Journaling Ideas for November to Reflect, Show Gratitude, and So Much More

Sharing is caring!

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, I may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more

We’ve curated all of our November journaling ideas and calendars into one place, so you can pick and choose the journaling activities that are just right for you.

Especially with Thanksgiving at the end of the month, November is a great month for gratitude and appreciating all the good things in life. We also have lots of different journaling ideas for reflection, being present, thinking about both this year and the next, and plenty more.

All of the calendars you can get as printables to print out and use for guidance alongside your daily journaling.

Thanksgiving-Themed Gratitude Journaling

There is a great blend of revisiting fond Thanksgiving memories and acknowledging the simple things you’re grateful for in our Thanksgiving-themed November gratitude journaling.

• Someone in your life who deserves a ‘thank you’ and why.
• An ordinary but vivid memory of a past Thanksgiving.
• How past Thanksgivings were unique to your family.
• Family Thanksgiving and holiday traditions you’d like to continue.
• What you love most about gathering with other people.
• A particular family member you saw at Thanksgiving whose presence you treasured.
• Simple luxuries that can bring you joy this month.
• What you have an abundance of in your life right now.
• Ways you could let the people you care about most know that you appreciate them.
• How you could help someone this month.
• Communities you’re a part of and why.
• Places you can find community.
• A time someone supported you in an unexpected way.
• Simple things about your home that make it comfortable.
• People you feel ‘at home’ around.
• What you’re grateful to have learned this year.
• What you appreciate and love about the place you live.
• Someone who may need some encouragement from you today.
• A meal that tastes like ‘home’ and why.
• Memorable moments from past Thanksgivings.
• What you appreciate about life in this moment.
• Things you’d be excited to tell your younger self to look forward to, knowing what will happen.
• Sights you’re grateful for at Thanksgiving.
• Sounds you’re grateful for at Thanksgiving.
• Scents you’re grateful for at Thanksgiving.
• Tastes you’re grateful for at Thanksgiving.
• One thing you love about each person you’re with today.
• Someone you can’t be with at Thanksgiving whom you’re grateful for.
• Everyday things you overlook that, if you stop and pause, are wonderful.
• Someone who taught you the value of kindness and giving.

Get our Thanksgiving-themed gratitude journaling printable.

You may also enjoy our Thanksgiving bucket list.

Journaling for Staying Positive On Cold Nights in November

Navigating the cold weather and longer nights isn’t the easiest. This month of journaling encourages you to look for the positives, be it in routines, memories, or the people you love.

• Someone you could check in with to make them feel less alone.
• A part of your personality you want to show more of.
• Someone or something that has been a constant source of comfort all year.
• What is beautiful about a crisp night’s sky.
• At-home routines that make you happy.
• What’s been great about the year so far.
• What gives you hope going into next year.
• People you can talk to who have an optimistic outlook.
• Local places you can go to join a community activity.
• What brings you a sense of peace when you look out of the window.
• What someone could learn from you.
• Something that at the time felt so significant, and now you can’t even believe you were worried about it.
• What part of your town or city is most beautiful during fall.
• What you’d tell your younger self to inspire them about life.
• If you had to volunteer today, what you’d do.
• What you can do in the morning to help you feel hopeful.
• The last thing you read that made you smile.
• What you enjoy talking about with people.
• What makes you feel warm.
• What about the year surprised you in a good way.
• One thing you’ll never tire of, no matter how tough your day.
• What you could share in your friend group chat to make everyone feel great.
• What’s been unexpectedly good about the year.
• Ways you’ve made your home beautiful.
• People who bring love and warmth into your life.
• Right now, what you’re excited about.
• Habits and traits you love about the people you’re with today.
• How you could bring friends and family together outside of key holidays.
• Small wins you’re proud of this month.
• Things you can achieve despite the cold weather.

Find the November journaling for staying positive on cold nights printable here.

