20 Journal Prompts to Help You Reflect on Your Holistic Health
Journaling is something that I have done regularly for as long as I can remember. I am the type of person that likes to process things before fully discussing them and I have found that journaling allows me the opportunity to do that. I can reflect and really get to the root of what I am thinking, feeling or processing.
The more clients I work with one-on-one, I have learned that there are a lot of other people that benefit from journaling as well! These are 20 journal prompts to help you reflect on your own personal holistic health. Once we have awareness of where we are currently, we can then make progress or change.
What does holistic health mean to me?
This is such an important place to start… if you ignore all the social media posts, advice from others, and preconceived notions about what health, what do YOU believe true, holistic health looks like.
Is is having enough energy to chase and achieve your dreams? Is it being able to eat foods you love in a way that supports your health? Is it honoring your body with exercising and movement, rather than using it as a punishment?
How have my beliefs and attitudes towards health and wellness evolved over time?
Just because you used to believe something about health, doesn’t necessarily mean that that same idea or philosophy is still serving your health. For me, when I finally made progress with my health, it came after a long season of unlearning. Unlearning popular ideas from diet culture, influencer culture, social media, and even from my career as a nurse.
What are my primary health goals? Why do I want to achieve them now?
Emphasis on your health goals. Not what someone else’s may be.
Another way to reframe this question is to think of your insecurities or concerns about your health.. maybe you have family members with diabetes and you are concerned about becoming diagnosed yourself. Or maybe you want to build up your cardiovascular endurance so that you can run and play with your kids.
How do I currently prioritize self-care in my daily life, and how can I improve in this area?
Self care isn’t just bubble baths and meditation and face masks. For me, self-care is prioritizing my quality of sleep by turning off the extra netflix episode and reading before bed instead. It’s choosing to pack a lunch in the morning before I work because I know I won’t feel as well if I buy something out.
For me, self-care looks a lot more like discipline than it does relaxation and “me time”… but the ironic thing is this- once I started showing more discipline in my life, I naturally had more time in my schedule for those moments of relaxation.
What are some common stressors in my life, and how do they impact my physical and emotional health?
Stressors are not only “bad things”, sometimes they are also “good things” that still but stress on the body or deplete the body of nutrients. This can include interpersonal stress, financial struggles, issues with a coworker, pregnancy, breastfeeding, working out too much, or not eating enough.
How can I cultivate a more positive mindset and outlook on life?
Did you know that studies have shown a positive mindset positively effects the outcomes of cancer treatment?! This is huge!
What we mentally dwell on has such powerful influence on the outcomes of our life!
What role do food and nutrition play in my overall health and well-being?
Do you believe that food can either heal you or make you sick? Is it something you view as pleasure, fuel, or a mix of both? Are you constantly anxious about what you are eating?
How can I improve my relationship with food and my body?
Be realistic.. what would a healthy, sustainable relationship with food and exercise look like?
What are some physical activities or forms of movement that I enjoy, and how can I incorporate them into my daily routine?
Not only is this great for your physical health, but mental and emotional as well!
How do my relationships and social connections impact my holistic health?
Does hanging out with your friends and family typically involve activities that improve or hinder your health? How can you make social gatherings healthier? This might look like spending more time doing outdoor activities like hiking or taking a walk outside, or maybe instead of going out to eat you can all cook a healthier side dish and have a potluck style meal.
How do I currently manage my emotions and practice emotional self-care?
This includes having a healthy outlet for your feelings and emotions. Do you have a support system in place to talk about things as needed? Do you participate in physical activities regularly? Do you have healthy habits for emotional regulation?
What is my sleep routine like, and how can I improve the quality of my sleep?
Do you fall asleep with ease? Stay asleep? and wake up feeling rejuvenated?
What are some alternative healing practices or modalities that I'm interested in exploring?
How can I incorporate mindfulness and meditation into my daily routine?
How do my environmental surroundings impact my holistic health?
Is your home cluttered and messy? Do you have struggles finding things easily? Or is your home a place of peace and rest?
What are some limiting beliefs or negative self-talk that I need to address in order to improve my holistic health?
Have you thought that your symptoms are “too bad” to heal? or maybe you have believed that you don’t have the money, time, education, resources, (fill in the blank), to actually feel better? I promise you- it’s not true. There is always something you can do to improve your wellness!
How do I currently manage my time and prioritize my commitments, and how can I create a more balanced and fulfilling schedule?
Look at each activity during the day that you spend time on- cooking, home responsibilities, work, self-care, social media, hobbies- and evaluate how much happiness each one brings you. There should be a balance between your responsibilities and the things that bring you joy and stress relief.
How can I connect with nature and the outdoors in a way that supports my holistic health?
Nature has been shown to positively impact your mental and emotional health, and when participating in activities outdoors it can also help your physical wellness! Getting regular sunshine throughout the day has also been shown to improve your circadian rhythm and help you sleep better at night.
What are some simple acts of kindness and self-compassion that I can practice on a daily basis?
Do you frequently think critically about yourself or do you practice positive thinking about yourself? Do you make your favorite things a priority in your day?
How can I celebrate and honor my progress and growth towards improved holistic health?
A great step is to first monitor and keep track of the progress you have made- this starts with having an honest evaluation of where you are currently. The next step is regularly checking in with your goals, health, and symptoms and seeing the progress you have accomplished.. or maybe the additional room for improvement.
Health and wellness is a highly personal subject and sometimes it is so hard knowing where to being to actually make improvements. That is why I became a holistic health coach.
I struggled with my own health and wellness, and even with a bachelors degree in nursing and over ten years of experience working in healthcare, I had no idea where to actually being. I was overwhelmed and felt like every time I did research on where to start, I found conflicting answers. It’s because I was reading stories of what worked for someone else, not necessarily what i needed personally.
As a health coach, I get to work with clients one on one to determine what the best plan of action is for them individually- not a one size fits all approach.
If you need help determining what steps to take first to improve your own health, check out my health coaching page for a free consultation call!