120 Positive Journal Prompts For Self-Care, Self-Love, and Mental Health

If you want to start taking better care of yourself, use this collection of journal prompts for self-care, self-love, and your mental health.

When was the last time you took care of yourself? Practicing self-care when you’re stressed, feeling overwhelmed, or going through some hard times is the most important thing to do. One simple way you can look after yourself, tend to your mental health, and reflect on your emotional state is through journaling. 

Journaling is a powerful tool for taking care of yourself. Whether you’re a journaling newbie, a junkie, or someone who dabbles sometimes, journal prompts are great for when you’re feeling stuck or unsure about what to write about. 

These journaling prompts for self-care, self-love, and mental health are great for when you need some downtime or stress relief. However, the more you use these self-care journaling prompts, the more you’ll reap the benefits of overall journaling. 

What are the health benefits of journaling?

Raise your hand if you’ve ever considered journaling for self-care? I have, and I journal for self-care. Whenever I find myself needing some peace, joy, or relaxation, I immediately turn to my journal. Journaling for self-care comes with many health benefits, such as:

• Reducing stress
• Helping to create self-awareness
• Increase problem-solving abilities
• Lower symptoms of mental health illnesses such as depression and anxiety
• Boost mood
• Tend to your emotions

I’ve been journaling for self-care and mental well-being for a while, and I can testify that it’s helped me to develop new healthy habits, practice self-care, be more forgiving towards myself, and figure out my mental health triggers. 

So, if you’re unsure of topics, questions, or prompts to get you started, here are 120 journal prompts for self-care, self-love, and mental health.

Journal Prompts For Self-Care

1. When was the last time you properly took care of yourself?
2. What have you done for yourself lately that made you feel happy?
3. How do you tend to your emotional needs in times of stress?
4. Do you have any health concerns that you must address?
5. How do you encourage yourself to step out of your comfort zone?
6. List 5 affirmations that you will repeat throughout the week
7. How do you treat yourself at the end of the week?
8. What can you do today to put yourself first?
9. Which boundaries do you need to set and protect?
10. How do you practice self-love and kindness?
11. What are ten things that make you happy
12. When was the last time you were delighted?
13. What is the happiest memory that you have? Describe that moment and describe why that is your happiest memory. 
14. What do you need most to heal right now?
15. What makes you feel powerful and in control?
16. How do you want to feel when you wake up in the morning?
17. How will you pamper yourself?
18. Who is someone you want to treat better?
19. What are you afraid of?
20. Write down one thing you accomplished today?
21. Write down 3 things you accomplished this week?
22. When do you feel the calmest?
23. How do you forgive yourself when you make a mistake?
24. I’m most grateful for…
25. How can you better take care of yourself?
26. How can you better advocate for yourself?
27. How can you put your wants and needs first?
28. What are 5 things that you will no longer tolerate?
29. Where is your safe space?
30. How are you feeling right now?
31. When was the last time you went on a solo date?
32. What are your 10 favorite self-care activities?
33. Which area of self-care should you focus on?
34. In 3 words, describe your current mood. 
35. How would you describe your life to a stranger?
36. Are you happy with yourself right now?
37. How can you hold yourself accountable for doing at least one act of self-care a day?
38. When was the last time you went on a solo date? Describe that day.
39. What is your favorite book, and why?
40. Brainstorm some new self-care ideas you’d like to try
41. What motivates you the most?
42. What is your favorite way to spend time alone?
43. Are you happy with your friendships and meaningful relationships? Why or why not?