Journaling About Family Stories

This month of journaling about family stories, especially with Thanksgiving at the end of November and the holidays to come, can connect you with some fond memories.

• A cozy fall family tradition and why it’s special.
• A dish that brought the family together.
• The sounds you can vividly remember when the family was together.
• Who is/was the family member who hosted a lot and why it was special.
• Vividly write about the story behind the closest family photo to you.
• A time the whole family made the most of an unexpected situation.
• A place you visited a lot as a family.
• Crafts or skills passed down through your family.
• Games your family loved to play.
• Vivid memories from road trips.
• Cities you visited in the fall and why.
• Acts of generosity your family regularly did.
• A time the whole family couldn’t stop laughing.
• A celebration where things went wrong but everyone still had a fun time.
• Someone who makes/made family gatherings memorable and why.
• Someone who is/was the life of the party at family gatherings and why.
• A time the family had to work as a team.
• Recount the story behind a family heirloom you have at home.
• Inside family jokes.
• The biggest family gathering and what you enjoyed about it.
• An object at home that connects you to a relative you haven’t seen for a while.
• How your family expresses love for each other.
• A quiet hero of your family and why.
• A house, building, or place that meant/means a lot to the family.
• The soundtrack to your family.
• A time you were proud of your family.
• A memorable Thanksgiving.
• A journey your family took and why.
• A time your family came together.
• What made/makes your family unique.

Get the Family Stories Journaling Printable here.

Embracing How the Year Has Gone

November, being the penultimate month of the year, makes for an ideal time to look back at the year and try to embrace it as it was, which includes progress, setbacks, highs, lows, and everything else.

• Moments from the year you felt like you were ‘living life’.
• Three positives from the year.
• A setback you didn’t anticipate and how you overcame/are overcoming it.
• Something you’re proud of that most people didn’t notice.
• How the year has shown you how resilient you are.
• Three things you’ve learned this year.
• Something positive you completely didn’t expect this year.
• Ordinary joys you’ve sometimes overlooked.
• Someone who was there for you this year.
• Your biggest achievement of the year so far and why.
• Routines or habits you’ve made progress on.
• Routines or habits you didn’t make progress on and why.
• Something the year has taught you about yourself.
• Something that didn’t go as expected this year, but you’re still grateful for.
• A way the year surprised you.
• Motivating words you’d say to yourself if you went back to the start of the year.
• Something you need to accept is taking longer than anticipated.
• In what ways the year has been ‘successful’ for you.
• Memorable stories from the year.
• What you’re thankful to your past self for doing this year.
• Goals you made some progress on, no matter how small.
• Goals that still excite you, even if you made little or no progress.
• Recount the people you’ve met with regularly or even once.
• Places you’ve been this year.
• Things that have required you to show patience this year.
• Something you’re ready to accept about the year.
• Ordinary things you’re grateful to have in your life.
• What inspired you this year.
• What you can take from this year into next year.
• Words to sum up the year.

Get the ‘Embracing How The Year Has Gone’ Journaling Printable here.

One-Word Journaling

Our one-word journaling is all about quick and creative journaling without an end goal. It’s a great entryway into journaling.

• Playfulness
• Radiance
• Unity
• Bravery
• Innovation
• Fulfillment
• Enthusiasm
• Imagination
• Excellence
• Confidence
• Collaboration
• Discovery
• Honesty
• Miracle
• Brightness
• Companionship
• Aspiration
• Community
• Justice
• Potential
• Intelligence
• Originality
• Sparkle
• Triumph
• Gentleness
• Energy
• Thanksgiving
• Gifts
• Fairness
• Resourcefulness

Get the One-Word Journaling Printable here.

‘Ordinary Things’ Gratitude Journaling

There are so many ordinary, day-to-day things we can overlook that bring a lot of joy and meaning into our lives. This month of gratitude journaling can help you identify and acknowledge some of those things.

Discover more about our ‘ordinary things’ November gratitude journaling and get the printable.

