearing what might come to pass. But if you also suffer from depression, setting up “dates” and events to look forward to is a tactic recommended to me in therapy. It’s supposed to give us something to anticipate with a positive feeling and bring some excitement into our lives to break up the crushing monotony of living in a depressed state. So, I came up with 20 journal prompts to help you come up with small (or large) things to look forward to.
Some of these might not apply or might not be achievable for the current season in your life and that’s ok. You don’t have to use all 20 prompts. Just take what you need and keep going from there. Here’s three ways to use these prompts!
-Use them in your journal as you would a regular prompt.
-Cut up slips of paper and write down some of the ideas, then pick a slip at random when you need a boost.
-Use the prompts in your journal but with a more artistic flair – Paste clippings you cut from a magazine or printed from the internet; draw pictures or decorate with different color pens. Let your creativity flow!
For each of these prompts, fill in the details! For example, for number 1, why do you want to try the hobby? What materials do you need? Make a plan to go purchase or order them and make it a special moment.
- Pick a hobby that you can try.
- Do something you’ve been too nervous to do. This can be something small, like drive to a new shop in town.
- Pick a new location to visit in your town that you haven’t been to before.
- Pick a museum that you can attend.
- Choose a new haircut you can try. It doesn’t have to be dramatic!
- If possible, think of a nice item you would like to purchase that requires some saving and start a tracker to save for that item.
- Select a local or international cuisine you haven’t tried and go for it!
- Organize a day trip to a nearby city.
- Organize a weekend trip that is easily accessible, like a staycation.
- Select an activity you would like to do with a friend or partner.
- Select a solo activity you would like to go to. This could be a movie or a poetry reading, even a class.
- Think of an ice cream flavor you have never tried and give it a shot. What did you like or dislike about it?
- Go to a popular local restaurant you have yet to try.
- Is there a sporting event you’ve never watched or attended? Select a game and journal while you watch. What don’t you understand about the sport? How are the fans? How are the players?
- Select a music genre you normally don’t listen to and Google local shows or events in that genre. Attend one and journal about how it went.
- Is there a town in your state that you have always wanted to visit but haven’t? Which town is it and what would you like to do when you go?
- Are you close to a body of water you have yet to explore? Find a location near the closet body of water and journal about your visit there. You can visit a state park, the beach, a lake, a restaurant on the coast–it all depends!
- Meal switch – Do you usually get takeout on Fridays? Think of a traditional dinner in your favorite cuisine that you can prepare. Dress up and/or take pictures of the occasion to remember in your journal.
- Sunrise/Sunset – Look for local sunrise or sunset events, depending on if you’re an early riser or a night owl, and attend. If you’re up for it, do the opposite of what you would normally do! I know the idea of sunrise hurts for us night owls.
- Look for local groups and guilds in your area and consider attending a meet up. How did you feel before, during, and after the event? Did you make any new connections?
Let me know which prompts you particularly enjoyed in the comments, or leave some ideas of your own for others to enjoy!
