38 Life-Altering April Journal prompts

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April is here and the weather is getting warmer. It’s a great time to start writing again, so I’ve compiled some April journal prompts for you to try!

April is a great month for reflection, and it’s also a good time to plan out your future. Whether you want to consider your goals for the year or reflect on what has happened so far this month, journaling can be an amazing tool for self-discovery. I love using prompts like these to help me get in touch with my thoughts and feelings in order to unlock my creativity—and yours too! Here are some of my favorite journal prompts for April:

April Journal Prompts

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1. Reflect on your goals for the month, and how they’ve gone so far.

Now that you’ve reflected on your goals for April and how they’ve gone so far, it’s time to look at what you want to achieve next by writing these prompts in your journal.

What are the key areas of your life? For example health, relationships, career, or business.
What are some big dreams you have in these areas? For example: lose weight; start a business; get married.
How can those big dreams become reality? For example: join a gym; sign up for an online course about starting your own business; or meet someone who might be interested in dating me (and vice versa).

2. Write down something you’re looking forward to this April.

Write down something in your journal you’re looking forward to this April.
Think about the things that make you happy, like spending time with friends or family, doing a fun activity, or going on vacation.
Write about what excites and energizes you-it could be anything from a new job opportunity to a favorite hobby.
If there’s something specific coming up in your life that has been on your mind lately (a big birthday party), write about it!

3. Think about how you want to treat yourself in the future.

Don’t worry about what other people think.
Ask for help when needed, and don’t be afraid to ask for more than one type of assistance if necessary.
Don’t let your fears stop you from doing what you want. If something scares or intimidates you, that doesn’t mean that it’s not worth doing-it just means that there may be some steps in between where you need to work through your fears before you can accomplish your goals! It can take time and practice, but eventually, you will get there!
Making mistakes along the way they are an important part of learning and growing as an individual (and human).

4. Write about your feelings in response to the question, “How are you?”

Be honest. It’s tempting to say “fine,” but if you’re not fine, then don’t lie about it! Instead, try writing about what is going on in your life and how that makes you feel.
Write about how you are feeling today (or right now). If there is something specific that has been bothering or affecting your mood lately, write about that too!
Think back over past events or experiences that have shaped who you are as a person today–and use those memories as inspiration for what to write next week!

5. What’s one thing you wish for more of in your life?

Time.
Money.
Peace of mind.
Love, in all its forms and degrees of intensity (including self-love).

The list could go on and on health, happiness, or even just a little more quiet time to yourself every day!

6. Describe your ideal morning routine.

One of the easiest journal prompts for April. Describe your ideal morning routine such as:

Wake up early.
Eat breakfast.
Exercise, if you’re into that sort of thing. Or at least get out of bed and move around!
Meditate or do whatever it is that relaxes you and makes your brain feel less like mush in the morning (this one’s important).
Read a book or write in your journal while drinking tea/coffee/hot chocolate/whatever your favorite hot beverage is.

7. If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself at age 18, what would it be?

If you could go back in time and give advice to yourself at age 18, what would it be?

Be yourself. Don’t worry about what other people think or say about you. You are unique and special, so embrace that!
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes because they all happen for a reason. If something doesn’t work out the way it should have been done, then don’t worry about it. Move on with life and learn from your mistakes instead of dwelling on them forever (which will only stress everyone out).
Be kind to yourself and others around us because we never know when our time will come up next time around this earth. so enjoy every moment while living each day like it’s our last one here together!

8. What do you think is the most important lesson life has taught you so far?

One of the most difficult journal prompts is looking into life lessons in April.

The most important lesson life has taught me so far is that it’s okay to fail, and it’s also okay to ask for help.

I’ve had many moments where I felt like everything was falling apart around me and there was nothing I could do about it. But then I remembered: sometimes failure is just part of the process! If you’re doing something new or difficult, there will be some bumps along the way as you learn how to do it better next time around.

