75+ Breakup Journal Prompts: Healing Through Writing

Breakups suck. 

There’s no way around it, when your heart is broken the healing process can be long and painful. I’ve been through plenty of breakups myself, and if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably driven yourself crazy with endless questions like “Was it my fault?”, “Will I ever stop feeling this way”, and the classic: “Will I ever find love again?”. 

During my last breakup, I found the process of journaling about my emotions to be super beneficial. Journaling helped me cope with my emotions, rediscover my self-worth and figure out what I wanted moving forward. Journaling about my breakup helped me recover and heal much quicker and I want to share all my advice with you, to help you get started on your own healing journey. 

Read on for the best 75 breakup journal prompts and how to get started on your healing journey. 

75 Best Breakup Journal Prompts

No matter where you are in your healing journey you’ll find some journal prompts here to help you deal with the complex emotions that come with a breakup and ensure you reflect, heal and grow. 

Journal Prompts for Reflection and Understanding 

Breakups can be difficult to navigate, it’s not uncommon to feel emotionally stuck and confused about how to move on. Take some time to reflect on the breakup with these journal prompts:

1. What were the signs the relationship wasn’t working? 
2. Describe the moment you knew it was time to end the relationship.
3. What did you learn about yourself during the relationship?
4. List the qualities you valued in your last partner.
5. Reflect on patterns in your past relationships.
6. How has the breakup impacted your self-esteem and self-worth?
7. What were your expectations in this relationship? How were they met or not met?
8. What role did communication play in this breakup?
9. How did your family and friends react to the breakup, and how did their reactions affect you? 
10. Describe your ideal post-breakup support system.

Journal Prompts to Understand Emotions and Healing

One of the first steps in understanding breakups is to identify your emotions. When a relationship ends, it’s normal to experience a range of emotions like sadness, anger, confusion, and anxiousness among many others. Here are some journal prompts to help you identify and acknowledge your emotions so you can begin to process them and move forward:

1. Describe the emotions you’ve been feeling since the breakup.
2. Write a letter to your ex expressing your feelings (but don’t send it!)
3. How have you been coping with the pain of the breakup? 
4. What are 3 things you’re grateful for, despite the breakup?
5. What self-care practices have been most helpful for you?
6. Explain any guilt or regret you feel about the breakup.
7. What have you forgiven yourself for regarding the breakup?
8. Write a letter to your future self about how you’ve healed from this breakup.
9. How do you envision your life one year from now?
10. List 5 things that make you feel loved and cherished. 

Journal Prompts for Self-Discovery After a Breakup

After a breakup, it’s a good idea to reflect on what you want moving forward. Here are some journal prompts to help you work out what you want from a future partner and from your life moving forward:

1. What are your short-term and long-term goals for personal growth?
2. What hobbies or interests did you neglect during the relationship?
3. Reflect on your strengths and accomplishments.
4. How can you rebuild your self-confidence and self-worth?
5. Describe your ideal vision for your future relationships.
6. What boundaries do you want to set in future relationships?
7. Write a letter to your inner child reassuring them that you are there for them.
8. What are your core values and how do they align with your future aspirations?
9. How do you want to redefine yourself post-breakup?
10. What positive affirmations can you incorporate into your everyday life? 

Journal Prompts for Letting Go and Moving Forward After a Breakup

After a breakup, it can be challenging to move on. However, journaling can help you process your emotions and thoughts and plan a way forward. Here are some journal prompts for letting go and moving into the future:

1. What physical items or reminders of your ex can you let go of?
2. How can you create a clean and peaceful space for yourself?
3. Describe routines and habits you want to establish.
4. What steps can you take to break ties with your ex on social media?
5. Write a letter to your past relationship thanking it for its lessons.
6. Explore what you want in your next relationship.
7. How can you practise self-compassion at this time?
8. What are the things you’re excited to do now that you’re single?
9. List 5 qualities that make you an amazing partner.
10. How will you celebrate your progress and milestones in your healing journey?

Journal Prompts for Self-Love and Growth

There’s no doubt that breakups are a challenging time, but they can also be an opportunity for personal growth. Here are some journal prompts to foster self-love and help you reflect on your personal qualities:

1. What steps can you take to improve your self-care routine? 
2. Describe a time in your life when you felt truly happy and fulfilled.
3. How can you nurture and prioritize your own happiness?
4. Write down 5 things that make you feel proud of yourself.
5. Explore the concept of self-love and what it means to you.
6. What are your dreams and ambitions for the future? 
7. Write a letter of forgiveness to your ex, even if you don’t send it.
8. How can you incorporate more self-compassion into your daily life?
9. What is one small step you can take today to move forward?
10. List the qualities that make you unique and loveable. 

