When you don’t know what to write - start here

Some days, you sit down to journal in The Daily Lift and the words flow. You’re clear, focused, maybe even optimistic about what’s ahead.

Other days? It’s a win just to open the journal.

That’s why I designed the Daily Pages to be flexible enough to meet you where you are - whether you’re riding a wave of motivation or just trying to stay afloat.

The Daily Pages aren’t about having the “right” answers. They’re about checking in with yourself (honestly, consistently) so you can make space for clarity, progress, and small-but-steady wins.

This guide walks you through how to actually use those pages, even on the days when you’re staring at the paper thinking, “I’ve got nothing.”

Set the tone for the day

The morning section is your opportunity to take a breath before diving into the day. These prompts are designed to help you reflect on what’s working and name a few priorities. There's no pressure to write anything profound.

But one prompt tends to trip people up:

“Something I earned or was given.”

A founding member recently shared:

“I wasn’t sure how to answer that. I kept thinking it had to be something big. But then I realized I could just write, ‘I earned a sense of forward motion by finally responding to that one email.’ That shift helped a lot.”

Here’s how I like to think of it:

While traditional gratitude journaling can boost happiness, it can sometimes feel passive - like good things just happen to us.

That’s why I use this prompt to practice what I call active gratitude.

Active gratitude is about noticing the good that came your way because you showed up. Even small actions count.

For example:

• “I was recognized by my team for updating onboarding materials and helping train new hires.”
• “Cameron referred me for a role after I let my network know I’m job searching.”
• “Jon sent me a job listing that fits me well because I asked him to keep an eye out.”

In every one of those examples, effort came first.

The goal isn’t to impress yourself. It's to remind yourself that your actions matter.

What the morning might look like…

Strong Day	Low-Energy Day

The best days don’t come from getting every prompt “right.”

They come from showing up and checking in honestly.

Clear mental space, not just tasks

You’ve probably seen other guided journals that give you a few list-style prompts and call it a day. And while that structure can help on focused days, it doesn’t leave space for what actually comes up in real life - especially in the middle of a job search.

That’s why the second page of the Daily Pages is a blank lined space, with a simple prompt:

Start your morning by clearing mental clutter. Use this space to capture any thoughts, feelings, or to-dos on your mind. Stuck on a task? Break it into smaller steps here. Getting it on paper creates space for clarity, focus, and a calmer day.

One founding member told me:

“If you had just said, ‘Write your thoughts and feelings,’ I probably wouldn’t have written anything. But you made space for to-dos and tangents, and it gave me permission to just let it out.”

That’s the whole point. This space is here to help you:

• Brain-dump tasks or worries so they stop swirling in your head
• Break a big scary to-do into manageable steps
• Vent, scribble, list, sketch - whatever gets it out

Pro tip: You don’t need to fill this out every day. Feel free to skip it.

But when you do use it, let it work for you. Sometimes just getting things out of your head and onto the page is all it takes to feel a little more focused—and a lot less stuck.

You can absolutely start with the Declutter page if that’s what helps you get going. But whenever possible, try starting with the morning prompts. They’re designed to help you shift your focus to what’s working, build resilience through active reflection, and surface clear, unfiltered thoughts that set the tone for your day.

Notice your daily wins

Reflection doesn’t have to be deep or profound. It just needs to be honest.

The evening page helps you track emotional cues, patterns, and meaningful moments - especially ones that might slip through the cracks otherwise.

Here’s how it might look:

Strong Day	Low-Energy Day

Remember: showing up counts. 

Writing one line counts. Writing, “I opened the journal today,” absolutely counts.

Now, it's your turn...

There’s no one way to use the Daily Pages. The most important part is staying consistent even if that means you skip parts parts some days. 

Try answering the prompts in 5 minutes to avoid performing. Just let it flow. Or skip a section and come back later.

Whatever helps you feel even slightly more clear, confident, or grounded - that’s the right way to use it.

Want to try this for yourself?

Get your copy of the The Daily Lift today - it's a journal designed to help you feel focused, grounded, and supported no matter where you are in your job search. One page at a time.