There's a lot you can learn from a single day, and your journal is a great place to do it. By reflecting on your day and evaluating your choices and emotional reactions, you can see where you devote your "mental, emotional, and physical energy," said Julianne Schroeder, MS, LPC, NCC, a therapist and therapeutic yoga instructor.
The idea is to see clearly what you can and can't control, "and then focus on the former," added Sabrina Romanoff, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. These kinds of prompts help you see how you're living "out of alignment with reality," Dr. Romanoff said, and encourage you to find different approaches to tough situations.
Try these prompts:
- When did I feel most at peace today? Where was I and what was I doing or not doing that was helpful? What about that moment can I replicate?
- What bad pattern did I reduce today?
- How am I better than yesterday?
- How can I do better? What would be another way to respond to a difficult situation today?