The Writing Process
What’s the Best Time of Day to Journal?
Experimenting with Time to Build Better Habits
In trying to make a habit out of journaling, and lend some intentionality to my writing, I’ve tried different times of day.
The idea was to find the time where the words flow more easily, and my thoughts land more effectively on an idea worth chasing.
Since time is often a precious resource, it seemed that I would have to choose.
The evening seemed obvious
I’ve always been an evening journaler, so that’s where I started.
In the evening, my thoughts are retrospective. No matter where my intentions begin, I find myself recounting the day, and taking stock of where I’ve been.
I look back. I recall. There’s a fair amount of musing. There’s the occasional aha! moment where something I’ve been mulling over suddenly becomes clear.
But looking back isn’t always the same as moving forward.
I’m not a morning person, but I tried it
What is it about the early morning hours that lend themselves to reflection?
In the morning, when my mind is fresh and the day is stretched before me, I tend to go down the rabbit hole of philosophical introspection.
I started a morning pages habit 78 days ago (yes, I’ve been keeping track) in order to clear my head, and to make space for the tasks I need to complete; but, as the days go on, I’ve come to appreciate this time as an opportunity to connect with myself and explore my inner landscape.
I’m not sure how I’ve lived without it for this long.
In the end, I chose both
In the process of experimenting with the flow of my days, I realized that both times are valuable, and I didn’t necessarily have to choose.
Every morning, I make my coffee and sit down for at least 20 minutes to write. If I don’t have anything scheduled, this can go on for much longer, often hitting the hour mark in what feels like only a few minutes.
This happens in something of a fugue state; the words apparate on the page with little action on my part, forming meandering paths that lead haphazardly toward greater realizations.
In the evenings, as I consciously wind down, I take a few minutes to jot down a highlights reel: events and concepts I want to remember, ideas that I want to carry into the next day, things I’m grateful for.
There’s no conscious time limit on this part of my day, but it’s rare for it to exceed 10 minutes.
The value is in what you take out of it
The result has been worth so much more than the time I’ve invested.
I find that I’m more receptive when I have a chance to work through the things I’m holding in my mind, and the process of releasing them at the end of the day has made it possible to gain clarity on what is important to me and what can be left behind.
What time of day works best for you?
Is journaling a habit? When do you find (or make) time to write?