Going through a breakup sucks.
Regardless of whether you’re the person that got broken up with or you’re the person that broke up with someone, it really sucks and I’m sorry that you’re dealing with this right now.
But fear not, my friend, for it does get better. Whether you use these incredible journal prompts for breakups or not, things do get better.
However, if you want to speed up the process a bit, you’ve come to the right place.
Using journal prompts for breakups can help you navigate those overwhelming feelings that come with breakups and help you cope with what you’re going through.
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How Using Journal Prompts For Breakups Can Be Helpful
Journaling (aka physically writing down what you’re thinking/feeling) has many many great benefits including helping you manage stress, decrease anxiety, and even recover from traumatic events.
But journaling for breakups, and using journal prompts for breakups, specifically can be very beneficial for you, and here’s why.
1. Helps You Cope With Your Feelings From The Breakup
The first reason why journaling can be helpful after a break up is because writing down what you’re feeling can help you process and cope with your emotions.
Physically writing down what’s going on in your head can create a sense of order to all the chaos that’s going on in your head because you have to:
- Think about what you want to write
- Structure your thoughts on paper
It can also help you avoid negative feedback loops and those whirlwinds of emotions that come from being overwhelmed.
2. Gives You Space To Let Out How You Feel
Another reason why using journal prompts for breakups can be so helpful after a breakup is because it can provide you with a sense of relief.
How can it provide you with a sense of relief?
By physically releasing what’s on your mind and giving you space to vent about how you feel.
Oftentimes, when we’re dealing with something heavier in our lives, it can be difficult to talk to someone. This is typically either because we feel like they can’t understand or because we feel like they’re not really listening or both.
Journaling can help you avoid this altogether because you’re able to get out how you feel (with no judgment) and not run the risk of someone saying something unhelpful.
Don’t get me wrong, talking to someone can still be awesome and I do still recommend it, but I would be lying if I said that every time I tried to talk to someone I left feeling relieved because to be quite honest this isn’t always the case.
Even with people who I dearly love, sometimes it’s just not the same as having a really deep journaling session, getting out how I need to feel, and being able to literally walk away from it and move on with my day.
Learn More: 61 Journal Prompts For Letting Go (Guaranteed!)
3. Helps You Identify Any Unhelpful Patterns
Another benefit to physically writing down your thoughts is that you get to actually see what you’re thinking and because of that you also get to see the patterns you have.
Now, this only comes after you’ve been journaling for a bit, but eventually, you will see what I’m talking about.
Like for example, after I started journaling regularly (a few times a week) I realized that I was a lot more like the adults in my life I was trying not to be and that I procrastinated way more than what I gave myself credit for.
Being able to recognize some of the unhelpful things you do can help you move forward in the direction you want to go and let go of habits that are taking you nowhere.
You may not be in the place where you’re ready to start tackling this, and that’s okay, but when you’re ready this is something that can help you achieve what you want in life (anything you want in life).
4. One Small Way To Make Your Future Self Happy
Another reason why journaling and using journal prompts for breakups can be beneficial is because you’re doing something for your future self.
Writing down how you feel may seem like something small and insignificant but I promise you it’s not.
Journaling can help you increase your happiness, decrease depression and anxiety, enhance your memory, and even lower your blood pressure.
When you choose to journal you’re not only choosing to cope with how you feel in a healthy way but you’re also building a habit that can take you a long way in life.
It’s a fast, easy, flexible, and free habit that you are adapting into your routine.
5. It’s Therapeutic
Journaling in general is considered to be healing, so using journal prompts for heartbreak and/or journaling during a time like this can be the best way to start utilizing this tool.
It can help you create awareness within yourself all while it gives you the space to reflect and even develop new perspectives on a situation.
While journaling doesn’t necessarily replace therapy, it can be a great alternative if you don’t have the funds for therapy right now.
Journal Prompts For Breakups
- How am I feeling right now? Describe in detail.
- What was the main reason(s) why your relationship wasn’t working?
- What is something that I learned about myself since being in that relationship?
- What is something that I miss about my time with that person?