Journal Prompts for Gratitude and Positivity Following a Breakup

Practising gratitude after a breakup is important as it will help shift your focus from the loss and pain of the breakup to the positive aspects of your life. Here are some journal prompts to help you practise gratitude:

1. Write a list of things you’re grateful for in your life right now.
2. How has this breakup allowed you to grow and evolve?
3. Describe moments of happiness and joy you’ve experienced post-breakup.
4. List some affirmations that inspire self-love and positivity.
5. How have your friendships deepened or changed since the breakup?
6. Reflect on the support and kindness you’ve received from others.
7. List the small pleasures in life that bring you happiness.
8. Describe how this experience has made you more resilient.
9. Write a letter to your future self expressing gratitude for your strength.
10. What are you looking forward to in the future? 

Prompts for Achieving Closure After a Breakup

Closure is about finding a sense of resolution. Closure doesn’t mean you have to forget about the relationship or your ex. Instead, it’s about accepting the end of the relationship and moving forward. Here are some journal prompts for closure: 

1. How have your emotions evolved since the breakup?
2. What lingering questions or uncertainties about the breakup do you still need to address?
3. If you were to write a closure letter to your ex, what would you say and how would it help you release your emotions and gain closure?
4. How can you work towards forgiveness for both you and your ex?
5. What valuable lessons have you learned from this relationship?
6. What are 3 positive qualities about yourself this breakup has highlighted?
7. What’s one small step you can take today to let go of the past and embrace the future?
8. How can you practise self-compassion as you navigate the path to self-healing?
9. How can you redefine your identity and sense of self outside the relationship?
10. Explain how this relationship was a stepping-stone toward a better future.

Prompts for Preparing For a Future Partner

Moving on from a past relationship, it’s important to take some time to reflect on what you want in a future partner. Here are some journal prompts to help you prepare for a healthy and fulfilling relationship in the future: 

1. What qualities and values are most important to me in a future partner?
2. How can I maintain my independence and personal growth in my next relationship?
3. What are some non-negotiable boundaries I want to establish in my future relationships?
4. List 5 things I love about myself that I want my future partner to appreciate as well.
5. How can I improve my communication skills to build healthier connections with future partners?
6. What lessons have I learned from past relationships that I can apply to create a better future partnership? 
7. Describe the ideal balance between personal space and togetherness in my future relationship.
8. What role do trust and vulnerability play in building a strong and lasting partnership?
9. Write a letter to your future partner expressing your hopes and intentions for the relationship.
10. How will I prioritize self-care and maintain my own happiness while being in a relationship?

Why Should You Journal After a Breakup?

Journaling after my last breakup helped me tremendously. It helped me make sense of the chaos around me and make sense of the huge range of thoughts and feelings I was experiencing. I believe journaling can also help you on your recovery journey. 

Journaling following a breakup can provide a safe space to process the complex emotions that often accompany the end of a relationship. Writing down your thoughts and feelings can help you gain clarity and make sense of the whirlwind of emotions you’re probably experiencing. 

Additionally, journaling can serve as a record of your personal growth and development. You can track the progress you’ve made and reflect on how far you’ve come before setting goals and intentions for future relationships. 

How Can Journaling Help You Get Over a Breakup?

Journaling can be a transformative tool in the process of getting over a breakup. It gives you an outlet to express the many emotions that can feel overwhelming during this difficult time and offer a safe space to vent, reflect and make sense of the experience. 

Reflecting and writing down your thoughts and feelings allows you to gain clarity on the reasons behind the breakup and your own role in it, fostering a sense of closure. It enables you to identify your negative thought patterns and replace them with healthier ones. 

As you pour your heart onto the pages you gradually release the pain and begin to rebuild your self-esteem, making it a vital tool for moving forward, finding new perspectives and opening up to future healthier relationships.  

More Tips to Help You Recover From a Breakup

Alongside journaling after a breakup, here are some other things to do to help you recover quicker:

1. Lean on your support network: Spend quality time with friends and family who provide emotional support and understanding.
2. Rediscover old hobbies: Reconnect with hobbies and interests you may have neglected during the relationship.
3. Build a self-care routine: Develop a self-care routine that includes exercise, a balanced diet, adequate sleep, and mindfulness activities like meditation or deep breathing. 
4. Set new goals: Set personal goals and challenges to focus your energy on.
5. Limit contact: Establish clear boundaries with your ex, including cutting off or limiting contact, especially in the early stages of healing
6. Seek professional help: Consider therapy or counselling to navigate your complicated emotions
7. Travel and explore: Plan a getaway or take the opportunity to explore new places and experiences.
8. Social media detox: Unfollow your ex and reminders of them on social media. Try to reduce your screen time.
9. Declutter and redecorate: Nothing screams ‘new beginnings’ like reorganising your bedroom or home spaces
10. Try something new: push yourself out of your comfort zone and try a new class or workshop to meet new friends and learn a new skill.

Final Thoughts

Journaling is a powerful tool for navigating the heartache and healing that follows a breakup. I hope the journal prompts listed here offer the space to process complex emotions, gain clarity on the past and help to rebuild your sense of self and find the strength to move on.

If you’re looking for more journal prompts to achieve clarity in other aspects of your life, check out my articles on breakup journal prompts, birthday journal prompts, self-compassion journal prompts and the best journal prompts for anger. 

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