Novelty Night #1: Write a Letter to Your Future Self

We wanted to share one of our favorite nights so far: writing letters to our future selves. It was cozy, sentimental, and it works as a solo night or a group night

What you'll need:

• Letter-writing paper (fancy stationery or regular lined paper!)

• Envelopes

• Markers and pens

• Snacks and drinks (optional, but we had cookies and tea)

• A wax seal (optional but so cute, [link here])

• Cute stickers, sticky notes, or little encouraging gifts (optional)

  
  

Step 1: Set the Mood

If you’re doing a group night, send out an invite first! The night of make your space cozy with blankets, candles, and snacks.

Step 2: Pick Your Stationery

We started by choosing our paper and envelopes. It felt like we were getting ready to talk to a close friend but it was our future selves. 

Step 3: Choose Your “Open Date”

Before you start writing, choose a date to open your letter. It could be a major life milestone, the end of the year, your next birthday, or even five years from now.

I chose to open it after graduating from college, while others chose to open it in a year or when they finish their internship. 

If you're hosting a group night, decide whether everyone will keep their own letter or if the host will collect and return them on the chosen date. Make sure you set a calendar reminder when you want to open the letters so nobody forgets!

Step 4: Write Your Letter!

Some of us talked through what we wanted to say first, and others jumped right in. Either way, we chatted and laughed all night about what we were putting in our letters, and even swapped ideas for what to ask our future selves. You can make it a journal entry, a list of questions, a collection of memories, or a little bit of everything. Write it however you like!

Here’s what I wrote about:

• What I did that week with school and friends

• My favorite parts of the semester

• My current goals

• My current favorite things and obsessions (Dancing with the Stars and sunset walks)

Other things you could write about:

• What is your favorite part of your daily routine?

• What are your favorite songs, shows, foods, and hobbies?

• Who are the people you're spending the most time with?

• What are you excited about?

• What are you nervous about?

• What goals are you working toward?

• What is something you hope you'll have accomplished by the time you open this?

I also asked my future self some questions to reflect on how much time has passed.

Questions you can ask yourself:

• Did we end up doing that thing we've been talking about?

• What surprised you most about this past year?

• What is your favorite memory you made?

• What new things have you tried?

• What are you looking forward to now?

Step 5: End with Love 

I finished my letter with encouragement for myself. Not knowing where I’ll be or what I’ll be doing after graduation can feel nerve-wracking, so I wanted to give myself some grace, whether I have it all figured out or not. Writing to a future you who already knows the answers is surprisingly peaceful. It's a little reminder to trust yourself and know that you'll figure things out along the way.

One of my favorite things we talked about that night was how much kinder we were to our future selves than we tend to be in everyday life!

Step 6: Add a Little Surprise

This was one of my favorite parts! Tuck something extra into your envelope for future you:

• I added a fully punched coffee card to my favorite coffee shop

• One friend drew herself as she is now and left a blank spot to draw herself in the future

• Another added a friendship bracelet

• More ideas: a poem, stickers, confetti, seeds, a doodle, a piece of candy, or something random from your junk drawer

Step 7: Seal It Up 

Once you're finished, decorate your envelope! Add doodles, stickers, or even a wax seal if you're feeling extra.

Put your letter somewhere safe until it's time to open it. If you're worried you'll forget where you put it, set a calendar reminder for your opening date and include where you stored it. If you're holding everyone's letters, set a reminder to return them!

How It Went

We ended up spending over two hours sharing our letters and talking about our futures. By the end, we wanted to make it a tradition: letters on our birthdays to our next-year selves, on New Year’s, or around big occasions.

I loved that this Novelty Night gave us a chance to slow down, appreciate where we are right now, and get excited about where we're going.

If you host a write a letter to your future self night, tell us how it goes! And if you have a ridiculous idea for our next novelty night, we’re taking suggestions.

Join us on our novelty nights, and follow along on the blog to plan your own!