Get ready for a simple journal prompt that has the potential to change your year and help you actually do and accomplish the goals you’re hoping to achieve. This is actually an episode I wasn’t necessarily planning to do. I know there’s so, so much goal-setting content out there at this time of year, but this is something I personally do.
The other night, I was writing and working through this simple journal prompt myself before going to bed, and I literally decided at that moment, while feeling the impact of it, that I had to do a quick podcast episode on this. I’m doing this because I truly think it could be so helpful for you as you think about the year ahead.
This is a way to help you cut through the goal-setting clutter. It helps you move past the things you might think will make the year awesome, but that you ultimately won’t care about at the end of 2026. Maybe right now you’re thinking, that’s the thing, that’s the goal, but maybe it’s not actually the thing you’ll care about at the end of the year, or even over the trajectory of your entire life.
We’re thinking about what we can do to make this next year great in a way that still benefits you when you’re 70 years old. Decisions that have a lasting impact. So this is about thinking through the legacy of your life as a whole, not just revenue numbers, not just things like “get healthier,” or “read X number of books,” or other vague ideas—or even specific goals that seem really good, but where you’re not sure how to get from point A to point B.
I think this prompt is going to help you with all of that. So let’s dive in. A simple journal prompt to make next year your best year yet.
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So I’m someone who loves goal setting, and I also love journaling, letter writing, and reflection-style prompts. So if that’s you, I think you’re going to like this. We’re kind of merging those two things and making them work well together.
The History Behind This Goal-Setting Prompt
This is based on something I actually do every year in the month of October, usually for my birthday. I’ve done this birthday ritual now six years in a row, and it’s very, very important to me. I’ll have to do an episode on it at some point. The version I do for my birthday is different than what we’re doing for the new year, but for my birthday ritual, I’m thinking five years out.
What we’re doing right now is thinking one year out. And because this has been so impactful for me in terms of reflection, just knowing where I’m heading, what I’m trying to do, what I want my impact to be, and what I want my life to be about, I wanted to apply that same idea here.
The Best Goal-Setting Journaling Prompt for 2026
You’re going to teleport yourself to December of 2026 (one year later from whenever it is that you’re doing this journaling). Picture that version of yourself, your family, your business, all of it one year from now.
You’re sitting there journaling and reflecting, and you think to yourself, or maybe you say to someone else, “Man, 2026 was the best year I’ve ever had. It was the best year.”
Now, maybe that feels too intense for you. Maybe you’re thinking, “No, I’m not going to say it was the best year ever because of this, or that, or whatever else.” If you feel that kind of resistance, instead picture yourself saying, “2026 was everything I could have ever dreamed it would be.” It was everything you could have dreamed it to be. All the goals were hit. This year was everything you could have wanted.
You are yourself one year later, saying, “Man, this year was the best year yet. This was everything I could have dreamed of.” Now ask yourself this question: What would have had to happen to make that true?
That’s the simple journal prompt. If 2026 was your best year yet, everything you could have dreamed of, what would have happened?
Write a letter to yourself, from your future self to the version of you right now, talking about everything that happened that made the year so wonderful. What you accomplished. What you overcame. What changed. What was hard. What was awesome. What was more challenging. What you pushed through. And then offer advice to yourself, now looking ahead.
Don’t overthink it
My first piece of advice with this is: don’t overthink it. Just write.
Like I said, I’ve done this birthday journal prompt for six years now—doing the same version, but thinking about myself five years into the future. I’ve explained it to so many of my friends, even over the past year or two, including friends who share almost the same birthday as me.
I’ve sent them photos from my journal entries from years earlier where so much of what I wrote actually came to fruition. I was telling them, “Look—this is how powerful this is.” But it can still feel complicated and confusing. So I just want to say, if it feels that way for you, you’re not alone. And there’s no one right way to do this. You just try it and get into a flow with it.
Here are some tips to help you get started.
Tip #1: Write From The Perspective of That Future Version of You.
I know it might sound silly, but you’ve got to get there. You’ve got to be her, be him, be that version of yourself.
Something that helps me get into that headspace is writing at the top of my journal entry or on a separate sheet of paper, is a statement like, “Let’s think about what’s happening now.” Then I’ll write things like my age, my husband’s age, my kids’ ages, and anything I already know will have happened.
For example, maybe you know that next year you’ll have a baby because you’re pregnant right now. That’s something you know will be true. Maybe you know you’re starting a podcast because you already have the launch date planned and you’re working toward it.
Maybe you know your oldest is starting kindergarten, or your kids are moving to a new school. Maybe you’re moving states, or maybe you’re hoping to move houses locally. Maybe you’re going to be looking for a new church to join.
