20 Weekly Journal Prompts To Help You Crush Your To-do List

Does it ever feel like your to-do list keeps growing and nothing really gets ticked off? There is literally a mountain of tasks to complete but no serious progress is made. It’s a horrible feeling. No one wants to feel like they are being buried alive!! The secret to staying on top of your to-do list is constantly reviewing and keeping it front of mind. Easier said than done, I know! Journaling is a good way (and I think, an underrated way) to stay on top of your to-do list each day, week, and month. Using weekly journal prompts to help you stay on task is easy once you have a plan in place and a routine to follow!

Here is how I use journaling to stay on top of my to-do list and the weekly journal prompts you can use to stay on track.

How to stay on top of your to-do list

Raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by your to-do list! *raises hand*

Let’s be real, a lot of us are really good at making to-do lists but not so good at completing them. That’s okay! The first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one. Everyone loves the idea of a list but no one likes the work. Honestly, I get it. 

So staying on top of your to-do list starts with reviewing and keeping the to-do list where you can see it. 

It’s sooo easy to write it and then forget it. Making sure your tasks are always at the front of your mind will help you stay on track. 

Another tip for staying on top of your to-do list is to create goals or intentions for the week ahead. You may set a goal to complete a specific task or a group of tasks. “This week’s goal is to call the dentist to book an appointment.” Or, “This week’s goal is to declutter all the closets in the house.” 
You may prefer intention setting which sometimes gets confused with goal setting. Intention setting is more the vibe while goal setting is task-based. You may decide the intention for the week is to be mindful of time spent on your phone (which would help you achieve more to-do tasks). Or an intention could be “staying focused on the to-do list.”

Related read: How To Stay Consistent With Your Goals (with Journal Prompts)

Journaling to stay on track 

When I write things down it’s like a little folder is created in my brain. I am more likely to remember what I physically wrote down. Many people like digital planners and journals these days and if they work for you, keep going! However, the act of writing with pen to paper really does help create memories. 

Here are some tips for using weekly journal prompts to stay on track.

1- Create a new habit by journaling daily 

Take a couple of minutes each day (morning is probably best when it comes to your to-do list) and write. Like any new habit, being consistent is the most important part. Use a journal prompt and jot out a couple of sentences to start. Journaling doesn’t need to be long and drawn out.

2- Be intentional with your weekly journal prompts 

The prompts I am sharing in this blog post are intentional and to the point. However, if you choose to make your own or use others you have found just make sure they make sense. When journaling for productivity you don’t need to focus on a lot outside of the tasks ahead of you. If your goal is to complete your to-do list you don’t really need to journal about what happened last weekend that bothered you. Just keep it simple and on task!

3- Keep everything in one spot 

I would suggest getting a cute notebook! Something smaller you can fit in your bag so you can take it on the go. This way you can write your main to-do list and then have your weekly journal prompt entries following it. You can have a spot to review the journal prompts, your thoughts, goals, and intentions, along with the actual tasks. I find it easier to keep things in one spot so I don’t get distracted or end up losing the list!

Related reads:

• How To Make A Monthly Task List To Stay Organized
• How To Write A More Effective To-Do List
• 35 Journal Prompts For Your End-of-the-month Reset

Weekly journal prompts to crush your to-do list

You can do this in a couple of ways! Journaling to stay on track for the week could look like a new journal prompt each day of the week that has something to do with your to-do list and tasks. Or you could follow the same prompt every day as a check in. Whatever works for you! 

Here are weekly journal prompts you can use to stay on top of your to-do list:

1- What are your top 3 priorities for the week?

2- What did you achieve last week and how can you achieve more this week?

3- What specific time blocks can you set aside for priority tasks?

4- Which tasks can be delegated?

5- What distractions or habits can you minimize to stay focused?

6- What are your non-negotiable tasks this week?

7- What is your word of the week? (example: focus, productive, thoughtful, etc)

8- How did you do yesterday with your to-do list? What went well? What didn’t go well?

9- What task is most overwhelming on your to-do list right now? How can you achieve it?

10- How do you feel when you achieve your goals?

11- On a scale of 1-10, how would you rank your productivity lately?

12- What did you accomplish last week that you are proud of?

13- List the tasks you could achieve easily in the next 30 minutes. 

14- What are your favourite types of tasks to do on your to-do list?

15- How can you motivate yourself to stay on track this week?

16- What helps you feel focused?

17- Are there any reasons you cannot tick a task off your to-do list today? What are they?

18- Write a motto you can live by this week when you don’t feel like being productive.

19- Create deadlines for the 5 most important tasks on your to-do list.

20 What task has been on your to-do list the longest? What is the hold up? Can you move the needle forward in any way?

Here is an example of how you can use these weekly journal prompts in a structured way each day:

Monday: What are your top 3 priorities for the week?

Tuesday: Create deadlines for the 5 most important tasks on your to-do list.

Wednesday: Which tasks can be delegated?

Thursday: List the tasks you could achieve easily in the next 30 minutes. 

Friday: What task is most overwhelming on your to-do list right now? How can you achieve it?

Saturday: What distractions or habits can you minimize to stay focused?

Sunday: What did you achieve this past and how can you achieve more this coming week?

Mix and match them, alter the wording to fit the day or week, or even make your own for your specific needs and to-do list!

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Final thoughts 

Journaling is always a good tool to use when you find yourself stuck in some way. The main purpose of journaling is reflection. 

If you’re always stuck with a million tasks to do and your list just never ends I think it’s time to reflect. I know time is limited and some of us have way less time in the day than others. However, when there is no progress and you feel like you are always busy, sometimes you need to look at that. 

Journaling on a weekly or daily basis will help you stay on track! Not only will you be more focused on the task at hand (your to-do list) but you will be more likely to follow through. 

Use these weekly journal prompts to crush your to-do list. Whether you check in on Monday morning with one journal prompt, you use a different one every day of the week, or you use the same one every time – just find a system that works for you and stick with it. 

I know you can be the master of your own to-do list. It will feel so good not to have a mountain growing over you! You got this. 

What journal prompt is your favourite?

Until next time,

Deanna