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The Reverse Journaling blog

Plain guides to reverse journaling and the goal methods behind it. Start with what it is, then pick a template or a comparison.

Start here: what is reverse journaling?

Reverse journaling

The method itself: write the finish first, then work back to today.

• Reverse JournalingReverse journaling: write your goal as already done, then plan back to today. 7 min read.
• 30 Future Self Journal Prompts30 future self journal prompts grouped by step: author, picture, obstacle, reverse and evidence. 6 min read.
• 40 Goal Setting Journal PromptsGoal setting journal prompts in five groups: the finish line, the obstacle, the path back, today, and review. 6 min read.
• Letter From Your Future Self: How to Write One That HelpsA 6-step method, three templates and examples for a letter from your future self. 7 min read.
• What Is Reverse Journaling? A Complete GuideReverse journaling means writing a goal as already done, naming the obstacle, then working back to one action today. 9 min read.
• A Reverse Journaling Template You Can CopyA copy-and-paste reverse journaling template with a one-time setup, a morning step and a night log. 7 min read.
• A Daily Reverse Journaling RoutineA morning step, a 45 minute sprint and a night log: fit reverse journaling into a normal day with about five minutes of writing. 7 min read.
• Your First Seven Days of Reverse JournalingA day-by-day plan for your first week of reverse journaling: pick a goal, write it as done, name the obstacle, plan back and log your first wins. 7 min read.

Goal setting methods

Ways to plan a goal that research and practice keep pointing to.

• Reverse Goal Setting: How to Plan Backward From DoneReverse goal setting starts at the finished goal and plans backward to today. 7 min read.
• Backward Planning (Backcasting) for Personal GoalsBackward planning, or backcasting, starts from the finished goal and works back to today. 5 min read.
• How to Plan Your Year BackwardPlan your year backward: write December as done, set four quarterly checkpoints, then pick one 45-minute action for this week. 6 min read.
• How to Make a 90 Day PlanHow to make a 90 day plan: write day 90 as done, set checkpoints at day 60 and 30, plan this week, and track proof. 6 min read.
• The Premortem for Personal GoalsA premortem imagines your goal has already failed and asks why. 6 min read.
• Implementation IntentionsImplementation intentions are if-then plans that link a situation to an action. 6 min read.
• The WOOP MethodWish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan: how mental contrasting works, with an example. 6 min read.
• How to Keep New Year's ResolutionsHow to keep New Year's resolutions: frame them as things to start, write them as done, plan for obstacles and review monthly. 6 min read.
• Reverse Journaling for Fitness GoalsUse reverse journaling for a fitness goal: write the finish as done, plan back by weeks, add an if-then plan for skipped days, and log what you did. 7 min read.
• Reverse Journaling for Writing a BookPlan a book from the finished draft backward: set a word target, size your writing sprints from real data, and keep a nightly log of words written. 7 min read.
• Reverse Journaling for a Career ChangePlan a career change from the finish: write the new role as done, split it into actions you control, and log applications, chats and skills. 7 min read.
• Reverse Journaling for a Savings GoalPlan a savings goal backward: write the finished amount as done, divide it by weeks, name the spending trap, and log each deposit. 7 min read.
• Reverse Journaling for StudentsA study plan that starts at exam day: write the result as done, work back to weekly topics, and log each study block. 7 min read.
• How to Start When You Do Not Feel Like ItLow motivation does not mean you cannot start. 7 min read.
• The Eat the Frog MethodEat the frog means doing your hardest, most important task first. 6 min read.

Manifesting with a plan

Popular manifesting routines, read honestly, with a next step attached.

• How to Manifest Your Dreams (Without Waiting on the Universe)Without magical thinking: write the goal as done, name the obstacle, work backward and log proof. 7 min read.
• Does Manifestation Work? A Fair Look at the ResearchA fair look at the research on positive fantasy, mental contrasting, if-then plans and the progress principle. 6 min read.
• Manifestation JournalA manifestation journal records the future you want. 6 min read.
• The 3 6 9 MethodThe 3 6 9 method: one affirmation written 3 times in the morning, 6 in the afternoon and 9 at night for 21 or 33 days. 6 min read.
• The 55x5 MethodThe 55x5 method means writing one goal statement 55 times a day for 5 days. 5 min read.
• Vision Board Ideas: How to Make One That Leads to ActionHow to make a vision board, or an AI vision board, that leads to an if-then plan and a next step. 7 min read.

Done lists and progress

Keeping proof of what you finished, so progress stays visible.

• The Done ListA done list records what you finished instead of what is left. 6 min read.
• The Weekly ReviewA weekly review template for personal goals: look back at what you did, check your plan, and pick next week's actions. 5 min read.
• The End of Year ReviewAn end of year review in three parts: what you finished, what you learned, and next year written as done. 5 min read.
• Small Wins and the Progress PrincipleWhat Amabile and Kramer found about progress at work, what it does not show, and how to record small wins in a nightly done log you can reread. 7 min read.

Comparisons

How Reverse Journaling sits next to other methods and journal apps.

• Scripting vs Reverse JournalingScripting writes a future as if it already happened. Reverse Journaling adds obstacles, milestones and daily action. 5 min read.
• Reverse Journaling vs Gratitude JournalingGratitude journaling looks at what is good now. 7 min read.
• Gratitude Journal vs Done ListA gratitude journal notes what you are thankful for. 5 min read.
• Habit Tracker vs Done ListA habit tracker checks the same few actions every day. 5 min read.
• SMART Goals vs Reverse JournalingSMART goals make a goal clear. 6 min read.
• Bullet Journal vs Reverse JournalingA bullet journal sorts your days. Reverse journaling points them at one finish line. 6 min read.
• Mental Contrasting vs To-Do ListsA to-do list holds tasks. Mental contrasting names what stands in the way. 6 min read.
• Word of the Year vs a Done StatementA word of the year sets a direction. A done statement sets a finish line you can plan from. 6 min read.
• Pomodoro vs a 45 Minute SprintPomodoro uses 25 minute blocks and short breaks. 6 min read.
• Time Blocking vs Backward PlanningTime blocking gives every hour a job. 6 min read.
• Personal OKRs vs Reverse JournalingOKRs measure progress on a goal each quarter. 6 min read.
• Day One Alternative: How to Move Your Journal to Another AppHow to export from Day One, Journey, Daylio, Diarium and Apple Journal, with a sourced price comparison. 8 min read.

App guides

Journaling, goal and productivity apps compared on startfromdone.com, with prices checked. We make Start From Done, and each guide says so.

• The Best Journaling Apps of 2026: 10 Picks ComparedTen journaling apps, each matched to a kind of writer, with the price, the platforms and one standout feature checked on each app's own pages.
• The Best Goal Tracking Apps of 2026: 10 Picks ComparedTen apps for keeping a goal moving, from habit streaks to team targets, with prices and platforms checked on each app's own pages this month.
• The Best Goal Setting Apps of 2026: 7 Picks ComparedSetting a goal is a different job from tracking one: you need a clear finish line and a plan of steps. These seven apps help with that part.
• The Best Productivity Apps for Reaching Your Goals in 2026A full to-do list is not the same as progress. These nine apps help you plan, focus and finish the work a goal needs.