93 Creative Journal Prompts to Brighten Your Winter Days

Shorter days and low temperatures are the perfect excuse to stay in and curl up with a blanket and your journal.

To help you embrace the chill and make journaling easier this winter, we’ve curated a list of creative journal prompts designed to brighten your winter days.

From exploring seasonal joys to sparking your imagination, you’ll find a range of inspiring ideas to keep your writing fresh and engaging. And with 93 prompts in total, you have a new prompt each day of the winter season!

These prompts are inspired by winter, but can be used as inspiration year-round, so let them inspire your creativity and self-discovery as you embrace the cozy, introspective side of winter and snuggle up with your journal and favorite pen.

93 Creative Journal Prompts to Brighten Your Winter Days

1. Create a mood board for the winter season. (Write it out, and/or add pictures and other media to make it fun)

2. Make a list of all the activities and experiences you want to do and/or have this winter.

3. Write about the changes in weather and how they affect your daily life and mood. 

4. Describe your absolute favorite treat, and don’t forget to savor it with words.

5. Explore the concept of work-life balance. How do you prioritize your personal life while pursuing your professional goals?

6. Four affirmations that really resonate with me right now are ___ because ___.

7. If you were going to a fancy costume ball/masquerade, what would you wear? (Describe your costume with words or pictures.)

8. What is your favorite childhood memory? How does thinking about it today makes you feel and why?

9. Describe a journey or travel experience that expanded your perspective and understanding of yourself. How did the new environment influence your self-discovery? 

10. Visualize yourself embracing self-care as a daily ritual rather than an occasional indulgence. How can you prioritize your well-being and work a self-care ritual into your day? 

11. Which fictional characters would you love to have a drink with? What drink would they order?

12. What small actions can you take each day to cultivate a mindset of gratitude?

13. What was the most awesome thing to ever happen to you? Describe and reflect on the experience.

14. What scents do you connect with the winter season and why? How do they make you feel during winter?

15. Pretend you are the ruler of a magical kingdom. What is the most unusual law or tradition you would have and why?

16. My five favorite historical figures are ___ because ___.

17. Write about a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone and took a risk. How did it make you feel? What did you learn from this experience? 

18. Does technology and media have an impact on your mindfulness and mindset? How do you create boundaries to protect your mental space? 

19. How do you cultivate a supportive inner dialogue with your self? 

20. My favorite books to cozy up with in the winter are ___ because ___.

21. In what ways have your goals and priorities shifted over the past several months, and what does that say about where you are in your personal growth journey?

22. If you could instantly teleport to any where and when for a single meal, where would you love to go and what would you choose to eat? What’s the reason behind your choice? 

23. What is a goal you’ve achieved through perseverance and determination? Celebrate and be proud of yourself for it with words!

24. Create a list of self-care practices that you especially love doing in the winter season. How do they help you feel your best?

25. You’ve just been given a magic wand that can grant any 20 wishes, what’s the first wish you grant? What do you with the rest of the wishes?

26. Think about a recent shift in perspective that transformed your thinking. What triggered this change, and how did it impact your life?

27. If I woke up tomorrow fluent in three new languages, I would choose these languages ___ because ___.

28. A new holiday tradition I want to start this year is ___. It appeals to me because ___.

29. What are your preferred ways to relax and unwind on chilly nights? Why do they help you relax? 

30. Write a letter of forgiveness to yourself for any perceived shortcomings or mistakes. How can you release guilt and move forward with a lighter heart?

31. My absolute favorite thing about the winter is ___ because ___.

32. Write about a time when you prioritized rest and relaxation. How did this period of rejuvenation impact your overall well-being? 

33. Today my mood is ___ because ___.

34. Imagine you discovered a magical door in your backyard. Where does it lead, and what wonders await on the other side?

35. Make the ultimate list of all your current favorites. This can be anything from books and movies, to foods, songs, places, colors, clothes, etc.

36. Write a letter to your past self, offering words of encouragement, love, and support. 

37. Describe a foggy morning and the sense of mystery it brings. How does it reflect your own introspection?

38. List the colors you associate with winter and why they evoke the winter mood for you.

39. A six-course menu for my ideal meal looks like ___.

40. Show yourself some appreciation and love by writing down five or more things that you fully love and admire about yourself (both inside and out). Then write three things you like about yourself. Explore how you can elevate these likes into a deeper sense of self-love and appreciation.

41. Visualize your ideal state of balance and harmony across the different areas of your life. What single action can you take today to move closer to this vision?

42. Who is a role model or mentor that inspires confidence and empowerment in you? How do they do so? What qualities do you admire most about them?

43. If you could instantly invent anything, what would it be and how would it improve your life and/or the world?

44. What are the essentials you need or love to have for the winter season? Why are they essentials? 

45. The most recent dream I had was ___, and it made me feel ___.

46. Create the ultimate list all of the gifts (no matter the cost) that you would love to give to people you love and care about. 

47. Write about a challenge or obstacle you’ve overcome that taught you something new about yourself. In what ways did you grow from this experience?

