How to Keep a Work Journal

We’ve probably all fallen into the trap of being so concerned about our to-do list that we forget to stop and consider the big picture. We forget to think about how we can go above and beyond, reflect on our accomplishments, and check in with how we’re feeling at work. One of the best ways to reflect on your career is to make writing in a work journal a daily or weekly habit.

How to Keep a Work Journal: 

You can think of a work journal the same way you think of a personal journal or diary. Instead of reflecting on your personal life, you’ll focus on your professional life. Just like with your personal journal, you might want to open up a blank page and write the first thing that comes to mind, whether it’s your excitement about a new project or something you’re proud to have accomplished.

If you’re ever having trouble thinking of what to cover, consider reflecting on the day or week and writing about:

• Your short-term goals for the day or week
• Your accomplishments
• Your frustrations
• Your long-term goals for the month, quarter, or year
• Your job satisfaction, and ways you can improve it

Benefits of Journaling:

There are multiple benefits of journaling, including increased self-esteem, decreased anxiety, improved creativity, and better memory recognition. It makes sense that you’ll see the same benefits when you reflect on your professional life.

If you make writing in a work journal a daily or weekly habit, you’ll prioritize reflecting on the big picture so you can accomplish your short and long-term goals, in addition to checking off tasks on your seemingly never-ending to-do list.

20 Work Journal Prompts:

I know how daunting it can be to stare at a blank page. In addition to writing about your weekly or daily goals, long-term goals, accomplishments, frustrations, and job satisfaction, you can use the following prompts:

1. What is the biggest lesson I learned today?
2. What positive feedback did I get today?
3. What is one big thing I accomplished today?
4. What are ways I went above and beyond?
5. How have I helped my colleagues or team?
6. What are my goals for the week, month, and quarter?
7. What resources do I need to reach my goals?
8. What new skills can I learn? How can I learn them?
9. What skills can I strengthen? How can I improve?
10. What is my job satisfaction level?
11. What can I do to increase my job satisfaction?
12. What could the company or my manager do to increase my job satisfaction?
13. What tasks do I enjoy the most and least?
14. What are ways I can take on more responsibilities?
15. What are three things I’m grateful for?
16. How can I feel more excited about my day-to-day work?
17. Who do I look up to at work? Why?
18. What is the most helpful career advice I’ve learned recently?
19. Where do I see myself professionally in the next five years?
20. What can I do to strengthen my personal brand?