And don’t forget that asking for help isn’t shameful; it shows that you value yourself enough not only as an individual but also within society at large (which means other people will benefit from your knowledge).

9. Take time to explore yourself by writing down your thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

Writing is a great way to explore yourself. When you write, you can think about what you want from life and what your goals are. You can also find your voice and express your feelings in a way that feels authentic for you. Writing helps us get to know ourselves better, so take some time this month to explore who YOU really are!

10. Think about the things that make your day easier and what makes you feel good.

As you begin to think about the things that make your day easier and what makes you feel good, it’s important to also consider the opposite.

Think about the things that make your day harder and what makes you feel bad.

List them all:

What makes me happy?
What makes me sad?
What makes me angry?
What disappoints me most in life?

11. What would happen if you didn’t have to worry about money or bills?

If you didn’t have to worry about money or bills, what would happen?

You could spend more time with your family.
You could travel more often and see the world from new perspectives.
You might buy that car or house that’s been on your wish list for years (or even decades).
Or maybe you’d save up some cash and invest in stocks or bonds. So that one day when you’re ready to retire early, which seems like a pipe dream right now, you’ll be able to live off the interest alone!

12. What do you enjoy doing most during your free time?

Take dive deep into things you really enjoy doing during your free time.

Listening to music
Reading a book
Playing a game
Watching TV
Going for a walk or jog (or even just walking the dog)

If you have kids, spending time with them is always worth doing!

13. Write about your goals and plans for the next six months.

Write about your goals and plans for the next six months.
Make a plan to achieve your goals.
Make sure that your goals are achievable in this time frame.

If you’re like most people, you probably have a lot of ideas floating around in your head about what you want to be doing with your life. The big picture stuff like finding love or traveling the world or starting a business. But when it comes down to actually making those dreams happen, there’s often not enough time or money, or energy available at any given moment.

That’s why setting realistic goals is so important: if we set ourselves up for failure by trying too much at once (like quitting our jobs after just two weeks) then not only will we end up feeling discouraged by our lack of progress but also risk losing opportunities because we weren’t open-minded enough about how long something might take!

14. List a few things you wish you’d learned earlier

Here are examples:

You are not alone.
You can do anything you set your mind to.
Not everything is as bad as it seems, so try not to worry too much about things that go wrong or seem difficult at first glance (or even second).
Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it! It’s okay if someone tells you no; they might just not have the time right now or they’re busy with something else important in their lives that day/week/month/year (and so on).

15. Name a great moment in your life

A great moment in your life might be a wedding, graduation, or celebration. It could be the moment when you felt like you’d achieved something or were being yourself.

What was the best moment of your life? Why do you think it was so great? (If there were multiple moments that were equally good, and why not?)

16. How do you want to grow in the next year?

Add these prompts to your journal in April to start preparing for your next year goals.

Write a list of things you want to accomplish in the next year.
Write a list of things you want to do differently in the next year.
Write a list of things you want to learn in the next year.
Write a list of things you want to achieve in the next year.

17. Name the best thing someone said to you recently

The best thing someone said to you recently such as:

I asked a friend for help with something and they gave it to me, even though they were busy. It made me feel good about myself and our friendship.
Someone forgave me for something I did wrong, even though it was hard for them to do so. It showed that they cared about our relationship more than the mistake itself (and also made me feel really good).

18. What is something that gives you hope in this world?

What is something that gives you hope in this world?

It could be a person, book, movie, or song. It could also be something that you’ve experienced personally or read about. Maybe it’s a dream of yours that seems impossible now but if it came true would make the world better for everyone.

19. Name the happiest moment of your life

The happiest moment of your life?

It’s a question that can be difficult to answer, but it’s one worth thinking about. The happiest moments in our lives are often the ones we don’t remember well or even at all. They’re the small moments that happen when we’re not paying attention. The time spent playing with our dog, laughing with friends over dinner or just sitting quietly by ourselves doing nothing at all.

