Opening a Door to 2024 with a Year End Review Journaling Challenge

Plan to have the best year ever.

But first, let’s recap the year that was.

This period of self-reflection at the end of the year is crucial to the success of the next. So much happens during a year, much of it unexpected. If life has you barely treading above water, then you need to take a deep breath and find where you are in your journey.

“If you don't know where you've come from, you don't know where you're going.” - Maya Angelou

Starting December 1st, InkJournal is hosting a 25-day writing prompt challenge designed to help you review and reflect on your 2023. 

During this writing challenge, we invite you to join fellow journaling enthusiasts to review the past year - its ups, downs, and lessons learned. All the while, looking forward to all the possibilities that lay ahead in 2024.

Benefits of a Yearly Review - My Story

I started performing a year-end review in my journal back in 2010.

Since then, I have:

  • Lost 60 pounds
  • Read 150+ books
  • Ran a marathon
  • Started a business
  • Paid off over $70,000 in debt

All the while, I helped my spouse raise two awesome kids who are currently in middle and high school.

The point here isn’t to brag - it’s to show the power of organizing, planning, and living an intentional life. None of these achievements happened by accident. They required time, focus, and constantly reviewing my progress.

Your goals may look nothing like my goals. That’s OK. We all strive toward different ends. The point of doing a deep review is to know what we are working toward and make sure you have your ladder leaning up against the right wall before you climb to the top of it.

Year end review journaling

Prompts to Expect in this Challenge

Throughout the challenge, you’ll review 2023’s most memorable moments, obstacles, influences, habits, lessons, and goals. Although the prompts are designed to be answered with a 3-5 minute written response, you can write as much (or as little) as necessary.

These prompts will guide your pen to find the highlights; the moments that are foundational in how you perceive the world and your place in it.

As you answer these journaling prompts, you may begin to notice patterns - the common threads that weave through moments of joy, sadness, success, and failure. This challenge can help clarify the underpinned values you hold dearly.

Here's how you can benefit from these daily writing prompts:

  • Self-Discovery: These writing prompts encourage individuals to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences from the past year. This process of self-reflection can lead to a deeper understanding of one's own strengths, weaknesses, values, and aspirations.

  • Clarity and Focus: Reflecting on the successes, failures, and lessons learned over the past year can help individuals gain clarity about what is most important.

  • Emotional Catharsis: Writing about past experiences, both positive and challenging, can be emotionally cathartic. It provides a safe space to express and process emotions, reducing stress and promoting mental well-being.

  • Goal Setting: Through reflection, individuals can set informed goals for the upcoming year. This process helps them create actionable plans and strategies to achieve their objectives, turning reflections into forward motion.

  • Increased Resilience: Examining past setbacks and how they were overcome can enhance resilience. By acknowledging their ability to overcome challenges, individuals can build confidence and a positive mindset to face future obstacles.

Although these prompts will be delivered from December 1st to the 25th, they aren’t religious or holiday-themed. They are all about self-reflection and looking forward to the new year.

What is Included in this Journaling Challenge?

In addition to the 25 writing prompts to review your 2023, you can share your experience with a cohort of fellow journaling and pen enthusiasts. 

  • Learn and grow with each other through a private Discord server channel. 
  • Journal with us and share your responses during 4, weekly 1-hour LIVE sessions on Zoom
  • A complimentary copy of all prompts collected in an ebook you can keep forever.

“Opening a Door to 2024” Rules & Guidelines

  • Prompts will begin to arrive in your email inbox on December 1st
  • Be sure to check the e-mail that is used in placing your order. Add info@oddoink.com to your e-mail contacts so the messages don’t arrive in your Spam folder.
  • Write down your response to each day’s prompt in your journal of choice using any pen and ink combination you desire. Or *gasp* a computer or digital device. No judgements here.
  • It’s OK if you miss a day or skip a day. Sometimes, we just don’t have the answer at the moment.
  • Each Wednesday night, we will send the cohort a Zoom link to participate in a 1-hour live journal session. Feel free to journal, share your responses, or ask questions about journaling.
  • By day 25, even if you haven’t had a chance to finish all the prompts, you can use the next few days before the New Year to close out the year.
  • It’s not necessary to share your progress online, or in the private discord channel. But, it’s highly encouraged to help hold yourself accountable. 

The prompts will help you review the memorable moments, obstacles and triumphs of 2023 and reflect on what you’ve learned, overcome and what can inform you as you enter 2024.

I hope you’ll join us to make 2024 your best year yet.

^use the link above to claim your spot in the Open a Door to 2024 Writing Challenge.

What Tools or Resources Can I Use to Help Me Complete the Challenge

If you feel like you’re stuck and are having trouble answering the prompts, you can ask questions and get inspiration from the cohort in the Discord channel. You can also e-mail info@oddoink.com to get direction from me, your challenge host.

What Do Writers Say About InkJournal’s Writing Prompts?

Here’s what several of our pen pals had to say about our recent “Promptober” series of creative writing prompts:

“Promptober added a unique and fun dimension to my daily writing routine. The Halloween-themed prompts were not only enjoyable but also prompted me to explore new genres and styles of writing. They helped me break free from any creative blocks and kept my writing habit strong throughout the month.

I particularly liked the variety of themes and the imaginative scenarios presented in the prompts. They allowed me to stretch my creative muscles and think outside the box. It was a delightful journey, and I believe it was a fantastic way to celebrate the Halloween season.” - Nabi D. (@inkynabi)

“I had the best experience with the Promptober writing. Each one of the daily prompts I used them to write a short story or tale. I didn’t know that I had all of that in me.

Every day, the first thing I did was looking for your emails. Those made my day, each one of them! And I loved the surprise of what the new theme will be. Thank you very much for all the happiness that your prompts brought to my life in October!” - Issa G.

Is the “Opening Doors to 2024” Writing Prompt Challenge the same as the Inky Prompts free daily writing prompts?

No, this challenge is completely separate. If you are interested in the general writing prompts we send for free, you can sign up using the link here.

Will I be able to Join this Writing Challenge after December 1st?

No, however, we will create an ebook collection of all the writing prompts that will be available to purchase at the end of December 2023. If you joined the challenge, this ebook is included.

What Happens If These Prompts Don’t Do Anything For Me?

We want you to feel like you got 200% of the value you paid for this writing challenge. If you are not satisfied, even if it’s the day after the last prompt has been sent, please send us an e-mail and we will issue you a 100% refund.