Whatever it is, write out the things you already know are going to happen. That helps you think from that future perspective.
I’d really encourage you to do whatever helps you get into that headspace of that version of you. Sometimes with this kind of imaginative, creative writing, things like going on a walk beforehand can really help, just reflecting and thinking, “Okay, me at the end of 2026, what all would have happened?” You can even go month by month and think, “Okay, this person has a birthday this month,” and let that guide your reflection. Just think through the different things that are happening and get yourself into that headspace, okay?
Read more: Morning Journal Prompts to Start Your Day with Intention
Tip #2: Before Writing, Jot Down Some Of Your Hopes and Goals For The Year
Before you start writing the letter, you can jot down some of your hopes and goals for the year. This helps you remember the specific things you want to write about. For example, maybe you have a specific health goal you’re thinking about. Jot that down, because that’s something you’ll want to write about. Maybe there’s a shift happening in your family life that you want to reflect on. Maybe you want to get more involved in your church and volunteer more. Maybe the year is going to be defined by adjusting to a new baby and going back to working part-time as a mom.
Whatever it is, just jot down the things you already know you want to write about. That’s something that’s really helpful for me when I do this. I start by getting in the headspace, what’s happening, and then I think about what I know I want to touch on.
Tip #3: Consider These Categories When Deciding What To Write About
If you’re not sure where to start, or you’re thinking, “Okay, I love this idea, but what do I actually write about?,” here are some categories that can help:
- Health
- Personal growth
- Spiritual growth
- Finances and money
- Career and business
- Marriage
- Family and kids
- Friendships
- Other family relationships outside of your nuclear family
- Community involvement
- Fun and recreation.
Those are some core categories to consider. And you can absolutely think beyond these too—things that might span multiple categories or feel more specific. Things like moving, hiring in your business, or launching something new. Whatever you think might happen this year and whatever you want to write about.
But if you’re still thinking, “I don’t know where to start,” start with your health. What do you want your health to be like at the end of 2026? Then think about personal growth. Maybe you’re really tired of being glued to your phone and doom-scrolling every chance you get. What would you want that to look like at the end of 2026?
And as you write about these things, ask yourself: what did it take to get there? Maybe at the end of 2026 you’re saying, “I barely use Instagram anymore. I don’t scroll every time I have five seconds. I’m not on my phone before bed.” What did it take to get there?
That’s the headspace you want to be in. This is the goal. This is the outcome. What did it take to get there?
Read more: 3 Questions to Ask When You Want to Focus on Peace and Profit in Your Business with Becky Hoschek
Tip #4: Remember That You Are Guessing and Dreaming
Remember that you are guessing and dreaming. For some people, and I can get into this headspace too, it’s really easy to get caught up in the details. Like, “I hope we move this year, but I don’t know if we’ll find a house we can afford. I don’t know where it would be or when it would happen.” It doesn’t matter. You guess. You dream.
Maybe you have a business goal that feels completely out of reach. Maybe you’d love to hit a certain revenue number, or launch something new, or work with a specific number of clients—whatever it is.
And you might be thinking, “Yes, I have this goal, but I don’t know if I can actually hit it.” Of course you don’t know—it hasn’t happened yet. That’s the point. You’re dreaming. You’re writing as if the goal has already happened. What would you say? What would you tell yourself now to help you get there?
Using that example from a minute ago—maybe at the end of the year you’re much less attached to your phone—write about what that would feel like. What does a day feel like when you’re on your phone so much less? Then answer the question: what did it take to get there?
So just keep that in mind as you write. You’re guessing and dreaming. Guessing and dreaming. You’re trying to predict based on your hopes and imagination. And you might read this letter a year from now and think, “Oh my gosh, that did not happen,” and that’s okay. Maybe something even better happened, something you never could have asked, imagined, or dreamed of. That’s straight from scripture. God can do so much more than we can ask, dream of, pray for, or imagine.
This isn’t about saying, “This has to be exactly what happens this year.” You’re just guessing and dreaming. Stay in that headspace.
Tip #5: You’ll Probably Have to Do This in Multiple Sittings
Ultimately, this goal-setting journal prompt might turn into a long letter, or maybe a paragraph or so for each category. Plan to work on it over multiple days. Don’t get overwhelmed by thinking you need hours at a time to do this.
I’ve been working on my letter in three different stints already, and I’m still not done. I did a little during overlapping nap times with the kids the other day, a little before bed on two different nights, and today I’ll work on it again during nap time.
Just work on it in small increments.
Tip #6: I Prefer Pen To Paper… But You Could Also Type It Out!
