Journaling prompts for high-achievers
Why do you do what you do?
Seriously, why are you so driven to achieve?
As described on my coaching page, I believe there are 6 core steps to overcoming burnout. Of those 6 steps, 3 of them require incredible amounts of emotional intelligence and self-awareness - knowing your why, knowing your values, and cultivating consistent self-awarness.
Now, you might be wondering, why? Why are these 3 steps core aspects of overcoming burnout?
Knowing your why and your values. Because too often the very things that burn us out are emotional burnout and boredom burnout. Boredom burnout - or “bored-out” - results from doing work that you struggle to find meaning or connection to, or from doing work that just isn’t challenging. Knowing your why and your values can help you overcome this because it can help you align your actions with these things. Having a strong why and connecting your actions to it can give you motivation when you’re struggling.
Getting self-aware. This isn’t a one-time thing. Burnout comes and goes. As such, being hyper-aware of yourself, your habits, + what is burning you out is going to be crucially important throughout your life so that you can respond to those real-time changes.
Journaling is an under-appreciated, yet highly-beneficial practice for giving you exactly this. Journaling can not only help you get self-aware, but can help you learn about yourself, your tendencies, your mindset, and how well your habits, routines, etc. are serving you. So, let’s dive into some great journal prompts to help you know yourself, grow yourself, and free yoursel from burnout.
Journaling prompts
On Burnout…
In what ways do I deplete myself and run myself into the ground?
What am I running from and where to??
Why have I allowed myself to be so exhausted?
Why do I feel lost while I struggle to move forward?
How will I know when my work is done? How will I signal that to myself and others?
In what ways have I felt physically not at my best? Where can I improve?
What is causing me the most stress and tension right now and how can I minimize that?
What would I do if I had more energy each day?
Why do I want a higher-level of vitality and physical capability?
If I was going to get into the best shape of my life, what are the first 3 things I would stop doing this year?
On Mindset…
What was the belief system around money and work that I grew up with?
What helps me feel like I’m growing, transforming, and building a life of meaning? A life I can be proud of?
In what ways have I felt resilient?
What is my biggest fear - failure, loss, or success?
What is the biggest hurdle that is holding me back in my life?
When do I feel like I’m most on my A game?
The reasons I value achievement are…?
What are my biggest motivations and whys for showing up in my life?
How can I pep-talk and build myself when I’m struggling to find motivation?
On Work, Career, & Legacy…
At the end of my current position or end of my life, what would I like to feel about myself?
What’s my purpose and my mission?
Which of my unconscious patterns and behaviors might be holding me back?
How can I be more intentional in my work and with those I serve?
What is bringing the most meaning into my life?
I would like to be known as extraordinary for the following things…?
Are the people in my life driving me to be better? If so, how could I find more people that push me to be at my best?
What matters most to me in my career? Why?
On Emotional Intelligence & Self-awareness…
Who is the person I’ve been all my life?
What can that person teach meabout the kind of leader I want to be and the kind of legacy I want to have?
What has my family taught me about being real, vulnerable, and true?
What do I believe about vulnerability and how might that serve me (or harm me)?
Which of the following do I need to have more intention about — personal growth, relationships, knowledge & skill, and contribution? How can I built more intention into this part of my life?
Which emotions have I been experiencing a lot of lately? Are those experiences I want more of or less of and why?
Which triggers could I build into my day that would give me more happiness and vitality?
On Relationships…
Why do I struggle with the relationships in my life?
Why are relationships difficult for me?
What am I not saying to the peopel that are most important to me that needs to be said?
Is there anything that’s being said to me that I need to start hearing? What?
How has my heart been borken - romantically and platonically? What have I learned from that?
How to develop a journaling practice:
Now - full disclosure - I’ve always been a journaler. It wasn’t a difficult process for me to get into because of that. But I’ve gotten enough questions about it from former clients and in DMs to know that it’s not always easy to get started. You may find yourself wondering what to write about, how much to write, how often to write, etc.
Find a journal you love to write in. This might seem super silly, but if you’re using a journal you don’t even like using, you’re probably not going to actually write in it. So, it’s really important to find one you like using. Just like a planner, it’s gotta be something you enjoy putting pen to paper in. I personally love these Artist Loft Journals that can be purchased at Michael’s for like $6. These are the biggest things I find to look for in a journal:
Quality. You dont’ want it to fall apart before you’re done writing in it. You want pages that won’t rip at the seams and thick enough paper that your pen won’t bleed.
Length. Longer might seem better, but it will just make it less portable.
Inspiration. I love inspirational quotes on my journals. I often pick a journal with a quote that relates to where I’m at with my life.
No Expectations. If you go into your journaling practice with too many expectations, it’s not going to work out. You can’t have expectations about knowing what to write about. It’s okay if you start a journaling session not knowing what to write about. Not every word you put on the page has to be eloquent or well thought out. Just word vomit. Also, journal prompts - like those above - are your friend. You can’t have expectations about how much you’re going to write either. Again, I’ve been journaling for a while so I aim for about 3 pages each day. A paragraph might be a good starting point for you. Or maybe it’s more of a page. Or maybe you journal in lists. That’s okay! Lastly, don’t have expectations about the level of “aha” you’re going to have in your journaling.
Develop a consistent practice. Journaling ad hoc, in my opinion, isn’t going to be helpful. If this is going to be a practice that enhances your self-awareness and helps you grow yourself, you need to do it consistently. Now, again, I’ve been journaling for a while and, as such, I journal each morning. This might seem like way too much for you, and that’s okay. A great starting point would be to journal at least each week. A great way to approach this is to journal as a point of reflection for your week. I personally love to ask myself 3 questions each week:
What worked?
What didn’t work?
What can I improve?
Those are my tips for developing journaling as a practice. Those coupled with the prompts above should set you on a path to developing that self-awareness that’s so key for high-achievers!
That’s all for now!
SAVE THIS BABY FOR LATER - I’LL BE ADDING MORE PROMPTS SOON!
In fact, dive more deeply into the emotional aspects of burnout by checking out my High-Achievers Guide to Managing Burnout here OR upgrade to the Handbook below!
