Refresh Your Memory Keeping in January with these 50 Story Prompts!
January always feels quieter after the rush of December, but that doesn’t mean it’s short on stories. In fact, it’s often the month where life settles back into its real rhythm. The routines, the resets, the small habits that shape our days tend to show up front and center, even if we don’t always think they’re worth documenting.
That’s why this January prompt list includes 50 story and photo prompts for a month with only 31 days. There’s no expectation to use them all, no daily checklist to keep up with, and definitely no pressure to “finish” anything. Think of this list as a generous menu rather than a strict plan. You get to choose what fits your life, your energy, and the stories you’re already living.
Many of these prompts focus on everyday details you might normally overlook. The quiet moments, the routines you repeat without thinking, the little preferences and habits that make your life yours. These are the kinds of stories that don’t always feel important in the moment, but end up being incredibly meaningful when you look back.
The goal here is to give you fresh eyes. To help you notice moments you might otherwise skip past, and to remind you that your story doesn’t have to be big or dramatic to be worth telling. Sometimes the most honest snapshot of a season comes from the smallest details.
You can use these prompts however you like. Pick one when you feel stuck, let a prompt spark a memory you already documented, or simply scroll the list until something clicks. There’s no right order and no wrong way to use them.
January is a reset, but it’s also a continuation. This prompt list is here to help you capture that in-between space, the quiet rebuilding of everyday life, and the stories that are already happening, whether you think to notice them or not.
Want to keep this list handy? Download or pin the prompt list so it’s easy to reference throughout the month, and don’t forget to tag me if you share your gratitude pages!
P.S. Love this graphic? Then you’ll love my Story Foundations Collection!
Story Foundations January Prompts:
Your favorite winter candle or cozy item
Something that challenges you this month
A fun or silly selfie
A memory from the past year
Something new you tried recently
Favorite mug or cup in use
Your favorite cozy texture right now
A current habit you’re proud of
Your favorite way to unwind
Something that represents “new beginnings”
A detail in your home making you happy
Your current planner or journal setup
A photo of a recent creation
Something that motivates you this month
A winter landscape or outdoor view
Favorite cozy socks or slippers
Something green, even in winter
A ritual or routine that helps you reset
Something that made you laugh recently
Favorite tool or supply for your projects
A corner or view of your home you love
Your hands holding something meaningful
A photo that represents rest and recharge
Your current favorite little indulgence
Capture shadows, light, or reflections in your space
Rest Day
Tech I Rely On
Your Creative Space
Workspace in Use
A Cozy Corner
Your morning routine today
Favorite winter beverage
Currently Reading
Something that made you smile this week
A small goal for the month
Something that sparks creativity
Your current favorite playlist or song
A photo of your hands doing something
A winter accessory you love wearing
Something you’re letting go of from last year
A simple joy from today
Your current favorite snack
A handwritten note, doodle, or journal page
A snapshot of your pet
Favorite way to spend a chilly evening
Something that inspires you this month
A piece of home decor you love
A creative flat lay of essentials on your desk
Something that represents self-care for you
A quiet moment in your day
Need some inspiration for how to incorporate these prompts into your memory keeping? The TRD team picked a few prompts that inspired them and created pages!
Becky - “Rest Day” using the Hygge Season Collection
When I saw the prompt of Rest Day I knew I wanted to scrap this photo of me and my cat who comes to sit on my lap whenever I decided to have a day of relaxing and doing embroidery! I used Hygge Season which could be seen as a winters collection but I’ve actually used it here to record a day in June, so I love how versatile it is!
Ruth - “Workspace in Use” using the Make Merry & Our Story Matters Collections
Workspace in use? Not so much actually! I've been too busy “enjoying” December with teens. Mock a-levels and gymnastics busy-ness has meant no time in the scrap room for mum. Keeping it real with this page for my December Daily. Just need to decide whether I put it at the beginning of the album or the end! I've used this year's Make Merry, smashed with Our Story Matters turns out the colours actually kind of go! Please enjoy your DD process and don't guilt yourself over the finish date!!
Ana - “My Creative Space” using Wander & Wonder
For this prompt, I created a digital scrapbook page titled “My Creative Space” using Traci Reed’s Wander and Wonder collection. It felt like the perfect fit because my creative life has literally been flying back and forth with me. From Manila to Saudi Arabia, I brought all my crafting stash and machines with me, actually bringing more of those than clothes. This layout features photos of my current craft room in Saudi, built from supplies I slowly bring over each time we go home, since crafting goodies are much easier (and cheaper!) to find in Manila.
But for me, a creative space doesn’t end within four walls. When my husband travels for work and I get to tag along, I always pack a grab bag of projects I can work on in the hotel. I also bring crafting essentials on long-haul flights to keep my hands and mind busy. The last three photos capture exactly that: a coloring book and canvas I worked on during our 14-hour flight from Saudi to Seattle, and my travel journal that kept me company during a four-hour layover in Dubai.
No matter where I am, I make space to create and just like Wander and Wonder, my creativity travels with me.
Penny - “Cozy Corner” using Hygge Season
When I saw the Cozy Corner prompt, my mind went straight to a space rather than a specific moment - my favorite one. This chair has become part of my everyday routine, so it felt like the perfect story to document. Using Traci Reed’s Hygge Season collection, I built this layout around place and perspective, letting the patterns, color, and texture create a page that feels comfortable and cozy, rather than styled. These quiet, familiar stories are the ones I enjoy documenting most — the kind that don’t need a special occasion to make the story worth telling.
Melinda - Tech I Rely On using Our Story Matters
Have you ever stopped to think about what tech you actually use for your scrapbooking??
Most of us start with a phone, then some sort of printer, yeah?
I had a FB memory pop up recently that showed my very first Silhouette from 2012 which really had me delving into just what tech I do rely on and the list is actually longer than I had anticipated.
Here’s my list: Phone, printer, computer (all these amazing digital collections!!), Silhoutte, Minc, Foil machine, Big Shot Switch and my hot foil machine. Does your list look similar? What would you add or take away??
The Story Foundations Collection
