When you’re feeling overwhelmed by work, you might lose sleep, experience burnout, or feel like everything is caving in.
Journaling can help you work through your priorities, discover fresh perspectives, and release negative feelings.
If you manage a busy retail environment, writing in a journal helps bring a sense of clarity to your life. You can journal on your computer, phone, or with pen and paper. Read on to discover accessible prompts for every day of the week and unleash your inner writer. Once you’ve completed your daily prompts, you can get right back to binging your series.
Monday
Monday sets the tone for the rest of the week. Let Monday be your day to assess your feelings and perspectives. Take inventory — but not just of your items at your store. Instead, use this time to reflect on your awareness and view of the world. Here are a few questions to help you center yourself.
What am I feeling today?
What am I grateful for?
What am I letting go of?
Tuesday
On Tuesday, open your journal for some freeform writing. Explore your “stream of consciousness” and see where you land. Without thinking, write about whatever comes to you — it can be about how you’re feeling, what you smell, where you’re sitting, or a problem that’s been bothering you. There are no rules, so see where it takes you.
Set a timer, and write without thinking for five minutes. If you need a little help, play a song for a bit of inspiration.
Wednesday
At the middle of the week, think about your goals and accomplishments. Setting goals can help you sort through priorities and tackle roadblocks. Maybe a looming presentation for your regional manager has been stressing you out, so set a goal to finish the first two slides this week.
What do I want to accomplish today?
What do I want to accomplish tomorrow?
Where do I see myself in one year?
You don’t have to accomplish anything work-related at all. Setting a goal to get in bed early or make breakfast is valid too.
Thursday
On Thursday, think about your favorite people and reach out to them in your journal. Write about how they impact your life. They can be real or imagined, deceased or living. Writing about specific people is an emotional experience that can help you unpack your stressors. You aren’t always able to tell people how you feel, so write about it.
Who in my life makes me laugh the most?
Who would I like to thank?
Who do I wish I could spend time with right now?
If I could have dinner with a famous person, it would be ____.
Friday
TGIF. Friday is for fantasy. Imagine your happy place. Whether it’s right at home or somewhere far away, write about the special sights, sounds, and smells of your dream destination. Your favorite places can help you feel secure and bring gratitude to what you already have.
If I could be anywhere in the world, where would I be?
Where am I taking my next vacation?
How can I treat myself this today?
Saturday
Saturdays are a throwback. Get nostalgic and write about your favorite memories. Embody your younger self and see if anything about you has changed. Nostalgia can place your current situation in perspective and help you see how far you’ve come.
When I was little, I wanted to become a _____.
What would I tell my 13- year-old self?
My favorite song in 6th grade was _____.
Sunday
On Sunday, you can make a checklist for the upcoming week. Look at your calendar and note any meetings, crucial conversations, and metrics you need to hit. Write down talking points for your standup meeting and employee thank you’s to call out. You can also review the team schedule.
Embrace the process
Journaling is not always easy. You’re being asked to let loose and surrender your control. As retail managers, you might prefer structure and organization, but journaling is quite the opposite. Start with your natural comfort level, and you might be surprised with a newfound hobby to melt the stress away. Bring a little more zen into your life with a free trial of Deputy.
