Winter is for resting and planning. We’ve worked hard to plant seeds in the spring, tend them over the summer, and harvest them in the fall. We’re nesting through the cold months before we repeat the cycle. It’s the perfect season for staying inside, reflecting, and journaling. So make yourself a hot cocoa, get comfortable, and get started on these winter journal prompts.

Why Keep a Journal?

Journaling is surprisingly beneficial! Writing down your thoughts and experiences can help you process emotions, track personal growth, and even spark creativity. As you describe your favorite winter memories, try to write with as much detail as possible to make the memory come alive.

Writing Practice

First, in case this needs to be said, writing more improves your writing skills. Like anything, practice matters when it comes to writing.

That means journaling can help improve the writing you do in other areas of your life! For example, journaling can be a great way to write a story about your winter holiday experiences.

Reflect on Your Goals

Depending on what you journal about, it can be an opportunity to focus on your goals and progress. Write about why you want to achieve the goals you’ve set and brainstorm ways to achieve them.

And don’t forget to track your progress in your journal!

Similarly, you can use your journaling time to think through an aspect of or situation in your life—even simply yourself—to sort out how you feel about it and how you want to address it.

Consider journaling about your plans and goals for the upcoming school semester, work season, or stage of life.

Improve Your Health

Studies are showing that journaling may also reduce stress, improve your immune system response, and even boost your memory. Here’s an article from Intermountain Healthcare about it.

Journaling can also help process feelings as the weather keeps you indoors.

So with those benefits in mind, let’s get started!

30 Journal Prompts for Winter

We’ve divided the following writing prompts into December, January, and February to help you organize your winter journal. But please feel free to pick and choose!

December Journal Prompts

1. You’ve spent the past year planting, growing, and reaping the rewards of your goals and habits. Let’s hear it for you! What are you proud of?

2. What are your favorite outdoor winter activities? Maybe you’re a skier or snowboarder who can’t wait for snow, but even if not, how do you enjoy the outdoors, even if it’s just star-gazing through a window?

3. What are your favorite winter animals or plants that come out near you?

4. Set a self-care goal for this season. What is it and why did you choose it? How will you get started?

5. Set a goal to accomplish over the next year. Why do you want it? What will your life be like after you accomplish it? How can you use the rest of this season to prepare for it?

6. What are you learning this winter season, as you are nested inside?

7. What literature—television, movies, books, theater, music, or the like—are you experiencing this winter? Why do you like it? How does it make you feel?

8. What are your evening and morning routines? How is your sleep? If you need to, what is one step you could take to improve one of them?

9. Winter is full of holidays. What is one of your favorite holiday traditions? Why do you love it?

10. Winter is traditionally the hardest season to get through—just think of our ancestors carefully storing their harvests to get through it. Even though it may not be via a literal root cellar, how are you preparing for the future?

January Journal Prompts

11. Similarly, how are you helping members of your community in their times of need? Why did you choose the method you did, and what do you like about it?

12. Set a financial goal for this season, perhaps a savings goal or a learning goal. What is it? Why do you want to accomplish it? What is your plan?

13. One benefit to shorter days and longer nights: more potential star-gazing! What value in your life is your personal guiding star?

14. Describe a time you made a choice based on your values.

15. What colors do you associate with winter? Why?

16. Set a goal for your home care in this season. Maybe you’re cleaning out a closet or painting a hallway, for example. What is your goal and why are you looking forward to accomplishing it?

17. Describe a favorite winter memory from your childhood.

18. What are your favorite winter foods?

19. Tell the story of the best gift you’ve ever given.

20. Tell the story of the best gift you’ve ever received.

February Journal Prompts

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21. What is an aspect of personal growth that you would like to work on? Why? How could you get started?

