What the month held

Start with specific days. Memory blurs a month into one feeling unless you look for scenes.

  • Talk about the three days from this month you remember most clearly, and why those.
  • Describe a place you went this month for the first time.
  • Name something you bought, borrowed or were given this month that you're still using.
  • Talk about a piece of news, big or small, that landed this month.
  • Describe what the season looked like outside this month.
  • Tell the story from this month you've already told other people more than once.

What changed

A month is where slow changes start to show.

  • Talk about a habit that got stronger this month, and one that slipped.
  • Describe a worry you had at the start of the month, and where it is now.
  • Name a question you answered for yourself this month.
  • Talk about how your mood at the start of the month compares with now.
  • Describe a skill or idea you spent time on this month and how far you got.
  • Describe a decision you made this month and how it looks a few weeks later.

Where your time went

Rough counts are enough. The point is to notice, not to score yourself.

  • Count the evenings you spent at home this month, and say whether that felt right.
  • Talk about where most of your money went this month, without judging it yet.
  • Say roughly how often you got outside this month, and whether you want more.
  • Describe how many entries you made this month and which ones you'd reread.
  • Talk about how much time your phone took this month, and whether that matches what you'd want.

Next month

Close by choosing a little, not a lot.

  • Name one thing you'll start next month and one thing you'll let come to an end.
  • Describe a date on next month's calendar you're already thinking about.
  • Talk about one small experiment you'd like to try next month.
  • Say what you'd like to be able to tell yourself at the end of next month.
  • Name an invitation you'd like to send next month, and who it's for.

How to use these prompts

Pick a fixed day, such as the last Sunday of the month or the first of the next. Skim the month's calendar or entries before you start, so you're not relying on memory alone.

  • Do it on the same day each month
  • Look at your calendar or entries first
  • Say each prompt aloud and answer the four or five that land
  • Listen to last month's answers before you record this month's

Questions about monthly reflection

What should I reflect on at the end of the month?

What happened, what changed, where your time went and what you want next month to hold. The four sets of prompts on this page follow that order.

Is a monthly review better than a weekly one?

They do different jobs. A weekly review keeps the next week on track, and a monthly one shows slower changes in habits and moods. Many people do both.

How do I look back on a month of journal entries?

Open the days that stand out on your calendar, read or listen to a few, then answer the prompts. The guide to looking back has more ways in.

See your month at a glance

The Journal calendar in Dawn Light marks every day you talked with a small sun. Open any day of the month to hear what you said. Search finds every word, name and place.

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