I personally like pen to paper in a journal, but you could also type this pout. Just make sure it’s somewhere you can save and look back at it throughout the year. You might even rewrite it or revisit parts of it halfway through the year.
Don’t get caught up in how you do it. If you prefer typing, type it. If you prefer journaling, journal it. You don’t need to buy a fancy new journal to do this.
Just find an old journal you haven’t written in for a while—maybe it’s your prayer journal or your business journal—whatever it is, just find a place to write. It doesn’t have to be perfect. What matters is that you do this and give it a shot.
Tip #7: Give Yourself Advice
My next piece of advice is to just give yourself advice. You are the person who accomplished the goal, writing a letter to the version of you who hasn’t accomplished it yet. So offer yourself advice. Ask the question: If this goal was achieved, what would have had to happen to get me there? And then write about that.
Think of it as your future self giving really good advice to you now. It’s kind of like sitting down for coffee with a more experienced mom, someone whose kids are grown, and asking, “How did you do this?” Or talking to a business owner who’s ten years in when you’re just starting out. What would you ask? What would they say?
But in this case, you are that person, giving advice to yourself about accomplishing these goals.
Tip #8: Once You’re Done Writing, Go Back Through and Reread It To Help With Your Goal Setting
Highlight or underline the parts where you really light up, these are usually the parts that clearly show what you truly want for the year.
Maybe as you reread it, you realize, “What I really want this year is a shift in how our family does life.” Or, “What I really want is more headspace and free time.” Or, “What I really want is to enjoy playing with my kids.”
Those aren’t my personal examples, I’m just throwing out ideas, but you’ll start to see themes emerge.
Maybe what you really want is to be on your phone less. Maybe what you really want is to feel more energized at 3:00 p.m. because you’re healthier and sleeping better. When you go through this, you might see things you would never notice if you just sat down and said, “What are my goals for the year?” Like, “I want to read this many books,” or “I want to exercise a few times a week.”
This gets you into the more nitty-gritty. So go through it. And then, when you do your goal-setting process, whatever that looks like for you, use this. This isn’t necessarily the goal-setting process itself. This is the thing you take and then run with when you go set your goals.
This becomes your anchor point. Your starting point for What do I want? What do I really want? And then, how might I get there?
I know for me, when I go through this, I actually start to see things like, “Okay, what’s a good Q1 step toward this bigger goal?” Sometimes you’ll literally see it in what you wrote. You might have already answered the question, What did it take to get there? What did I actually do to make this a reality?
Tip #9: Pray Before You Begin
I would really encourage you to ask God for wisdom and guidance in what you write. When I pray during my goal-setting process, I ask God that I wouldn’t have a goal or a vision for the year that isn’t from Him, that doesn’t glorify Him, and that isn’t part of His greater plan for my life and my family’s life.
That might look like sitting down and praying right before you write. It might look like going on a walk and praying before you sit down to write. Maybe today you’re thinking, “Okay, I want to do this journal prompt,” but the only time you have is a 20-minute walk with your baby sleeping. So you pray during that walk and start dreaming—What are the things I might write about? Maybe you jot a few notes in your phone that you’ll come back to when you actually sit down to write.
But just pray about it. That would be my biggest encouragement—ask God for guidance in your goal setting. Whether you do this prompt or not, I think it’s so important as believers to invite God into the goal-setting process.
Read more: Bible Verses to Encourage You in Goal Setting & Vision Casting as a Business Owner
So those are my nine tips. Now, to recap the prompt, I’m going to restate it the way I did at the beginning to get you back into that headspace.
The Best Goal-Setting Journal Prompt for 2026
If 2026 was my best year yet, what would have happened to make that true? And what advice would I give myself now to get there?
Another way to phrase it is: If 2026 was everything I could have dreamed of, what would that mean happened? Maybe one of those resonates with you more. Maybe one of them feels intimidating. I know for some people, the “best year yet” idea feels like, “Whoa, slow down.” If that’s you, just think in terms of, If it was everything I could have dreamed up, what would that mean?
Reflect on this letter through the year
And maybe this is a letter you go back and read in early February. You might realize, “I said I wanted this, but I’m not doing any of the things I said it would take to get there.” And then you refocus.
Honestly, that’s something I think I’m going to do this year. I might even put a calendar reminder every quarter to go back and reread my letter.
And maybe it’s as simple as taking five minutes to reread it. Or maybe it’s more like, “Okay, I need to rewrite that part,” or, “I need to revisit some of these goals.” Or maybe you read something and think, “I don’t even agree with this anymore, why did I think I wanted that? I don’t want that.”
You might have some of those reactions when you come back to it later. But I would encourage you not to let this be something you just throw away. Let it be something you actually revisit and something that continues to inform your goal setting.
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