55+ Refreshing journal prompts for your teen

Paying attention to the mental health of our young adults has never been more important than it is right now. In this age of social media, young adults are being faced with a crisis of self-identity. I advocate journaling when it comes to self-discovery and I believe journal prompts for young adults are an excellent way for them to understand themselves better as individuals.

If you’re a young adult reading this, welcome to this space. You’ll find some great resources here and I aim to answer some of your questions regarding journaling and journal prompts. 

You might also be a teacher or parent looking for journal ideas for teens or journal prompts for students. You’re in the right place.

In this article, you will gain an understanding of how journal prompts are beneficial for young adults and what you should be focusing on when you journal. I will also provide some helpful journal prompts for teens and young adults.

To start with, when should you be using journal prompts?

When should you use your writing prompts?

Journal or writing prompts can be used at any time of the day and often, anywhere that you are. Depending on whether you journal digitally or in a physical book, you will be able to journal in any location and therefore, your writing prompts can be used at any time.

I recommend journaling in the evening before bed. Journaling in the evening helps you to sleep better as you can off load any burdens acquired throughout the day onto paper. Writing down your thoughts helps you to sort through them and gives you a place to leave them so that you can sleep better until you need to return to them the following day.

How do I journal if I don’t like journaling?

The first thing to do is to ask yourself what it is about journaling that you do not enjoy so far.

Have you tried journaling in different locations?

Have you tried using journaling prompts? If so, have you used different kinds of journaling prompts?

Have you attempted to journal at different times of the day?

Different forms of catharsis work for different kinds of people. It is possible that journaling is simply not your thing. I would, however, suggest you vary things up a little in the ways that I have suggested above: location, timing and prompts.

Or maybe you just haven’t found journaling to be interesting enough for you yet. There are several ways to make journaling more enjoyable and I note them HERE.

What should you not write in a journal?

There is nothing that you are restricted to or limited from writing in your journal!

Your journal is your personal space for any and all word vomit and stream of consciousness. You can write anything you want.

What are the negative effects of journaling?

Are there any downsides to journaling? For some people, yes.

For people who are highly pessimistic and who cannot help but see the negative in everything, journaling can become their time to wallow in all the things going on in their lives that make them miserable.

Some people can find it difficult to see the upside of any experience or situation. They use their journaling time to dwell on how bad they feel without moving on to pull out any benefits or lessons. 

Also, journaling can teach you a lot about yourself and if the person you come to believe yourself to be is not someone you’re happy with, that can make you miserable.

The hope is that when young adults journal, they use what they learn about themselves to improve and develop. Journal writing prompts for young adults provide the guidance for them to reflect and go on to find ways to do better and be better in all aspects of their lives.

Here are some thoughtful journal prompts for young adults to do exactly that.

Writing prompts for teens

1. What is the most inspiring thing you’ve ever been told?
2. What brings you joy?
3. What is your biggest strength?
4. What is the greatest responsibility your parents have given you?
5. Describe a place where you felt happiest.
6. Write about a time when you made a sacrifice for someone else.
7. What is something that you would like to change about yourself?
8. List down a bucket list with the things that you have always wanted to do.
9. What is the best choice you ever made?
10. If you can only eat one food for the rest of the year what would you eat?
11. Describe your dream partner.
12. What is the nicest thing you’ve ever done for someone else?
13. Are you a saver or a spender?
14. Which part of a person’s face do you focus on the most when you speak to them?
15. One thing I’ve learned about life thus far is…
16. What made you smile today?
17. Do you think aliens exist?
18. What do you want to be remembered for?
19. How do you really feel about social media?
20. What is your favorite scent? What do you like about it?
21. Which fictional character do you relate to the most?
22. What does it mean to stand up for what you believe in?
23. What is your favorite book? What effect did it have on you?
24. How do you feel about your family members?
25. When do you feel relieved?
26. Write about your town, village or city. What do you like or dislike?
27. What’s the best thing you’ve ever done for someone else? How did it make them feel? How did it make you feel?
28. Who do you trust the most?
29. Do you have a best friend? If so, what makes them so special? If not, what qualities do you look for in a good friend?
30. What makes you feel uncomfortable?
31. If you had the power to create a new holiday, what would it be, and why?
32. Do you think the world treats men and women differently? If so, how?
33. How does your body feel when you feel anxious?
34. What family member do you most enjoy spending time with? What do you love to do together?
35. What are you afraid to talk about?
36. Describe your perfect day.
37. When was the last time you had a perfect day?
38. Who is your hero?
39. If you had to introduce and describe yourself to someone, what would you say?
40. Why is it important to communicate about emotions?
41. What is one thing you need right now?
42. How do you feel when you get a compliment?
43. What is one big thing that we can do to make this world a better place?
44. What encourages you to help another person?
45. What is something you have done that you regret?
46. Where is one of your favorite places?
47. What are three traits that you like about your best friend?
48. How would you rate your communication skills from 1-5, 5 being the best? Why? 
49. Do you care about how others see you or what they think of you?
50. Has a friend ever stood up for you?
51. Have you ever been made fun of? How did it make you feel?
52. Have you ever witnessed racism? How did it make you feel?
53. Have you ever experienced racism? How did it make you feel?
54. Have you ever made fun of someone? Why? How do you think it made them feel?
55. How would your family describe you?
56. Think about your future. What would you like to accomplish?
57. What is the biggest online purchase you have ever made?

So there you have it. Incredible journal prompts for young adults to truly enjoy and feel inspired and motivated by their journaling sessions.