Morning Pages, How Do I Love Thee?

Let me count the ways…

Do you have a routine that keeps you sane, stable, and focused on a daily basis? Most productive people do. My daily routine begins with a hot cup of tea (I gave up coffee — I know, crazy, right?) and then morning pages.

I’ve written before about morning pages, the brainchild of the creative maven, Julia Cameron, but the more I spend with morning pages the more I appreciate them.

On days when morning pages turn inspiring, help me solve a problem, get over an emotional block, or just feel really good, I am singing Julia’s praises. On days when morning pages feel “Meh” I still sing her praises because I know that “Meh” gets left on the page and I can bring my better self to the world once I step out into my day.

I am so committed to morning pages that I’ve even crafted a prayer or affirmation that reminds me why I choose morning pages as the anchor to my days.

As each noisy day begins, before the din can reach my ears and dim my eyes and fill my head with its ungodly agenda, I fill three pages with myself.

Not good or bad or right or wrong, Just me.

What is and what might be.

I place me and this marvelous gift of words above and before all else that beckons. I declare the pen my sword, my light, my compass, the way in a lost world.

Let this day be a gift of words.

Following a recent morning pages high, I thought, “Morning pages, I love you!”

Like pulling petals from daises in a “he loves me, he loves me not” daydream, I started a list of all the reasons I love morning pages.

If you aren’t acquainted with morning pages, you can read my summary of them below or check out Cameron’s website for more info. Morning pages are a staple in her toolkit for getting writers (and all creatives) on track and digging deeper.

Let me count the ways…

Lest you think morning pages are equal to all other journaling tools, let me tick off the reasons I love morning pages. If one or more catches your eye, you might want to give morning pages a try or reignite the habit you let grow cold.

Morning pages are…

A great way to start the day. Many writers have written about the importance of having a set morning routine. (Here is a list of articles you can check out.) Morning pages help me kick off that routine in a positive way and set the tone for the rest of my day.

Neutral. They’re not anything that I have to assign value to. They just are.

Easy to implement. No special books, journals, prompts, or rules. You just write for at least 3-pages, longhand. A piece of paper and a pen are all that’s required. You can continue morning pages anywhere, anytime.

Void of pressure or agenda. No special outcome is to be attained or reached for, no right or wrong as to what you write about, and no need to show anyone else. Some morning pagers burn or tear up each day once it's complete. I shudder to do this, but with some time and distance between me and the pages, I think I can start to let some of these notebooks go.

Forgiving. They can be twaddle, extraneous thoughts, or inspired ideas. You’re free to write whatever comes to mind — that’s the idea behind morning pages: to help you spill it all onto the paper so you can go about the business of being creative and productive the rest of the day.

Versatile. Sometimes they are my muse, inner voice, pages of prayer, affirmations, a few reminders smushed in the middle, the memory of a dream, reflections, or cathartic journaling that helps me process stress and negative memories.

Personal. Once you catch on to the freedom of morning pages, they become a guided friend. No judgment and completely your own. Cry, pout, whine, dream, get risqué, whatever you need to do.

Trustworthy. Morning pages keep secrets and confidences. Nothing that lands on the page need to see the light of day unless you want it to.

Great fodder for the real writing I do. 80–90% of my morning pages work is not anything I need to share with the world, but there are some gems that sprout forth — ranging from a creative idea or take-way to be shaped and molded later, to a well-turned sentence — occasionally the bulk of a well-crafted essay emerges.

A great return on investment. Even if the only time I have in the morning is for a quick page or two of morning pages, I know my day is off to a great start. The early morning time invested this way pays off in bunches as my day progresses with a clear mind, lighter heart, and the joy of knowing I’ve taken the time for ME and not given in to the demands of urgent.

I hope this lovely list of why I am devoted to morning pages inspires you to build them into your daily routine. What we know about routines is that they are vital to helping us maximize our potential and encouraging the growth of habits that boost us closer to our goals.

Routine is God’s way of saving us between our times of inspiration. — Oswald Chambers

Research also shows that keeping daily routines adds to our well-being.

Developing a routine can help create a sense of manageability in life. Consequently, routines can help people cope with a multitude of experiences, including change, stress, and mental health in a positive way. — The Importance of Routines

If you're serious about writing or just keeping a creative mindset throughout the day, morning pages can be a strategy that will serve you well as you put pen to paper. Another strategy for staying focused is to craft a personal Writer’s Creed.

I’d love to hear about your experience with morning pages or some other motivational approach to journaling. What keeps you on track each day?

Thanks for reading! Morning pages fit into my day because I do them first thing. I’ve also found that keeping life as simple as possible makes room for the things that are most important to me. I write about lessons I’ve learned on the journey to simplicity on Medium at Pick More Daisies and my website Simple Life ~ Simple Faith.