- What are 2 things I don’t miss about my time with that person?
- What is one thing I’m grateful for about that relationship?
- Write a thank you letter to your ex.
- What is one thing that you appreciate about your past relationship that you want to carry with you in the future?
- What does your ideal future look like in the next 5 years?
- What is one small thing you can do today to move forward?
- Who is one person that you’re grateful for right now?
- What is one way that you have grown over the last 6 months?
- How do you feel about the breakup? How do you feel about the reason why y’all broke up?
- Do you wish you had done anything different? If so, what is one small thing you can do to come to terms with it?
- Is there anything you regret?
- How do you feel when you’re alone? Where do you think this stems from?
- What are 2 positive things that come from you being alone?
- Is being alone and being lonely the same thing to you? Why or why not?
- From me to me, some of the reasons why I should move on is because _______.
- What is one thing you will do differently in the future?
- Did you gain any new deal breakers? If so, what are they?
Journal Prompts For Heartbreak
- What has being heartbroken felt like for you recently?
- When was the last time you cried? How did you feel afterward?
- What is one thing that you’ve been leaning on lately?
- What is something that has been difficult for you lately?
- What is one small thing you can do today to lift your spirits?
- Are there any limiting beliefs you developed from the relationship?
- Write a letter to your ex about whatever you wanted to tell them but felt you never had a chance to.
- What is one thing you’re grateful for today?
- When was the last time you’ve gotten some sun?
- Is this the first time you’ve felt heartbroken? If so, how is it different from what you expected? If not, what is something that has helped you in the past?
- What are 3 reasons why you will be fine without him/her?
- How can you show yourself some love today?
- What is your ideal day by yourself? Describe in detail.
- In what way(s) is life better without that person?
- What is something that you didn’t have in your previous relationship that you need in your future one?
- Are there any memories or situations that you keep replaying in your head? Describe it in detail.
- What is one small thing that you can do to come to a place of acceptance for the above question?
- What is one ordinary thing that has brought you joy lately?
- What are 2 self-care practices that you can lean on to help you heal?
- When was the last time you took yourself on a date? Where would you want to go?
- What is one good thing that has come from the break-up?
Journal Prompts To Reflect On What Happened
- What was the main reason(s) that the relationship ended?
- Was the ending of the relationship sudden or was the writing on the wall?
- When did you know that the relationship wasn’t going to work out? Describe in detail.
- What are 2 patterns that you notice about yourself in relationships?
- Did you have any expectations from this relationship? If so, what were they?
- In what way(s) did you contribute to some of the issues in your relationship?
- What is one thing you’ve learned about yourself in this relationship?
- Was there anyone you were nervous to tell about the breakup? If so, what made you nervous?
- What are some feelings you’ve been trying to avoid during this process?
- What physical or emotional needs did you feel went unmet in the relationship?
- Did I change who I was or what I liked for this person? If so, what did you change about yourself?
- What are at least 3 things that you’re looking for in your ideal partner? How can you start to have some of these qualities within yourself?
- What has been the biggest lesson you’ve learned from this experience so far?
- In what way(s) did I allow that relationship to limit me?
- Were there any red flags that you ignored? If so, what were they?
- What are 2 things you can improve on as a partner in a relationship?
- What qualities did your ex have that made you fall for them? Are these qualities still important to you?
- Were there any toxic aspects to the relationship? If so, what were they?
- If you could do this over again how would you do it differently?
The Best Journals After A Breakup
Now that we’ve discussed the best journal prompts for breakups I want to discuss the best journals for breakups.
But before we get into it, I want to let you know that the journals listed below are 100% recycled and environmentally friendly!
They all come with amazing designs, 100% cotton-sew bind, 100% cotton ribbons, and well-thought-out quality pages.
1. The Weekly Love Planner
Learning new ways to increase your self-love after a breakup goes hand in hand, and if this is something you’ve been struggling with then I highly highly recommend The Weekly Love Planner!
