some journal prompts!

questions to help you reflect

I’m sitting in a hotel lobby in Shoreditch, a five-minute walk from my Airbnb, scrolling through my drafts (I use Google Docs to harbor my work-in-progress writing), and I just realized that I’ve had every intention of sharing my journal prompts for 2024/2025 with you. But, as I see it, life got in the way—or perhaps I got in my own way. I have a tendency to do that.

Anyway, the inspiration for these journal prompts came from Mel Robbins’ 2024 Life Audit podcast episode and the No Particular Order Instagram page. I found that this combination of prompts helped me reflect on the past year in an objective and meaningful way. From there, I was able to see more clearly where I wanted to go and which areas of my life I wanted to work on in the coming year.

I’m sharing this not just to hold myself accountable but because I believe reflection is a powerful tool for growth. Looking back at the year—its highs, struggles, and lessons—gave me clarity and a sense of direction for where I want to go next. I hope these prompts do the same for you. Whether you keep your answers private or share them with someone close—a family member, friend, coworker, or the person sitting next to you at the café—I encourage you to give yourself the space to reflect, even if it’s already February. You might be surprised at what you uncover.

What we’re the best parts of this year? Your favorite moments?

Summarizing my most memorable moments of this year, by season:

Winter/Spring [January-April]

New Year's Day in Amsterdam. Alexa’s birthday tea. Making new work friends. Co-living with Adam. Going to my first pottery class. Celebrating Valentine’s Day with the girls. Taking a (last) trip with my dad and sister (as just the three of us!) to Curacao. Consistently working out. Strength pilates. Getting back into running. Brooklyn wine bars. LA for Clara’s birthday. Hannah’s surprise party. Danielle and Tim in New York. Visiting The Botanical Gardens for the first time. A fresh haircut. Starting the Artist’s Way.

Spring/Summer [May-August]

Finding a love for sharing my writing online. Discovering new wine bars in Fort Greene. Taking Adam to Arizona. Watching my little sister graduate high school. Joining Work Study at SkyTing. Artist’s Dates with Clara and Adam. Eating lots of ice cream. Westside highway photo shoot. Summer Solstice picnic. My birthday dinner with Adam. A rooftop soiree on my 26th birthday. Fourth of July on Amantha’s roof. Spa day and turkey sandwiches. Girls Night Out in NYC. Saying farewell to New York (for now). Moving to Copenhagen. The reading nook in our Airbnb. A hike in the countryside. Dinner at Esmee. Haley gets married. Taking the train down the pacific coast highway to LA.

Summer/Fall [September-October]

Back to Copenhagen. First swim in the canal. New couple friends. Scrabble nights. Dinner outside at Villette. Palmes retail days. Moving into our Nørrebro apartment. The Louisiana Museum. Danielle’s engagement. Copenhagen Half Marathon Day. Playing tourist. The Little Mermaid. Thrifting with Nour. Morning routines. The café next door. Canal dip on the first of October. A weekend in Holland. Danish movie theaters. Swedish candy hauls. Inspiring conversations at SoHo House. A trip to Tivoli in the Fall. I made spaghetti and meatballs for the first time!

Fall/Winter [November-December]

Sara in Copenhagen. Ordering everything on the menu. Paris with Danielle and Tim. Bread for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Paris with Sara. Hot yoga. Long solo walks. Reading in cafes. First snow in Copenhagen. Thanksgiving dinner (family-style) with Adam. Juno cardamom buns. A canal dip in December. Cheese cart for dessert. Rome with Adam. Seeing the Colosseum. Our jacuzzi at the Monti. Dinner at Da Enzo. The view from the top of the duomo. Reunited in New York. Dinner party at Sara’s. Christmas lunch at Bergdorf’s. Chinese take-out and a secret Santa party. One last tiramisu at Leo. Back to the desert. Camelback Mountain. Christmas morning traditions. Hometown friends. & the last days of the year in quiet solitude.

What were the hardest parts of this year?

I’d be remiss not to acknowledge the challenges that came with this year—navigating change, uncertainty, and the uncomfortable in-between. I struggled with self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and the ever-present question of how to feel connected to my purpose. I faced tough conversations, the shapeshifting of my career, and the reality of being far from the place I’ve called home for the past four years. Inevitably, there was anxiety, occasional sleeplessness, and the wrath of hormonal changes. Through it all, I searched for belonging in a new city, balance in long-distance friendships, and confidence in my creativity. And, like many, I grappled with work, purpose, money, and what it all means.

What did I learn about myself this year?

1. Community is really important to me!!!! My friends are important to me!!! People are important!!!

2. I really (!!!) struggle to do something when my heart isn’t in it.

3. I need alone time (at least 3-5 hours per day!!!)

4. I am most at peace when I am writing.

5. I feel most connected to my purpose when I am creating.

6. A job can and will suck the life out of me.

7. I have a hard time (still) saying no and end up overcommitting to plans (often).

8. I am very much a routine kind of girl.

9. I need to exercise at least 3 times a week (no excuses).

10. A 30-minute walk will make me feel incrementally better no matter the situation.

11. I can and do have control over my anxiety.

12. I have the capacity to love beyond what I already thought was possible.

13. I am actually-kind-of-maybe a good cook? That is I enjoy cooking meals at home.

14. A good pair of jeans (or two) will solve (most) of my outfit dilemmas.

From here, I started thinking about what I wanted to stop, continue, and start doing in 2025—an intuitive way of setting intentions for what’s next. No rigid goals, no metrics, no arbitrary deadlines. Just a simple reflection on what matters most right now, where I want to invest my time and energy, and the kind of person I hope to become.

What am I going to stop doing?

Overpromising. Standing in my own way. Second-guessing. Complaining about things I can fix. Forcing what is not meant for me. Doubting my abilities. Wearing sweatpants on weekdays. Asking for permission. Scrolling social media before bed. Letting my thoughts control my day. Making myself small.

Start doing?

Betting on myself. Taking my freelance career seriously. Reading on public transportation. Sharing consistently. 54321 Method. Saying yes to things I don’t immediately want to do. Diving deeper into yoga. Taking calculated risks. Making confident decisions. Surrounding myself with people who inspire me.

Continue doing?

Moving my body daily. Prioritizing relationships. Supporting my community to achieve their goals and ambitions. Cooking health meals at home. Keeping a clean and comfortable home. Reading books. Writing morning pages. Calling my family. Exploring my creativity. Traveling and seeing the world. Creating fulfilling experiences for myself and others.

Finally, I don’t view reflection as a way to perfectly map out the future, rather it’s about paying attention to what feels right, what no longer serves us, and what’s worth holding onto. As I step into 2025, I’m carrying these intentions with me, knowing they’ll shift and evolve, just as I will. If you take anything from this, I hope it’s the reminder that it’s never too late to pause, reflect, and realign. Even if it’s already February, even if you don’t have all the answers—there’s still time to shape the year ahead in a way that feels true to you.

Love,

Brittney