Write a letter to your future self
A letter to your future self is a small, low-pressure form of journaling. You write once and the reward arrives months or years later.
What to put in the letter
- Where you are now: what you are working on, worrying about and enjoying.
- One thing you hope will be true by the time you open it.
- Advice for a hard day, in your own voice.
- A question for your future self to answer in a reply.
When to open it
A week, a month, a year or several years each give different value. Short gaps show quick progress; long gaps show how much you changed.
What to look for in a journal app
- Privacy: no account, no ads and an option to lock with Face ID.
- A way to seal letters until a date you choose.
- Prompts that end with one small action and a question, not a feed of quotes.
- Replies that continue the conversation with yourself over time.
How Dear You approaches it
Dear You: Daily Letters is a free iPhone app from Honest Little Apps. Everything below comes from its App Store description.
- Open an original letter for today in a mood you choose, such as encouragement, calm, a fresh start, courage or gratitude. Each ends with one small step and a question.
- Write a letter to future you and seal it for a week, a month, a year, three years or five. It stays locked until its day.
- An Open When shelf holds envelopes for moments like can't sleep or doubting yourself, and you can seal your own.
- The description says there is no account and no ads, and you can lock the app with Face ID.
See Dear You on the App Store Read the full Dear You page
Questions
How do I write a letter to my future self?
Describe where you are now, what you hope for and advice for a hard day, then choose when to open it.
Is there a private letter to future self app?
Dear You: Daily Letters is listed free on the App Store; its description says no account, no ads and an optional Face ID lock.
Can I reply to my old letter?
In Dear You, when a sealed letter arrives you can write back and seal the reply for a later you.