20. Make a gratitude list.

The first thing you should do is write down three things you are grateful for.

Be specific: instead of “I’m grateful for family,” try writing something like, “I am grateful that my mom made me chicken soup when I was sick.” Or if it’s more convenient for you to think about what others have done for you, then write down something like, “I am grateful that my friend helped me clean out my closet last weekend,” or even better yet–“My friend gave me advice about how to deal with my mom.”
Think about what YOU’VE done as well as what others have done: sometimes we forget all the good things we’ve given to other people in our lives. But this exercise is meant specifically so that we don’t forget! You could say something like: “I’m grateful because I donated money today.” Or maybe even better…

21. Write about something that makes you feel proud of yourself.

Write about something that makes you feel proud of yourself.

I’m proud of myself when I do something new and learn something in the process. For example, I recently learned how to play guitar (I’m not very good at it either).

Other times when I felt proud were when my friends complimented me on being nice or helpful, or if people told me how much they liked my blog or writing style 🙂

22. Write about an accomplishment from your past, no matter how small or large it was.

Think of an accomplishment from your past, no matter how small or large it was. This could be anything from a new hobby that you’ve been working on, to a promotion at work or even something as simple as learning how to cook an excellent meal.

Whatever it is that makes you feel proud of yourself and gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside, write about it! It doesn’t have to be something big, just something that makes you feel good about yourself and your life in general.

23. Plan out your next day or week – make it productive!

Plan out your next day or week. Make it productive!

Don’t forget to take breaks. You can’t work for 24 hours straight, so don’t try it. Take regular breaks for food and water, or if you want to get up and stretch your legs for a bit. It’s also important to remember that sometimes taking a nap is necessary as well – even if only for an hour or two at a time (this may vary depending on how long you’ve been awake).
Don’t forget to eat healthy foods throughout the day – this doesn’t necessarily mean dieting; just make sure that whatever food items are included in your meal plan have some nutritional value, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains (such as oatmeal), nuts/seeds/beans (legumes), low-fat dairy products like cheese/milk.

24. Write about someone who changed your life.

Here are 3 prompts to add to your journal and help you discover people who have made a positive impact in your life in April.

Write about someone who has inspired you.
Write about a teacher or mentor who changed your life for the better.
Write about someone who has helped you in a time of need, whether it was a family member, friend, or even a stranger.

25. Write about what inspires you in your life.

In April, find out your true inspiration by diving deeper into these journal prompts.

Write about a time when you were inspired.
Write about a time when someone else inspired you.
What inspires you in your life?
What inspires me to create art? I’m inspired by the colors of nature, like the reds and oranges of fall leaves, or the deep blue sky on a clear day. Art gives me an outlet for expressing my feelings through color, line, and texture–and it also makes me feel good!

26. Write about a time when you failed at something, and how you’ve grown from it.

Write about a time when you failed at something, and how you’ve grown from it.

You’re welcome to write about your most recent failure or one that happened long ago. Either way, write the lessons learned from this experience and how it has shaped who you are today.

27. Write about a trip you went on recently.

You could write about the sights you saw and how they made you feel. If there was one thing that stood out to you, focus on that. Or describe a person who stood out to you for some reason and why they did so.

If your trip was short or long-distance, it doesn’t matter! Just make sure that whatever words come out of your pen are true to what happened on this journey with all its ups and downs (and maybe even in between), because this is your story after all, and it deserves telling!

28. Write about a time when you felt like giving up but didn’t.

Write about a time when you felt like giving up but didn’t. How did it feel? What did you learn? What did it take? Where do you go from here? (For example, if you gave up on a diet, and then gained weight, write about how that happened.)

29. What is the most beautiful sound you have ever heard?

What is the most beautiful sound you have ever heard?

