I'm Dax. I think every finished thing deserves a trophy, even the small ones. Pick a prompt, write it down, and let's call it handled.
Chin up, tail up — Dax Carver
10 Goal Journal Prompts
Ten prompts from Dax Carver for your goals and work journal — short, straight-talking, and built to notice a finished thing instead of chasing the next one.
- What's one thing you got done today that you haven't told anyone about yet? Go ahead, write it down properly.
- Name tomorrow's one big thing. What does "done" look like by the end of the day?
- What's a problem you worked around today instead of solving head-on — and is that actually fine for now?
- Give yourself a trophy for something small you finished this week. What's the trophy called?
- What's one task that took longer than it should have? What would make it faster next time?
- Name one thing you said no to this week that was the right call.
- What's the most "on top of it" you've felt all week, and what led up to it?
- Pick one thing on your list you keep avoiding. What's actually stopping you?
- What's one skill you used today that you didn't have a year ago?
- Name one thing you're proud of that would never make it onto a resume.
More goal journal prompts are coming soon.
Back to Work Journals ·See the prompt library ·Take the 1-minute quiz
Frequently asked questions
What is a goal journal?
A goal journal is a place to set a goal, break it into smaller steps, and track what you actually finish — rather than just a to-do list of what is left.
What should I write in a goal journal?
Name one goal, one small step you can take today, and one thing you finished recently that counts as progress. See our 10 goal journal prompts from Dax Carver for more to try.
How is a goal journal different from a work journal?
They overlap. A work journal tends to log daily tasks and wins; a goal journal focuses specifically on a target you're working toward and the steps that get you there.
How often should I update a goal journal?
Weekly works well for most goals — enough time to make real progress between entries, without losing track of what you set out to do.