48. What is a cherished holiday tradition from your past? Do you still follow it? Why or why not?

49. If you could bottle the spirit of winter, what would it look, smell, and feel like?

50. If I had a ship that can travel to any point in time and/or space the first place I would explore is ___ because ___.

51. Create a time capsule on your journal page representing your life up to now. What items would you include and why? How do they represent your life at this moment? 

52. What’s one new thing related to winter that you’ve discovered recently which brought you joy?

53. Write about a recent accomplishment that boosted your confidence. How can you bring that feeling to mind when you encounter a perceived setback?

54. A positive habit or behavior that I want to cultivate in my life is ___ and I can start adding it to my daily routine by ___.

55. Think about a skill or talent you wish you had. What steps can you take to develop that skill, and what might it bring to your life?

56. If I could read any book, or watch any movie/show, again for the first time I would read/watch ___ because ___.

57. You’re granted the ability to visit any fictional book or movie/tv world. Where would you go and why? Would you want to go as yourself, as someone completely different, or would you want to simply trade places with an existing character from that world?

58. What is the single best thing you’ve ever done in the winter season? How did it make you feel? Would you want to do it again this winter? Why or why not?

59. Plan an imaginary dinner party and invite anyone you want (alive or dead, real or fictional). Who do you invite and why? Where do you hold the dinner and what’s on the menu?

60. Explore the concept of “home” beyond a physical place. What people, activities, or feelings make you feel most at home in your own life?

61. Reflect on a challenge you’ve overcome recently. How did this experiences serve as a reminder of your strength and resilience? 

62. Something that brought me joy last month was ___ and thinking about it today makes me feel ___.

63. What is your least favorite thing about winter and why? Would you eliminate it from winter if you could? 

64. Think about a recent time when you allowed negative self-talk to affect your mindset. Write the exact negative self-talk you told yourself (or as close as you can remember) and then reframe it to cultivate a more positive inner dialogue. 

65. If you could hang out with any tv/movie character for a week, who would you pick? Would you hang out in your world or theirs? What would you do together?

66. On the condition that it would still perfectly function in this world, what is one magical item from a fictional world, that you would love to have? Why? What would you do with it? 

67. Do a little fantasy home design/decorating with a million dollar budget and write about what your ideal cozy reading/journaling nook looks like.

68. What is one pain in your life that you would most like to heal? What is one small step you can take this week towards healing it? 

69. What scents make you think of the winter season and why? How do they remind you of winter when you smell them during other seasons?

70. Make a list of all the movies and tv shows that bring you so much comfort and joy that you can watch them again and again. Why do they make you happy?

71. Consider the connection between mindset and resilience. How does adopting a resilient mindset help you navigate challenges and life’s curveballs?

72. If you could visit any place in the world during the winter season, where would you go and why did you pick that place? How would you spend your time in that place? 

73. Write about a ritual that brings you comfort and joy. How does this ritual contribute to your sense of well-being?

74. My ideal day looks like ___.

75. If you could swap lives with anyone for a day, who would you pick and why? What do you think their day-to-day life looks like?

76. What’s one accomplishment in your life that made you exceptionally proud? Beyond experiencing pride, what other emotions did it evoke?

77. List three movies and/or books that capture the winter vibe for you. Why are they the perfect examples of winter for you?

78. If you had a magical pocket that could hold anything, what quirky or unexpected items would you always carry with you?

79. I love these scents ___ they make me feel ___.

80. Write about a recent moment when you acted with courage despite feeling afraid. What did this experience teach you about your inner strength?

81. If you were a character in a book, what genre and type of book would you want to be in and why? 

82. Describe a dream or aspiration you’ve never shared with anyone. What’s holding you back from pursuing it?

83. If your emotions were colors, what color palette would represent your current state of mind? Why? Bonus: grab those colors and make some art with them right in your journal.

84. Imagine you’re giving a TED talk about a topic you’re passionate about. What would the title of your talk be, and what message would you want to convey to the audience? 

85. What recurring patterns or themes do you notice in your life, and what do they reveal about your inner desires or struggles?

86. What winter activity do you look forward to every year? How does it bring you joy?

87. What three fictional characters do you resonate with the most, and what qualities in them do you admire and/or relate to?

88. Write about a time when you felt completely at peace with yourself and the world around you. What led to this sense of inner harmony? Consider ways you can cultivate and embrace that sense of harmony in your life today.

89. If you had the option to live in any historical era, including the past, the present, or the distant future, which would you choose and why? How might your life differ if you selected a time in the past or the future?

90. Create a list of quirky and unconventional superpowers and/or magical gadgets you wish you had and how they would revolutionize your daily routine.

91. Write about a hobby you’ve always been curious about but haven’t tried yet. What intrigues you about it, and why haven’t you explored it yet? 

92. Consider a favorite item you own and delve into its history or significance. How did it come into your possession, and what does it symbolize to you?

93. Reflect the progress you’ve made this year. What achievements are you most proud of, and how have you grown?

With 93 prompts at your fingertips, you’re well-equipped to transform winter’s quiet moments into opportunities for creativity and reflection.

Let your journal become a cozy retreat for your thoughts and ideas. Keep things light and fluffy or dive deep into your feelings. These prompts are here to guide and inspire you all season long.

Happy journaling!

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