September Writing Prompts for Journaling (& free printable tea themed journal)

Rejuvenate your journaling practice for fall with these September journal prompts for adults! These journal prompts make journaling fun, easy, and enjoyable (even if you have no idea what to write). They’re great for adults, teens, and older children. Use them as part of your journaling practice or homeschool curriculum!

Make sure to keep scrolling past the list of writing prompts to download your PDF with all 30 prompts for handy reference and four printable themed journal pages that match your free printable September planner pages. If you like tea and planning, be sure to check out these tea themed bujo planner printables, too.

A preview of six pages of September journal printable with a watercolor tea theme. Two pages have 15 journal prompts apiece and four pages are lined journaling pages with watercolor tea clipart.

This post includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on purchases made through links at no additional cost to you.

Table of Contents

Journaling notebooks for fall

A high quality notebook makes a noticeable difference when you’re journaling. Yes, you can journal on any scrap of paper or cheap composition notebook from the discount store. However, a high quality journal you enjoy makes it much more likely that you’ll stick to your journaling practice and receive the benefits of journaling.

Bullet journal notebooks are popular for journaling. Many bujo notebooks are casebound (they look like a book), but you may want to experiment to see if you prefer spiral or coil bound notebooks. I like notebooks I can fold flat open, but my Japanese brother-in-law never uses spiral notebooks. Always pick what you like best, not what you think you “should” be using.

An image with a spiral Japanese notebook and a collection of bullet journal pens including Sakura Microns, gelly roll pens, Zebra midliners, and fineliner markers

Whatever journal you decide to get, double check to make sure it has the type of page you prefer – blank, lined, or grid dot. If you’re in a store, open the notebook and check it out. If you’re shopping online, look over the listing carefully to determine what type of pages the notebook has.

Make sure you like the journal’s line spacing before buying it. Journal notebook line spacing can vary widely. Some lines are very wide, others are narrow. There is no “right” or “wrong” line spacing for journaling. Select whichever you enjoy most.

Consider getting a notebook with acid free paper. Paper with acid turns brittle and yellow with age, like an old paperback book. Acidic paper can yellow in a surprisingly short amount of time.

Autumn Moon Journal (Diary, Notebook)

Paperblanks Autumn Apples (Mila Marquis Collection) Hardcover Journal,...

Big Tree PU Leather Refillable Journal Notebook Blank Pages Premium Retro...

Paperblanks Autumn Apples (Mila Marquis Collection) Hardcover Journal,...

Big Tree PU Leather Refillable Journal Notebook Blank Pages Premium Retro...

Autumn Moon Journal (Diary, Notebook)

Paperblanks Autumn Apples (Mila Marquis Collection) Hardcover Journal,...

Big Tree PU Leather Refillable Journal Notebook Blank Pages Premium Retro...

And, of course, you can always journal on your free printable journal pages. Download information, and previews, are lower down in the post.

If you use the printable pages, I recommend using HP 32# bright white paper. It doesn’t bleed, ghost, or feather like cheap copy paper does. For a comparison of several different pages with images of actual printouts, stop by this post with the best paper for planner printables.

hp Paper Printer | 8.5 x 11 Paper | Premium 32 lb | 1 Ream - 500 Sheets |...

Made in USA: HP Papers is sourced from renewable forest resources and has achieved production with 0% deforestation in North America.
Heavyweight premium printing: HP Premium32 is a heavyweight (32 pounds), brighter (100 bright) and whiter (163 whiteness) paper with a super-smooth...
Certified sustainable: HP Premium32 presentation paper is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified and contributes toward satisfying credit MR1...

Journal writing prompts for September

Thirty days of writing prompts for self-reflection and self-discovery September are listed out below. They are also included in your free printable PDF for easy reference. Don’t wear your hand out copying them down now – grab your free printable lower down in the post!

September journal writing prompts:

List your top three goals for this month.
Are you generally a positive thinker? Or a negative one?
Do you have the attitude, “No hurries, no worries”? Or are you always rushing to the next thing?
September is Happy Cats month. Do you like cats? Why or why not?
September 5^th is Be Late for Something Day. Are you always late? Or always on time?
September 6^th is Read a Book a Day day. Do you like reading? Why or why not?
Are you generally a positive thinker? Or a negative one?
List the effects that positive thinking could have on your life.
Do you think positive thinking has power? Why or why not?
Make a list of positive things about today.
September 12^th is Grandparents’ Day…do you have a favorite memory of your Grandmother? Your Grandfather?
List at least three things you are grateful for.
Make a list of neighbors that you know well. Do you mostly know your neighbors, or mostly not know your neighbors?
Do you like classical music? If so, what composers do you like? If not, why not?
Time for a mid-month check-in. Are you making progress towards your monthly goals? What do you still need to do?
How can you express gratitude to others?
Write about something in your life that stresses you. What could you do to change your thinking about the situation to relieve some of this stress?
What does “giving back to the community” mean to you?
Finish this sentence: “If you really knew me, you would know…”
Write about a time you were proud of yourself. What were you proud of? How did you feel? Describe the situation in detail and try to feel the same sense of pride in your body now.
It’s Bilbo and Frodo Baggins’s birthday! Have you read the Lord of the Rings books? Watched the movies? Are you generally a book person or a movie person?
In your opinion, what is the best way to create positive change in the world?
Do you forget your manners sometimes? When you’re angry or frustrated? How do you feel after you “lose your cool?”
How do you feel if someone acts ill-mannered toward you?
Do you have houseplants? Why or why not?
Do you talk or sing to plants or pets? Leave music turned on for them? If so, why?
September is almost over. What can you do in the last days of the month to end it on a positive note?
September 28 is Stupid Question Day. What’s the “stupidest” question you have ever been asked?
What are your plans for the 4^th quarter?
Have you met your top three goals for the month? Why or why not

Two pages with tea themed watercolor clipart and 15 journaling prompts for September on each page. There are a total of 30 themed journal prompts.

Free printable September journal pages

In addition to pages with each journal writing prompt, you can also download four journal/notes pages with a tea theme.

four lined tea themed journal pages with watercolor clipart

Like all journaling & planning printables on The Artisan Life, these are for personal and single classroom use. You are welcome to use them with Scouts groups, home school co-ops, personal therapy clients, library activities, etc.

You are not licensed to redistribute the files or printouts to others for their personal use outside of activities you are organizing. Instead, please refer your friends and coworkers to this page so they can download their own copies. You are also not licensed to sell these pages in any way.

If you agree to this license, you may click blow:

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Text "click here to download your printable"

I hope you enjoy using these September journaling prompts for adults and discover something new about yourself! Make sure to check back in soon for October journaling prompts. New prompts are usually posted mid-month.

Journal Prompts and Planner Printables

These journal prompts remove the fear of the blank page and allow you to start journaling today! Make sure to grab your free printable journal pages in each post.