Stoic journal prompts for the morning and evening
Short answer: Use one prompt in the morning to set an intention and one in the evening to review the day. Rotate the prompts below so they stay fresh.
Morning intention prompts
- What is in your control today, and what isn't?
- What is one thing you will do well today, whatever happens?
- Which difficulty might you meet today, and how do you want to respond?
- Who will you meet today, and how can you be useful to them?
- What would you do today if you remembered life is short?
- What is one thing you can let go of before the day begins?
- Which virtue do you want to practise today: courage, justice, wisdom or self-control?
Evening review prompts
- What did you do well today?
- Where did you lose your calm today, and what set it off?
- What worried you today that turned out to be outside your control?
- What will you do differently tomorrow?
- What are you grateful for tonight?
- Did you treat someone unkindly today? What would you say to them now?
- What did today teach you?
Why these work
The morning prompts come from the Stoic habit of preparing for the day, and the dichotomy of control taught by Epictetus. The evening prompts follow the review Seneca describes: looking back without harshness, so tomorrow can be a little better.
FAQ
How long should a Stoic journal entry be?
One to five lines is enough. The point is honesty and regularity, not length.
Morning or evening?
Both, if you can: an intention in the morning and a review at night. If only one, choose the evening review.
Should I write on paper or in an app?
Either works. An app with a reminder makes the habit easier to keep.