Table of Contents
- UX designer chaos therapy
- Why journaling matters (quick recap)
- The problem: Blank page paralysis and scattered thoughts for designers
- The solution: Daily journal prompts
- 50+ journal prompts for UX designers
- Fun prompts
- UX-Career Prompts
- Motivational prompts
- Creativity Prompts
- Vibes and Lifestyle Prompts
- How to build your own prompt practice
- Your turn: Start with one prompt today
Do not index
Do not index
Read time: under 6 minutes
UX designer chaos therapy
Journaling isn’t just for diary-keepers or self-help junkies, especially not when you’re a UX designer juggling mental clutter, deadlines, and endless ideas. I find using daily prompts help.
From quirky questions like “What’s your favorite scent?” to career-curious prompts like “What design problem would you solve if money wasn’t an issue?”— these tiny nudges can become your daily ritual for peace, clarity, and creative fuel.
If you’ve ever stared at a blank page wondering where to start, you know the feeling. Your brain is spinning from a million tabs open in your head, and suddenly journaling feels like another chore.
But what if you had a little spark to kickstart your thoughts, a prompt to break the ice and gently pull out your ideas?
That’s exactly what daily journal prompts do.
They’re not about writing deep, life-changing reflections every day. They’re about making space for your thoughts, letting your creativity run free, and giving your brain a mini-reset. And yes, sometimes that means asking silly questions like your favorite pickle brand or imagining your current project as a movie genre.
Why journaling matters (quick recap)
If you caught our first article on The Power of Journaling, you know journaling is like a mental decluttering tool. It helps you organize scattered thoughts, reduce stress, and unlock creative insights. For UX designers, whose brains are wired to solve complex problems constantly, journaling provides a rare moment of calm.
But journaling can feel intimidating. That blank page staring back at you feels like an obstacle course. You want to write something meaningful or productive, but instead, you freeze. The mental clutter doesn’t magically disappear, and your brain switches into “overwhelm” mode.
The problem: Blank page paralysis and scattered thoughts for designers
Designers live in a world of constant problem-solving. Deadlines pressure you, user feedback pulls you in ten directions, and you have a million tabs open, both in your browser and your brain. When it’s time to journal, you expect yourself to “just write,” but the blank page might as well be a brick wall.
Maybe you think journaling has to be some profound, deeply honest monologue. Or you feel like you should be documenting your design process or career progress. The pressure to “do it right” kills the joy and creativity of journaling before it even starts.
So you avoid the journal. You close your notebook or swipe away from your notes app. And your mental clutter is still there.
The solution: Daily journal prompts
Not the boring, preachy kind. The best prompts for UXers can be as dumb, quirky, and random as you want. No pressure to be serious. Sometimes you need to warm up your brain with something as silly as:
- “What’s your favorite pickle brand and why?”
- “Describe your favorite scent in three words.”
- “If your current project was a movie genre, what would it be?”
These playful prompts warm up your brain and dissolve perfectionism. They open the door for more meaningful reflections like career goals, stress points, or creative ideas.
Think of prompts as mental reset buttons or creative jumpstarts, helping you find clarity and peace without the pressure of writing a masterpiece.
Steal these and use them as your daily brain warm-ups, or mix and match based on what you need that day.
Join 10,253+ Designers for FREE weekly UX Insights
Every Wednesday, I send out 1 actionable framework to grow your UX career 🌱 — No fluff. Always 2 minutes or less.
50+ journal prompts for UX designers
Fun prompts
- What’s your favorite pickle brand and why?
- What’s your guilty pleasure TV show or movie?
- What’s the pettiest reason you judged another person?
- What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever doodled during a meeting?
- What’s one habit you have that would embarrass your teenage self?
- Imagine your pet could design an app. What would it do?
- If your workspace had a theme song, what would it be?
- Describe your favorite snack using only colors.
- Describe your go-to dance move in detail.
- Write a letter to your past self in 2010.
UX-Career Prompts
- What’s your biggest design pet peeve?
- What motivates you to keep designing on tough days?
- What’s a design crime you committed… and don’t regret?
- What’s the best piece of design advice you’ve ever received?
- What design problem would you solve if money wasn’t an issue?
- Write a thank-you note to someone who shaped your design journey.
- How do you recognize when your work really makes an impact?
- Describe a project that scared you but taught you the most.
- If time wasn’t a factor, what new skill would you learn?
- How do you handle negative feedback on your work?
Motivational prompts
- What’s one small win you had today?
- What does success mean to you right now?
- What’s a life decision you made out of pure spite?
- What’s something you’re proud of but don’t say enough?
- What does rest look like when you're pretending you're fine?
- What’s one small thing that gives you main character energy?
- Describe a time you overcame doubt or fear.
- How do you recharge after a hard day?
- Describe your villain origin story.
- Who inspires you and why?
Creativity Prompts
- What would you design if shame didn’t exist?
- What color matches your current mood? Why?
- What’s a ridiculous feature you wish your favorite app had?
- If your creativity were a meme, which one would it be right now?
- Sketch or imagine a tool that would make your job easier.
- Name a design trend you dislike and how you’d replace it.
- Write a short story about a UX designer lost in the jungle.
- Invent a product nobody asked for but you’d totally use.
- Describe an object in your room in 5 weird ways.
- Invent a new public holiday.
Vibes and Lifestyle Prompts
- What’s your perfect day off?
- What scent instantly calms you?
- What’s your go-to self-care ritual?
- What’s the dumbest thing you paid full price for?
- If your coffee could talk, what insult would it toss?
- Name one small thing that always lifts your mood.
- Describe your weirdest video-call background
- Describe the last time you felt truly relaxed.
- Write about a place that feels like home.
- Trade closets with a fictional character.
Prompt journaling isn’t therapy, but it works like a mini mental health check-in. When stress and overwhelm hit, prompts give you a safe place to spill your thoughts, unpack worries, and notice what’s going on.
Creatively, prompts warm up your brain, helping you think sideways and spark new ideas. They break the habit of stuck thinking and open the door to fresh perspectives.
How to build your own prompt practice
- Pick one prompt a day either randomly or by theme.
- Set a timer for 5–10 minutes; just enough to let your thoughts flow.
- Write fast and free. No judgment, no editing.
- Reflect on your writing only if it feels helpful; otherwise, keep moving.
- Blend silly prompts with serious ones to balance fun and focus.
- Keep your journal handy. Choose physical or digital, whatever works for you.
- Don’t stress if you miss a day; it’s about progress, not perfection.
Your turn: Start with one prompt today
Pick a prompt from this list or create your own, then start writing. You might be surprised how a few minutes with a quirky question can shift your mindset and spark your next bold idea.
Journaling isn’t about writing a novel or nailing deep insight every day. It’s about showing up, carving out a moment of peace, and letting your brain breathe. And if you can laugh a little while doing it? Even better.
Share your favorite prompt or your daily journaling ritual with us.
Whenever you're ready, there are 4 ways I can help you:
1. Junior Designer Bundle: Transition into UX and craft an unforgettable portfolio & get hired.
2. Senior Designer Bundle: Become a design leader with systems to build healthier, happier teams.
3. UX Portfolio Critique: In less than 48 hours, get your 30-minute personalised video of brutally honest feedback.
4. Job Sprint Course: Stand out in an unpredictable job market by building a memorable personal brand and a killer job search strategy.
