For years I have read about keeping a journal, been told by my therapist to do it, and heard the gospel from friends, but I just haven’t done it. I’ll be honest, I’ve been skeptical. What is it about writing your thoughts into a journal that makes it special? Stress reduction, gratitude, blah, blah, blah. I get it, it’s all great and goodness knows I could use the mental health benefits, but it also feels like just another thing to do. To stress about.
Just after Christmas I was on Instagram, again, and saw a post of a stack of filled journals from a creative friend. She mentioned morning pages and how she was grateful for them. This wasn’t the first time I’d heard the term morning pages, so I did a little digging. What are they and what do you have to do?
Red Barn Mercantile: Great Outdoors Journal, $10.95; Penny Post: Leuchtturm1917 A5 Ruled Hardcover Notebook, $26; Blue Arch Dot Suede Journal, $25; Slow Down Guided Journal, $36; Pink Radiant Rainbow Journal, $25; Pippin Toy Co.: Library Books Composition Book, $11.50; Cherry Striped Composition Book, $11.50.
Morning Pages were created by Julia Cameron in her 1992 book “The Artist’s Way.” They are super simple and there is no wrong way to do it. Morning Pages are more about clearing the clutter out of you head so you can have a clear start to the day. This is not a gratitude journal, junk journal, or a journal to write down your memories. It’s simply to process your thoughts and clear your mind for a successful day ahead.
Here's how you do it. Get a notebook (I grabbed a ruled Leuchtturm A5 hardback but see others that might work for you below) and an easy-to-use writing tool – ahem, Penny Post – then first thing every morning (or within 45 minutes of waking up if you need to wait for the coffee maker to do its job) spend 10 to however many minutes you need and write three pages of whatever comes to mind. It is total stream of consciousness. You don’t have to be deliberate about it. Write whatever comes to mind. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, run on sentences, handwriting, or anything that your perfectionist tendencies bring out in you. It’s completely free flowing. If you get stuck just write gobbledygook until the words flow again.
I love that it’s only three pages. That gives me parameters to work with and permission to stop if I don’t have anything else to say. Of course, you can keep going if there is a lot you need to get out, but three feels manageable. And, depending on the size of the notebook, it can be a lot or a little. You get to choose.
The other beautiful thing about it and possibly my favorite aspect – you don’t go back and read it. Which is a good thing because I don’t think I could read it. One, my handwriting is atrocious and two, I wrote so fast that it’s extra messy. I love that this notebook will go on a shelf or be destroyed once I’m done with it. It’s basically a trash receptacle for all my worrying thoughts that get in my way.
I’m six days in and already like it. Six days doesn’t make me an expert, but if you’re looking for something that can jumpstart your day and clear the detritus that weighs on you needlessly, then maybe it’s worth a shot? Next year, I’ll let you know if it worked. ; )
PS: Pick up one of our favorite habit trackers – analog version, of course! – to help you get into the practice. “They” say it takes 30 days to establish any habit. Big or small, these little guys are a great way to keep you honest.