A little late on this… here is the January journaling prompts for anyone still interested.
I know December got busy towards the end but figured people still might want to do journaling prompts here and there. 
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2 January 2026
I enjoyed the time off!
This was the first time I took the whole week off instead of just the three days. Yeah, I was busy preparing for all the cooking and family gatherings but it wasn’t bad at all actually. I actually shut off my brain from all that work 
.
Second thing I enjoyed was the food. 
Third thing I enjoyed was getting that last workout for 2025 in at the gym. It was just the best way to close out the year. 
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Ill absolutely join in on this! Thanks for posting the January one!
Jan 2nd - What I enjoyed about the holidays was having a quiet Christmas with my son, husband, and I. We were home (and not in the hospital as my son has previously been there during Christmas due to the cold and flu season), we were healthy, and we really enjoyed our time together as a family. I also enjoyed the holiday events my son and I attended. I feel like we really made memories this past holiday season.
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Jan 2, what I have enjoyed about the holiday season is my daughter hosted Christmas this year (no prep, no clean up for me!), I had a nice visit with my Grandson and we played Pokemon; and finally that the weather has been nice so I’ve been sitting out on the porch a lot reading.
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Jan 1: I quitted binge eating.
Jan 2: I enjoyed that my daughter loved the gift I gave to her. I really had put a lot of thoughts and love in it and it made me happy to see her smile when she opened it.
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I’m new here. I am hopeful that engaging in this community will help me stay sober. I have enjoyed getting rest during this Holiday season. I didn’t realize how tired I was until I took 2 weeks off. I have been able to center myself and make some goals for 2026.
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Welcome Sabrina! Glad you found us!
Maybe you want to check out this thread: What's YOUR plan?
Feel free to read around and join in everytime you feel like it. 
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2/1/26
I’ve enjoyed exploring and solidifying my attitude and appraisal of these seasonal events. Next year I’ll be more prepared to weather December with emotional clarity and strength. This past year was better than the previous year (mental health wise) , but I have to acknowledge that this month and period is incredibly painful and triggering for me. It is not helpful for me to force jollity or Christmas spirit, instead I’ve enjoyed small routines and staying consistent. I think I learned a lot this December about staying grounded in the familiar and appreciating the micro. The macro is just noise.
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Hi Sonia, thanks for sharing! I dropped out mid December, but I’ll give January another go! 
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No worries! I dropped out towards the end when things got busy. 
Figured I would keep it alive in case anyone still would want to do a prompt here and there.
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I can probably only write in the morning. So, for last night, re: enjoying the holiday season: Hey, I did all of Autumn full sober (since mid-July, actually). Realizing that Christmas was artifically placed in December, I enjoyed the season as it is. Dark hours of rest and long intermittent fasting, roasted fall veg, colored lights to brighten and cheer, and Celtic music.
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January 3rd - Simple grounding techniques that dont need to change:
For me, my most fav techniques are:
- Cool showers
- Doing tasks mindfully
- Deep Breathing
- The 5 senses grounding technique
Usually when I need that “grounding”, I like to do self care. So having a warm shower helps, but what I find really helps is ending the shower with cool temperature water. It really brings me into the present.
I also like to do tasks mindfully. Wether that is a mindfullness walk, washing dishes mindfully, or just sitting down… feeling how my feet feel on the ground, how my arms feel resting on my lap, the breeze of the fan in my face etc
Deep breathing is great! It helps tremendously.
The 5 senses grounding technique really helps when I remember to use it.
~ For those that dont know how to do the 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique ~
Breathe: Take a few slow, deep breaths to calm your nervous system.
5 (See): Look around and identify five things you can see (e.g., a lamp, a crack in the wall, your shoes).
4 (Touch): Notice four things you can feel (e.g., your feet on the floor, your shirt, the texture of your hair).
3 (Hear): Listen for three distinct sounds (e.g., a clock ticking, traffic outside, your own breathing, birds chirping, people talking).
2 (Smell): Identify two things you can smell (e.g., coffee, a candle, fresh air).
1 (Taste): Name one thing you can taste, or focus on a recent taste (e.g., mint, water).
None of these grounding techniques I would change. They all help me in diff scenerios 
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It’s okay. A lot of us on here complete our journal prompts in the morning/afternoon instead of the evening.
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Jan 3, simple grounding techniques that don’t need to change.
I am very proud of how I acknowledge the need to ground and care for myself. If I can take a quick walk outside, especially on the grass or moss, I love that feeling, barefoot and cold.
I think my go to would be deep breathing and breath awareness (shout-out to the monks on their Walk of Peace and Aloka the Peace Dog!!!). 
Mindfully breathing is so healing and grounding for me. Box breathing, or big sigh breathing. Coming back to what is. 
Drinking a cup of water is sometimes a simple act that brings me mindfully back to me. 
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Jan 3:
- Inhale for 4, exhale for 6 to calm myself down.
- Pomodoro method when I need to concentrate but can’t.
- Legs up the wall for 10 minutes when I am exhausted.
- Cuddle with Milo and Mila when I need love.
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Love legs up the wall, must remember this!! Thanks!!
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3/1/26
Lie down somewhere warm and safe and comfortable, place left hand over heart, eyes closed and breathe slowly. Gently rub hands across heart space and ground thoughts and focus into feeling the floor or surface beneath you. Breathe slower, as slow as you can. In through the nose and out thru the mouth.
Tense muscles and release, repeat. Hum a tune.
I think of my nan who was my hero. Her strength, her composure, her sweet and giving gentle soul, her kindness. Everything she endured and never once give in. She was magical and life was so unfair to her. When I need to ground or reposition myself in the now, I channel my nan as a muse. Then it’s easy.
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That is so absolutely beautiful TF. Thank you so much for sharing. Just reading it made me feel the love between you and your nan. 
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3 January 2026
My grounding techniques:
- Working out.
- Taking in deep breaths.
- Calling my mom. Just hearing her voice soothes me.
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4 Jan, positive changes from new goals or routines…
I am still in healing mode from surgery so what I would ‘normally’ consider as new goals or routines in a New Year are very different this year. Or maybe that is simply from being hyper aware of aging not just from my own experience, but because of my parents as well.
Where I would ‘normally’ be focused on the physical, and I am hopeful to incorporate more (much needed and missed) physical activity, I am more focused this January with deep rest and letting go (a recurring theme, indeed a staple in my life). This is the year when I start shedding off all the expectations of others and removing vs adding to my to do.
My goals/ routines ATM is simply to heal and take life day by day. So far, I think I am doing okay at it. Positives changes…well, I am not holding on so tightly. I would love to make a major change…and move to a smaller home in town, vs the large home we have live in in the country. That is a long term goal tho.
Okay, now I am rambling, as I do. 
Just being is kind of where I am at right now.
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