Step Away From the Phone. Pick Up Your Journal.
You’re sitting there, phone in hand, tempted to send a “U up?” or a “Hope you’re doing okay…” Instead try these 10 prompts instead of texting your ex. Because You know texting your ex won’t really help—but that craving for closure and connection is real.
Pause.
Breathe.
Now open your journal instead.
Because that energy? That overthinking spiral, that ache in your chest, that part of you that wants to be seen? It deserves a place to land that isn’t their inbox. These 10 prompts instead of texting your ex are your new go-to when the spiral hits hard.
Why Journal Prompts Work Better Than Texting Your Ex
When you’re raw and heartbroken, talking to your ex feels like relief—but it’s temporary, messy, and usually ends in more confusion.
Journaling, on the other hand, is yours.
It doesn’t ghost you. It doesn’t breadcrumb. It doesn’t leave you on read.
Writing is where you take the power back.
You can say everything you want to say. You can be messy. You can cry mid-sentence. And you don’t have to censor a single thing.
Want to dive deeper into this kind of healing? Try Overcoming the Blank Page for real talk about starting when you’re emotionally stuck.
10 Prompts to Use Instead of Texting Your Ex That Get Real (And Help You Let Go)
Let these prompts be your emotional lifeline. One page at a time, you’ll feel lighter, clearer, and—eventually—unbothered.
- “If I could say anything to them right now without consequences, I’d say…”
Rage. Vent. Be soft. Be savage. Let it out. - “What do I miss about them—and what do I actually miss?”
Sometimes we miss the routine, not the person. - “The moment I knew things were changing was…”
Pinpoint the shift. Don’t rewrite history. - “What needs did I ignore just to keep the peace?”
Be honest about what you sacrificed. - “What version of myself did I become in that relationship?”
And do you still want to be her? - “What am I grieving, besides the person?”
Your future plans? Shared playlists? Their dog? - “If I never got closure, how could I give it to myself?”
This one’s a heavy-hitter, but it’s so healing. - “What part of me is scared to move on?”
Fear doesn’t mean failure—it just wants attention. - “How do I want to feel in my next relationship?”
Say it loud. Say it specific. - “If I were writing a love letter to myself, what would it say?”
Because the love you really need right now is your own.
Instead of texting them… write it down.
I made a free printable with 10 journal prompts that hit way harder than any late-night DM ever could.
Download “Still Not Texting Them” – The Breakup Journal Prompts (PDF)
Feeling out different writing vibes? Peek into Journaling Styles for Beginners and find what clicks for your heart.
When You Want Closure But Don’t Have It
Let’s be real: you might never get the “I’m sorry” or “You meant so much to me” or “I really messed up” text. That sucks. But journaling lets you say the goodbye you didn’t get. Or the one you were too heartbroken to give.
Try this prompt:
“Here’s what I wish I could’ve said before we ended…”
Write it all. Then re-read it. Then (if it feels right), burn it. Or fold it up. Or screenshot it and lock it away.
That’s your closure now. And it’s valid.
Not sure where to start with deep self-reflection? Pop over to the Deep Thoughts Club board for more prompts that hit home.
Turning Heartache Into Healing
Breakups aren’t just endings—they’re reveals. You get to see what you need. What you want. What you’ll never settle for again.
So instead of doom-texting your ex at 1AM, try this:
- Light a candle.
- Put on a playlist that feels like a hug.
- Answer one prompt.
- Cry. Or laugh. Or rage-write for five pages.
Whatever happens—don’t filter it. Your journal can handle the truth. And so can you.
Need guidance through the emotional rollercoaster? This BetterHelp breakup guide offers helpful tools for healing.
You Don’t Need to Be Over It. You Just Need to Write It.
You’re allowed to still care. You’re allowed to still hurt. You’re allowed to be totally confused about whether you hate them or miss them or both.
You just don’t have to stay stuck in that place.
Use these prompts instead of texting your ex—and watch how much clarity comes when you give your feelings a place to live, not just leak out in your DMs.
You’re not weak for caring. But you’re strong for choosing you.
Want more tools for the healing era? Healthline’s guide on coping with breakups is a solid companion read.
Instead of texting them… write it down.
I made a free printable with 10 journal prompts that hit way harder than any late-night DM ever could.
Download “Still Not Texting Them” – The Breakup Journal Prompts (PDF)