The answer to this prompt can be something as simple as a bird chirping or it could be something more complex, like the sound of raindrops hitting leaves. It all depends on what you find most beautiful. Maybe it’s a natural sound, like running water or wind through trees. Or maybe it’s an emotional experience that evokes feelings of joy and happiness in your heart. Like when someone sings a lullaby to their child or a mother sings “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” while rocking her baby to sleep at night.

30. Describe a time when you were completely overwhelmed.

If you’re really overwhelmed, add these prompts to your journal in April to help you work on overcoming your challenges.

Describe a time when you were completely overwhelmed.
Describe the situation.
Describe the feelings that came with being overwhelmed.
What actions did you take to get out of it? How did those actions impact your life and others around you?
What did I learn from this experience, and how could I do things differently next time?

31. What is one of your favorite smells?

What is one of your favorite smells?

If you could choose, what would the smell be like? What does it remind you of? Is there a memory that comes with this scent-a happy memory, a sad one, or even something scary?

It could be anything: food that has an especially strong aroma or just something as simple as fresh air after a rain. Whatever it may be, take some time today to think about how smells can trigger memories and emotions within us, even without our knowledge!

32. How do you feel about your closest friends or family members being successful, but not you?

How do you feel about your closest friends or family members being successful, but not you?
What are the benefits of their success?
Do they offer any advice that might help you with your own goals and aspirations?
Are there things they could do better in order to help support you in achieving what’s important to you (or vice versa)?

33. Write about something that makes you feel guilty.

Feelings of guilt can be a sign that you’re doing something right. Guilt can be a powerful motivator, especially if it comes from a place of love and caring for yourself or others around you.

In this prompt, I’m calling people who are feeling guilty about something (or many somethings) in their lives right now: Write about it! Don’t let that feeling of shame keep you from writing down all the details in your journal-the good stuff as well as the bad stuff.

34. Where are you going on your next vacation?

Where are you going on your next vacation?

The best vacations are the ones that bring us to new places, take us outside of our comfort zone, and make us feel like we have a whole new perspective on life. Thoughtfully planning a trip is more than just picking somewhere to go; it’s also about figuring out what to do when you get there! So let’s get started with some questions:

Where will this vacation take place? What makes this destination special? (e.g., “I’m going on an archaeological dig in Greece.” or “I’m going camping in Yosemite National Park.”)
Who will be joining me on this journey?
How much time do I have before my departure date so I can book everything ahead of time (e.g., “I need all my plane tickets within two weeks because otherwise, they’ll sell out.”)?

35. Write about what it feels like to be at the end of your rope

When you’re at the end of your rope, what do you do? Do you feel like giving up, or do you try to get back on track? This prompt is meant to help you explore that feeling and think about how you react when you are at your lowest point.

If this prompt inspires some deeper thinking about how you handle yourself under pressure, then great! But even if it doesn’t, I hope that you find some comfort in writing about what it feels like when all seems lost and hopefully get a few laughs along the way.

36. Write about a mistake you’ve made that still haunts you

Write about a mistake you’ve made that still haunts you.

What was it? What did you learn from it? How did you recover? How do you feel about yourself now, and also the other person involved in this mistake (if there was one)?

37. Write about someone who surprised you by changing in some way, for better or worse

Write about someone who surprised you by changing in some way, for better or worse.

Explain how the change made you feel and what happened next.

38. April is the beginning of 2nd Quarter, which means it’s a great time to reflect on the year so far and set new intentions for yourself.

April is the beginning of 2nd quarter, which means it’s a great time to reflect on the year so far and set new intentions for yourself.

This month, think about your goals for the month, and how they’ve gone so far. Have you been able to stick with them? Why or why not? Think about what went right or wrong with the way you treated yourself during these past few weeks. How can you do better next month?

Last Thoughts

I hope that these April journal prompts have inspired you to keep writing! If you’re looking for more prompts, check out our other months’ worth of ideas.

Also, don’t forget to let me know your thoughts in the comments.

And if this blog post resonated with you, please let’s be friends. Join my newsletter below, because I can’t wait to chat with you more on a personal level.

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