22. Write about something you need to forgive yourself for.

23. Set a creative goal for this season. What appeals to you about it?

24. Describe one of your dreams for the future. Imagine it as wonderful and fulfilling as it could possibly be.

25. Winter is the best time for cozy fabrics. What is your favorite thing to wear or curl up in?

26. Who are your favorite people to celebrate with?

27. What is your favorite board game or card game? Why?

28. What is your favorite museum (or other indoor destination)? Why?

29. Write a letter to someone—an actual for-no-reason letter. (We suppose an email would suffice, if you must!)

30. Tell a favorite story told to you by an elder.

How to Start Your Winter Journal

Winter, the coziest season, is a great time for journaling. Here’s how to get started!

Choosing Your Journaling Materials

Fortunately, you don’t need much. You need something to write with and something to write on, and at journaling’s most basic, that’s it.

Choose a journal that you like, because if it makes you happy, it will be easier to pick it up. Consider selecting a journal that reflects the winter season to inspire your writing.

Physical Journals

If at all possible, try to hold your journal in person before you buy it. Get a sense of whether you will reach for it and enjoy using it.

Journal Binding

Determine if the journal will lay flat. That is, can you open it to start writing and have it stay open? This will go a long way toward a more pleasant experience for you.

Is the journal’s binding sturdy? It might be difficult to tell when the journal is new, but check reviews or try to get a sense of whether the cover is going to get detached from the block of pages as you write.

Careful with spiral bindings, too. They lay flat really well, but sometimes they’re too loose and pages start to fall out. Look for a sturdy one.

Journal Size

Think about whether your journal’s size suits you. If you’re going to leave it on your desk and write there, maybe you want a bigger trim size. If you’re going to take it to the coffee shop or the art museum, does it fit in your purse?

Journal Paper

Consider the paper texture. If it’s too glossy, that limits your pen options. A standard ballpoint will probably work, but if you want to use pencil or other type of pen, it might not make a mark or it might smear easily.

Journal Extras

This isn’t necessary, but a ribbon marker is a nice touch on a journal.

If this is going to be a portable journal, an elastic closure keeps it from splaying open inside your bag. Other clasps can be bulkier, so make sure the journal still lays open comfortably if you look at those.

Digital Journals

What digital journals lack in book-nerd cache, they make up for in portability and convenience.

They’re especially handy if you’re journaling about ideas you might want to use later—don’t underestimate a good search feature.

You also have plenty of free and very inexpensive options, from Google docs to specialized apps like Penzu.

Tips for Establishing a Journaling Habit

Establishing a habit can take time, and that amount of time varies. So while you are starting out, it’s worth it to focus on intentionally creating space and time for your new practice and exploring some journaling ideas that you might like to incorporate.

Make a Journaling Spot

Think about what will invite you in. Create an irresistibly comfortable place to write. Stock it with your favorite pens and journal. Will you drink tea (or coffee or water) while you write? What else will help you journal or write a short story about your winter experiences?

While you’re at it, remove any obstacles that will keep you from journaling.

Set an alarm

Pick a time of day to write and set up a recurring calendar appointment to remind you.

Intentionally make space to write at that exact time for the next few weeks, until you’re comfortable enough with the habit to vary it.

Set a timer

If it feels overwhelming to sit down and write for an indeterminate amount of time, try setting a timer for 10 minutes and telling yourself to write that long.

Too long? Try 5 minutes.

Still too long? Try writing one line a day.

Try a habit tracker

Add journaling to your favorite habit tracker, be it standalone or in your planner. There’s nothing as satisfying as filling in another habit tracker box!

(We have a few downloadable habit trackers if you need one!)

Make Journaling Your New Favorite Winter Memory

Please feel free to try and discard—or try and keep—any of these journaling ideas. Personalize your practice and create something that works for you long term. Happy journaling! (Before moving on, take a moment to reflect on your actual favorite winter memory. Perhaps it will inspire some writing!)

What’s Next?

Spring journal prompts of course!

Are you finished with these winter journal prompts but want to keep going? Look no further—we’ve got plenty of journal prompts for adults.

30 WINTER JOURNAL PROMPTS