Five Journal Prompts for the New Year
By now, someone’s probably sent you the terrible (but darkly funny?) tweet saying “let’s make Year Three of Covid the best one yet!!”
Something about the new year feels different this year. I haven’t heard a single person claim that 2022 is going to be their year. We’re all too cowed by the pandemic’s endless uncertainty by this point. Should we make resolutions with the new variant sweeping the country? The new year always felt like a time to plan big changes, but even the most optimistic people seem more tentative entering the third calendar year of the pandemic.
And yet, time goes on. This time of year brings reflection and introspection, whether we welcome it or not. And for all of our collective struggles, a year is also an individual experience worth exploring and noting. We hope you’ll enjoy these five journal prompts for the New Year, which guide you in looking back and looking forward.
1. A RETROSPECTIVE
The end of the year is often a time of reflection. Take some time to look through the things you’ve made this year: photographs taken, journal entries written, sketchbook pages filled. Even flipping through your calendar for the last year is a good place to start. As you reflect on the months, begin to build your retrospective. For each month in the past year, choose one image (a standalone artwork, photo, or even word or theme) and set it aside. You might assemble your twelve selections into an album, folder, box, or social media post. Now, create a new image that draws inspiration from the twelve images or themes. Create a digital collage, a piece of art containing thematic words from each of the months, or one painting that uses colors, lines, or images that appear in your collection.
How does it feel to look back on 2021? Is it a difficult year to sum up? What memories or themes rise to the surface? What have you learned? What have you lost?
2. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Reflect on this quote:
“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.” - Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God
For you, was this year a year that asked questions, or a year that answered? Try to distill the question or answer into a sentence or a word. Make a piece of art with this theme in mind.
3. HANDS
Trace the outline of both of your hands, side by side, on a sheet of paper. Within the outline of one hand, write or make art about the things you would like to hold onto this coming year. On the other hand, write or draw the things you would like to let go in the next year.
4. ART RESOLUTIONS
Making traditional resolutions might feel difficult in a pandemic. But an art resolution might be well within reach, even with the unpredictability of our current world. Looking forward, what goals do you have for making art in the coming year? These goals could be small or large: I want to look at more art this year.. I want to break through my creative block. I want to make art once a week. I want to learn how to paint with watercolors. I want to enter my art into a contest or sell it online.
Journal or doodle about your goals. Begin to make a plan for projects that excite you.
Here are some ideas or structures you might try as you make plans:
See more art every day by turning your Instagram feed into an art gallery.
Try the 100 day project and engage in a creative practice every day for 100 days. This year’s project starts on February 13--plenty of time to plan. (If you’re on social media, this project is also a great way to make creative connections!)
Take a photograph every day with the 365 Project.
Consider enrolling in a workshop or class. This virtual workshop for emerging artists looks good, and if you’re local to Northern Virginia, The Art League has classes at The Torpedo Factory for every medium or interest. Our sister company, Creative Health Collective, is now offering creative wellness coaching--learn how to break through what’s been holding you back.
5. WORD FOR THE YEAR
Instead of making new year’s resolutions, you might try the “one word” resolution--coming up with one word that sums up how you want your life to feel or what you would like to focus on this year. For many people, word choice is wrapped up in a goal of some kind. “PERSEVERE” might be a reminder to finish the job. “CONNECT” might be the goal of establishing new relationships or revitalizing the old.
For 2021, my word was a little more anti-goal: I chose “REST” to give myself permission to slow down, allow myself to heal, and not let productivity drive my life. For 2022, I’m choosing “PRESENT”--a reminder to stay grounded in the moment, especially when I’m with other people.
It helped me, last year, to have a visual reminder of my word for the year. So here’s your prompt: once you have chosen your one word, make a piece of art featuring your word written out. Use any medium (collage, paint, ink) that helps pair your word with colors, lines, or images. When you’re done, hang your word in a place you will see it daily--your work-from-home desk, your fridge, your bathroom mirror.
Over on Instagram, we’re also sharing a bonus prompt, “I Used to Think” vs. “And Now I Think,” adapted from Rob Walker. Click on the button below to download a free resource for this prompt.
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