It includes:
- Top priorities list to stay focused on what you can change
- Self-care activities list so you can keep self-care in your routine
- Daily check-in list
- Powerful quotes to stay motivated
- Weekly calendar
2. The Five Minute Journal
The Five Minute Journal is one of the most popular journals that I’ve come across and for good reason!
With simple yet effective journal prompts this journal can help you increase your happiness and motivation.
This journal is actually designed to increase your joy as it includes positive affirmations, inspiring quotes, and prompts to help you stay focused on what you’re grateful for.
3. Notes To Mindfulness Journal
The Notes To Mindfulness Journal (the one pictured above) can prove to be extremely helpful during a time like this because it was designed to help increase your inner peace and deepen your relationship with yourself.
You’ll get daily prompts for self-awareness, morning routine check-in, and daily gratitude prompts.
I personally have been using this journal for the last few weeks and have noticed a difference in the way that I talk to myself and how well I stick with my good habits (like exercising and not complaining as much).
The Best Way To Use Journal Prompts For Breakups
1. Use Breakup Journal Prompts Consistently
You want to aim for about a few times a week. If you have the time to be able to do 1-2 journal prompts for breakups a day then that’ll work too, but I also recognize that not everyone has this type of schedule. So if you can only make time for once or twice a week then that works too.
I wouldn’t do any less than once a week though because you may lose your momentum or even forget to do it all together (life can get busy sometimes).
But when you do it regularly and consistently, you will reap the rewards of journaling. So once or twice a week is perfect.
2. Don’t Overdo Journal Prompts For Breakups
On the subject of being consistent with breakup journal prompts, you also don’t want to overdo it. What does overdoing it mean with journaling?
It means you’re either:
- Forcing yourself to write something just to be writing or fill up more space on the page (rather than letting it just flow from the heart)
- Doing too many journal prompts at once (more than 5 a day)
3. Don’t Judge Yourself Or Your Answers
One of the biggest things I want you to remember while using your journal prompts for breakups is don’t judge yourself. Give yourself the space to answer the question honestly and don’t criticize yourself for having a certain answer or feeling a certain way.
You feel the way you do for a reason, and there’s nothing wrong with how you feel.
If you don’t like it then try to find a solution but don’t criticize or condemn yourself because it’s only going to prolong the healing process.
4. Go Into It With An Open Mind And Heart
While we’re on the subject of not judging yourself, you also want to go into it with an open mind and open heart.
This can not only leave you open to more than one way of looking at the situation but it can also help you better forgive and move on.
You don’t want to be rigid while you journal because you could be missing vital points of view that can help you grow as a person or just move on in general.
5. Journal Somewhere Quiet
Try to find somewhere quiet and free from distractions while using your journal prompts for breakups so it can have your undivided attention.
This can help you really focus on how you’re feeling and work through whatever it is you need to work through without having to worry about interruptions or other people’s conversations.
This can also be beneficial if you’re like me and your mind just naturally tunes into everything else around you like a radio.
6. Use An Actual Journal (Optional)
This last tip is optional but highly recommended. Using an actual journal can be something super awesome to have because
- You have everything in one place
- It gives you something to look back on
- It keeps it fun
Tips On Healing After A Breakup
1. Don’t Beat Yourself Up
Beating yourself up is only going to prolong the process of healing and moving on.
Avoid judging and criticizing yourself for the things you’ve done in the past. All you can do is ask for forgiveness and move forward.
The past is the past and it’s not changing. Don’t make this harder on yourself by being hard on yourself.
Something that has personally helped me to decrease how much I beat myself up is meditation (5 minutes a day to start).
2. Allow Yourself To Feel How You Need To Feel
Going through a breakup is going to bring a lot of different emotions and sometimes those emotions can come on randomly. When this happens there are 2 things you must do:
- Allow yourself the space to feel what you need to feel
- Don’t get stuck there
How do you avoid getting stuck in how you’re feeling? Decide a time on how long you’re going to give yourself to think/feel this way, set a timer, and intentionally move on with your day.
I recommend no less than 5 minutes and no more than 20 minutes. Once that timer goes up, you need to move on with your day because life doesn’t just stop.
