Not Every Journal Prompt Has to Be Deep

…and that’s kind of the point.

Some days I want to write about my feelings.

Other days, I want to name all my houseplants after retired pro wrestlers and rate the snacks I’ve eaten this week on a scale from “meh” to “life-changing.”

Journal prompts can hold both.

And this post is a love letter to the ridiculous ones.

The Problem with “Proper” Prompts

If you’ve ever searched “journal prompts,” you’ve seen the usual suspects:

• “What are you most afraid of?”

• “Write a letter to your younger self.”

• “How did this challenge help you grow?”

And, hey—those have their place. I’ve had plenty of days where I needed to cry into a notebook and emotionally spiral my way into a breakthrough.

But sometimes? I just want to vibe.

Sometimes I want to journal the way I used to keep a diary—chaotically, sporadically, and as if I’m being interviewed by a very enthusiastic imaginary talk show host.

So, What Do I Write Instead?

The short answer: whatever I want.
The longer answer: prompts that make me feel playful, curious, or just entertained.

Here are a few things I’ve actually written lately:

• “Decide which item in my house has the most main character energy.”

• “Which fictional characters would ghost me, and how fast?”

• “What song would I make my nemesis listen to on repeat?” (The answer is a tie: American Pie or Bohemian Rhapsody. Better yet? Make it a remixed earworm of both.)

• “The most iconic things I’ve said this month (according to me).”

• “If my mood was a candle, what would it smell like today?”

These are not “healing” prompts. These are vibing prompts.
They help me reconnect with my creativity without turning it into homework.

Your Journal Doesn’t Need to Do Emotional Labor Every Day

You’re allowed to just… write for fun.

To document the weird little thoughts that pass through your head.
To write badly, weirdly, delightfully—without trying to “grow” or “transform” in the process.

Sometimes, the silliest prompt leads to the realest insight.
Sometimes, it doesn’t. And that’s fine, too.

Want Prompts Like These?

I made a freebie for that.

3 Totally Rad Writing Prompts is a bite-sized bundle of weird, wonderful prompts that don’t ask you to write a letter to your inner child (unless you want to… with your fave glitter gel pen).

✨ Perfect for:

• Getting un-stuck

• Starting a writing session with zero pressure

• Reconnecting with the part of you that likes to make stuff just for fun

More prompts are coming soon (because of course they are), but this one’s ready for you now.

Final Thought: Write What You Want

Write about your trauma. Or don’t.
Track your snack moodboard instead.

The point is: your journal’s job is to hold space—not assign homework.

✨ Your turn: What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever journaled about?
Drop it in the comments and make me feel normal.