How do I figure out which “pointless” things actually matter to me for this prompt?

Look for signals of intrinsic meaning. Try this quick scan in your Stoic entry: 1) Joy check: Recall the last week—what small actions made you smile or feel lighter (even briefly)? 2) Timelessness: Note moments where you lost track of time in a calm, non-compulsive way. 3) Afterglow: Which activities leave you feeling more present or kind afterward? 4) Childhood echo: What would your younger self recognize as “so you”? 5) Values bridge: For each candidate, write one sentence that links it to a value (e.g., “Whistling on walks nourishes my sense of play”). Keep it simple—three items, one line each. The point isn’t utility; it’s noticing what quietly keeps your inner life alive. Capture them in Stoic so you can revisit when productivity pressure overshadows meaning.

I feel guilty doing things that don’t advance my goals. How can I journal about them without spiraling into self-criticism?

Use a gentle reframe. In your Stoic entry, try: 1) Name the voice: “My productivity voice says…” (write its worry in one sentence). 2) Counter with principle: “Not everything good must be useful” (Stoic idea: virtue and inner character > outcomes). 3) Evidence list: Note 3 ways this “pointless” thing stabilizes you (mood, connection, perspective). 4) Small permission: Choose a tiny boundary—“I’ll give this 10 minutes and observe how I feel.” 5) Close with a compass, not a score: “Today I honored aliveness, not just efficiency.” You’re not arguing utility—you’re honoring a fuller human life. Keep the tone warm and brief; the goal is acceptance, not justification.

What if my “pointless” activities are actually avoidance or procrastination (especially with anxiety or ADHD)? How do I tell the difference in my journal?

Run a quick meaning test in your Stoic note: 1) Before-feel vs after-feel: Avoidance tends to start with urgency and end with shame. Positive meaninglessness often starts neutral/curious and ends with steadiness. 2) Values check: Write, “This aligns with my value of ___ because ___.” If you can’t fill the blanks honestly, it may be avoidance. 3) Cost clarity: “If I do this for 15 minutes, what cost am I accepting?” Conscious choice reduces avoidance. 4) Time boundary: Set a small container (e.g., one song, one page, one lap). 5) Return cue: End by naming the next tiny step on your priority task. If the activity helps you re-enter calmly, it’s likely nourishing; if it fragments attention and inflates dread, reconsider the timing or duration.

Journaling Idea - On Positive Meaninglessness.

Make a list of 3 things that you would not change, even if you know they were “pointless.”

These things don’t earn you income, they don’t make you physically fitter, they don’t further your career… but you would do them anyway.

Journal in Stoic

Written by

Zach Beauvais

Published on

Jul 4, 2023

Journal in Stoic

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Zach Beauvais

Writing & User Experience

Zach helps stoic design experiences for mental and emotional wellness, creating guided meditations, mindful walks, and journaling prompts rooted in Stoic philosophy. He also serves as Marketing Director at Cornell’s ILR School, where he helps leaders clarify their purpose and turn ideas into content that engages students, faculty, and collaborators. With over 15 years of experience in storytelling, community building, and content strategy, Zach brings both creativity and clarity to his work. Outside of writing and strategy, he enjoys photography, making coffee, and carving spoons, bowls, and cups from green wood.

Make a list of 3 things that you would not change, even if you know they were “pointless.”

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