Morning Journaling

To the early risers, here’s a month of morning journaling ideas to start your day with. Especially when waking up to darker mornings, this activity can be really useful.

• Your top three goals for the month.
• One positive habit to work on this month.
• People you want to reconnect with this week.
• One thing (you’ve been putting off) to work on today.
• Something that’s brought you a lot of joy recently.
• Things you’re looking forward to today.
• One thing to do to step out of your comfort zone today.
• Fun activities you’re looking forward to this weekend.
• Family and friends you want to catch up with.
• Your weekend highlights.
• One simple thing you’d be happy to achieve this week.
• Weekend trips you could go on.
• One kind thing you could do for someone today.
• One king thing to do for yourself today or this weekend.
• Last time you had a lot of fun and how you can recreate that.
• Your favorite things so far this fall.
• Things you still want to do before the end of the season.
• Something that inspired you lately.
• A happy memory that comes to mind.
• One way life has been better recently.
• A recent achievement you’re proud of.
• One self-care activity to do this weekend.
• Things you’re looking forward to next week.
• One new thing to try today.
• Skills you want to work on this week.
• People you’re excited to see.
• Three things you’re grateful for today.
• One small thing to get for yourself today.
• Upcoming holidays and events you’re excited about.
• Your favorite memory from this month.

Get the Morning Journaling Printable for November here.

Evening Journaling

• Big achievements from last month.
• Things you’re looking forward to this month.
• One good thing that happened today.
• Challenges you’ve overcome today.
• Opportunities you’ve had today.
• Something that made you happy today.
• Ways to recharge this weekend.
• Things you’re grateful for today.
• Your favorite memories this weekend.
• The best part of today.
• Something that made you smile today.
• Beautiful things you noticed today.
• Unexpectedly good things that happened recently.
• How you stepped out of your comfort zone this week.
• Small wins from the week.
• Things that made you feel reenergized this week.
• Something you did today you’re proud of.
• Things that are giving you hope lately.
• Good things about life now.
• Things that bring you inner calm.
• Positive lessons from the week.
• Experiences you’re grateful for this week.
• The highlights of the past week.
• Positive things you hope will happen this week.
• Ways your life has improved recently.
• A recent moment you’d love to relive.
• Things that have been inspiring you lately.
• Interesting conversation you had this week.
• Good choices you’re proud to have made this month.
• One priority for next month.

Get the November Evening Journaling printable here.

Positivity Journaling

1. This November, I’m looking forward to…
2. Good things I hope will happen this month include…
3. Three things I’m grateful for today are…
4. Something I love about myself recently is…
5. My favorite thing about work recently is…
6. People I’ve loved catching up with recently include…
7. Something funny that happened recently was…
8. Something I can do for self-care this weekend is…
9. I’m proud of myself for…
10. My favorite memory from last week was…
11. Something kind someone did for me recently was…
12. I deserve good things like…
13. The best thing about my family is…
14. The best thing about my friends is…
15. Opportunities I’m grateful for include…
16. Three things I love about my home are…
17. My favorite activity from this past weekend was…
18. Goals I’m happy I’m pursuing are…
19. My favorite after-work activities are…
20. Movies and shows I’ve enjoyed watching recently include…
21. The best thing about the workweek was…
22. The best weekend I’ve ever had was…
23. Something that made me smile this weekend was…
24. Something good I hope will happen this week is…
25. Simple things I appreciate around me include…
26. A memorable compliment I received recently was…
27. My favorite thing about today was…
28. Family traditions I’m grateful for include…
29. I love that…
30. My favorite things about November were…

Get the Positive Thoughts for November Journaling printable here.

Be sure to check back here throughout the month as we add more calendars, and take a look at our fall-themed journaling and ‘making the most of the rest of the year’ worksheet, too, for more opportunities to journal, reflect, and make plans.

Meanwhile, see our other November ideas and printables here.