Read a book, clean the house, finish that project you started, cut up that pineapple that’s been sitting on your counter, do something.
Read More: 95 Powerful Self Healing Journal Prompts (Game-Changing)
3. Avoid Replaying How Things Went Down
I believe the proper term for this is ruminating and I also believe that this can be one of the worst ways to let life just completely pass you.
Now, I will say that there is a difference between a healthy dose of ruminating and unhealthily ruminating.
What is the difference between healthy and unhealthy ruminating?
A healthy dose of ruminating will either help you:
- Solve a problem
- Self-reflect
- Discover something new
An unhealthy dose of ruminating is typically repeatedly thinking about something that is unsolvable and can:
- Cause anxiety/stress
- Take up a lot of your time and energy
So if you want to move on from the breakup then you want to avoid replaying certain situations and conversations over and over again. It’s one thing to reflect on them but it’s another to just sit and think about it all day.
4. Lean Into One Small Self Care Habit
Leaning into a self-care habit can be very helpful because it’s like a 2-for-1. You are taking care of your health and you’re doing something relaxing all at the same time.
You’re also putting yourself and your needs first for a little bit and that in itself can lift your mood for the day.
Here are some affordable 5 minute self care ideas that you should give a try.
5. Exercise
Another thing that will help you feel better is exercise, and there is even science behind this.
Exercise can release your brain’s feel-good chemicals which directly relates to reducing stress, reducing anxiety, and increasing your energy and confidence!
And the wonderful thing about exercising is that there are about a million and one ways you can do it. You can be as extreme or as light as you want.
If you’re like me and don’t really care for exercising that much then I recommend activities that don’t feel like exercise but they are such as:
- Swimming
- Dancing
- Walking
6. Don’t Be Afraid To Talk To A Therapist
While all of these tips on this list can be very useful for you, having an unbiased person to talk to can be helpful in ways that exercise and journal prompts for breakups can’t.
If you don’t like the thought of going to therapy or don’t have the time to fit it into your schedule then I have an amazing alternative for you.
A good Online-Therapy source can be just as beneficial as in-person therapy, only you have more flexibility and more authority about how your sessions go.
You get the same access to worksheets, sessions, courses, and more but you have more flexibility on when and where you do it.
If this is something you’re interested in, you can check that out here!
7. Get Some Sun
You really do need to get some sun.
- It can reduce stress
- Can prevent brittle and weak bones (because you’re getting vitamin D)
- Boosts serotonin which will boost your mood
- The warmth on your skin feels amazing
- It’s free
All you have to do is stand outside for about 15 minutes. You can either do this all at once or go outside for 5 minutes 3 times a day. Super simple yet super effective.
8. Choose A Quote Or Prayer To Remind Yourself
One of the best ways to start your day off on a positive note is to remind yourself of a powerful quote or bible verse.
I have found that reminding myself of something simple yet meaningful in the morning helps me get my head in a good place and gives me something to look forward to.
You can also repeat this quote/verse throughout the day as well, especially when you’re feeling anxious or sad.
I recommend doing this every morning for at least 2 weeks so that it will really stick with you.
The first time I ever did this was with the serenity prayer to help me with my anxiety. As crazy as it may sound, after about 10 days of repeating the same thing over and over again I actually started to feel something from it.
I felt more empowered, in control, and calm.
It doesn’t have to be specifically a prayer and it doesn’t have to be the same prayer forever either. Once I felt like I had a better hold on my anxiety I used a different quote, one that I found from a really good book called The Slight Edge.
The main takeaway here is that one small quote or prayer has the power to shift your mindset and change your whole life.
Conclusion On Journal Prompts For Breakups
Journal prompts for breakups can be the best way to deal with the whirlwind of emotions and feelings that come with going through a breakup.
Again, there is no right or wrong way to use these writing prompts, just as long as you’re doing your best each journaling session.
I don’t recommend doing too many of these at once; just picking 1 or 2 to start with will do.
I hope these journal prompts for breakups bring you a lot of peace and prosperity.
Comment down below which journal prompt was your favorite, and I will catch you in the next article!
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