An image of a letter sitting by a cup of coffee and a bouquet of flowers.

During these unpredictable times, everyone has difficult days and it can be easy to let negative emotions consume us. To help yourself through this, try writing a letter for your future self to open when you’re having a difficult day.

Start your letter by greeting your future self and include the date at the top of the letter. Then, you can start writing!

Here are some ideas to get you started:

Make a list of things that make you happy and/or help you destress. For example, maybe you enjoy going for a run, reading a book, watching a movie, etc.
Write about your hopes and goals for this year, to remind yourself what you’re working towards.
Draw a picture or put a photograph of something you love in your letter.
If you can’t think of anything, try asking your parents, friends, or loved ones what they would say to you on a bad day and include their message in your letter.

Finally, remember that you’re the only one who will read this. Don’t worry about making it perfect and have fun! When you’re done, tuck the letter away in a safe place and open it when you need it.

This prompt was written by Sarah Burbach, a Words Alive volunteer.