Decision Journal Examples: What Entries Actually Look Like

A decision journal is easier to understand once you see one. These decision journal examples show what a useful entry actually looks like, so you can write your own without overthinking the format.

The simple template behind every example

Most good entries cover five things:

The decision you're facing.

The options you're weighing.

Your reasoning for leaning one way.

What you expect to happen.

A reopen date to review it later.

That's it. Each example below follows this frame.

Example 1: A career decision

• Decision: Should I leave my job to freelance?
• Options: Stay; freelance full-time; freelance part-time first.
• Reasoning: I'm leaning toward part-time first because it lowers the risk while I test demand.
• Expectation: I think I can find two clients within three months.
• Reopen: In 6 months.

When this reopens, the writer can compare "two clients in three months" with what really happened — and learn something concrete.

Example 2: A money decision

• Decision: Should I make a big purchase now or wait?
• Options: Buy now; wait three months; don't buy.
• Reasoning: Leaning toward waiting, because the urgency feels emotional rather than practical.
• Expectation: I expect the urge will fade if I wait.
• Reopen: In 1 month.

This example captures an emotional pull honestly, which makes the later review more revealing.

Example 3: An everyday decision

• Decision: Should I commit to this volunteer role?
• Options: Yes; no; yes but smaller.
• Reasoning: Leaning yes-but-smaller, because I tend to overcommit and then resent it.
• Expectation: A smaller role will feel sustainable.
• Reopen: In 3 months.

Even small choices benefit from a quick entry — especially ones that reveal a pattern (here, overcommitting).

What makes these entries useful

Notice they're short, specific, and written before the outcome is known. The specificity is what matters: "two clients in three months" teaches you more than "I think it'll go well." Vague predictions can't be checked later.

Writing your own

Copy the five-part template and fill it in for a decision you're facing this week. Add a photo or voice note if it helps capture your state of mind. Because your entries stay private on your device, you can be completely honest about your real reasoning.Used a few times, decision journal examples like these turn into a personal record of how you think — and a quiet way to get better at it.