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Journal Prompts For Self-Love

44. What is your proudest moment?
45. What are you proud of yourself for?
46. How do you forgive yourself after making mistakes?
47. Write a love letter to your past self.
48. Write a love letter to your present self.
49. Write a love letter to your future self. 
50. What makes you unique?
51. Make a gratitude list. 
52. Name one thing you will do to love yourself more this week. 
53. Your best personality trait is…
54. I love my body because…
55. When was the last time you bought yourself a gift?
56. Do you make yourself feel guilty for spending money? If so, why?
57. What are 3 things you love about your body that have nothing related to how it looks?
58. Where do you see yourself in one year?
59. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
60. Are you treating yourself with the same attention that you give to others?
61. What is stopping you from loving yourself?
62. Do you love yourself?
63. List 3 strengths and how they impact others
64. When was the last time you smiled at yourself?
65. What is an obstacle you’ve recently overcome? How did overcoming it make you feel?
66. Write a promise to yourself
67. How do you express love and appreciation towards yourself?
68. When do you think the most loved and accepted?
69. Who makes you feel beautiful?
70. What are you doing to make yourself feel happy and beautiful every day?
71. Are you taking care of yourself the way you should?
72. Name one physical thing you love about yourself.
73. Name one non-physical thing you love about yourself.
74. When was the last time you said “I love you” to yourself?
75. What is your love language? Do you use it with yourself?
76. What makes you feel loved?
77. What can you do to show up for yourself more?
78. Social media makes you feel…
79. What is the best compliment you have received?
80. How do compliments make you feel? 
81. Name 10 things that you’re great at
82. How has your relationship with others affected your confidence? Describe it. 

Reflect and tend to your emotional needs with these journal prompts for self-care, self-love, and mental health! #journaling #writing Click To Tweet

Journal Prompts For Mental Health

83. Who makes you feel loved and appreciated?
84. What do you do when your mental health is deteriorating?
85. Describe the perfect day
86. Write down one intention that you will follow through with today
87. What triggers your depression and anxiety? Describe it. 
88. What do you need right now?
89. Where do you go when you feel unsafe?
90. What is part of your mental health support group?
91. Write down 3 goals for the week
92. How do you cope with adverse mental health? 
93. Which coping mechanisms do you enjoy using?
94. When was the last time you let yourself feel vulnerable?
95. Did you learn anything from your depression and anxiety?
96. Write down your list of regrets. Now, throw them in the trash or burn them. 
97. What has negatively impacted your mental health the most? 
98. What has positively impacted your mental health the most? 
99. Is there anything that keeps you up at night?
100. What fears you?
101. What are your most significant mental health triggers?
102. What makes you feel the most comfortable with being yourself?
103. What speaks to you on a physical, spiritual, and mental level?
104. When was the last time you took a mental health day for yourself?
105. How is your mental health on a scale of 1-10?
106. Are you allowing yourself to seek professional help if needed?
107. Make a list of emotions. What comes to mind first?
108. How do you deal with stress differently from when you were younger?
109. What is the worst thing about feeling depressed?
110. What is the worst thing about experiencing anxiety? 
111. Have you ever had a panic attack? Describe that moment and how you felt.
112. Do you ever experience fight or flight mode?
113. What do you find comfort in?
114. How are you making sure to recharge and avoid burnout?
115. What drains your social battery?
116. Write about your day so far
117. What makes you feel anxious?
118. What makes you feel depressed?
119. What was the last thing you did that made you smile?
120. How can you work on improving your mental health daily?

How To Journal For Self-Care? 

As with any new health habit you want to create, you must have a strong why and consistency in journaling for self-care. If you don’t have a strong reason, you want to be consistent in journaling, which makes building this habit more difficult. Some of the most common reasons why people start journaling are to 

• Improve mental health
• Track personal development goals
• Manage everyday emotions 
• Build healthy coping mechanisms 

I think journaling is fantastic, especially after a long day of work. It feels so good to pick up a new ballpoint pen, turn to an empty bullet journal page, and write out all my emotions. 

I hope you enjoy these journal prompts for self-care, self-love, and mental health. Journaling has many health benefits, so make sure to use it often.

Check out my these journal prompts

• 25 Personal Growth Journal Prompts
• 100 Self-Improvement Journal Prompts
• 25 Self-Love Journal Prompts
• Journal Prompts For Overcoming Fear