The importance of Morning Pages and Journaling

A popular daily habit that has helped many people improve their morning routine are morning pages. Also known as stream-of-consciousness writing, morning pages are a form of daily journaling that is done immediately after waking up. This daily morning routine could easily become the most important part of your day because it sets the tone for the day and helps you organize your thoughts and to-do lists. See it as a mental clearing process to get you ready for the day.​
I discovered morning pages many years ago and have been writing for some time now. They have become an indispensable part of my daily morning routine that I do first thing in the morning. I’m always amazed at what they do for me in the long-term and throughout the day. Every morning after waking up, the first thing I do is go to my work place at home with my morning coffee, open my notebook and write three stream-of-consciousness pages. It takes me about 40 minutes, but if you are a fast writer you can write them in 25. I prefer to take my time and start the day reflecting in peace.

What are they exactly?

Morning pages are an idea published by Julia Cameron in her book The Artist’s Way in 1992 and have become popular in recent years due to the success of Julia’s book and their success in general. They are three pages of stream of consciousness that you write in the morning. You just keep the pen moving, no matter what.
If you miss morning pages one day or skip a page altogether, you can always write another page the next morning. Remember, there is no right or wrong way to write morning pages, but the main thing is to stick to your routine.
Because morning pages are a stream of consciousness and your brain revolves around the most important things in your life, such as your family, friends, the world and yourself, it is different from journaling. Journaling on the other hand documents your day or explores particular subject. Morning pages are all of that. You can of course do both, morning pages and journaling. In that case I recommend to journal in the evening and maybe not daily.
I also recommend to write longhand instead of typing. There is something quite sweet and ​natural in doing that. Typing instead could feel like you are already working and lose that special something.

Benefits of morning pages

• Since writing gives you time to process your thoughts better, you gain more and more clarity the longer you practice this new habit and also warm up your creative instincts. ​
• They can also be a constant source of inspiration. Remember those days when you wake up f rom a dream and it is stuck with you? Note it down. Have a random thought or idea? Write it down.
• Morning pages balance your mind and eliminate the angry, whiny, petty worries that cloud your thinking so that they do not accompany you all day.
• Especially if you are struggling with stress and anxiety, the writing prepares you for the day, as it can also help to go through the upcoming day in your mind, hence you are already prepared.
• They give you a real insight into what is going on inside your head. Even more so, if you are used to just rush through your day, dismiss any thoughts and feelings and find yourself in a rat race. It slows you down just so much that you have time to re-evaluate things.
• Writing down goals can solidify them in your mind are you are more likely to work towards them.
• As it focuses your thoughts and energies it can be a cathartic experience.

In short, morning pages and journaling can be illuminating, inspiring, cathartic, cleansing and liberating.
Do you write morning pages or journal? I’d love to hear about it.