This is a chronicle of my Morning Pages experiment to gain clarity, improve productivity, and reduce stress … let’s see what 30 days of daily journaling brings me.
But first, a little background …
I might be slightly obsessed with office supplies. Specifically, pens, notebooks, and journals.
Ironically, given my love of these products … and the fact that I AM a professional writer … I’ve never maintained a regular journal practice.
But I think that might finally change.
The Journaling Practice of Daily Morning Pages
I recently came across the practice of Morning Pages. It’s a practice mentioned by Julia Cameron in the book The Artist’s Way. Julia says …
“Morning pages may hold insights and intuitions that startle you. Typically, they puncture denial.”
The practice involves handwriting 3 pages of your thoughts – stream of consciousness style – in a notebook or journal first thing in the morning. That’s it.
The writing doesn’t have to be good. You don’t even have to write in complete sentences. You never even have to ever read it ever again. The entire point is the act of writing out your thoughts … to get them out of your brain and onto paper so you can let them go.
I found these three videos to be especially helpful in learning more about this type of journaling:
- Lavendaire: Morning Pages – Write Daily for Clarity, Creativity, Productivity
- Amy Landino: MORNING PAGES 🌞 My Life-Changing Daily Journal Habit
- Leighann Chandler: I tried writing morning pages for 30 days
In Amy’s video, she gives this great advice:
Don’t think about writing. Write what you’re thinking.
The Morning Pages benefits of more clarity, improved productivity, and less stress are mentioned in each of the videos I watched and articles I read on the topic. And I want them all.
My 30-Day Experiment
So, I’m going to take a page from Leighann’s book and commit to writing Morning Pages for 30 days. Starting today. Want to join me?
I’ll be posting updates of my journey along the way both here on my blog and on social media. I’d love to hear about your experience with Morning Pages, too. Comment on my posts or tag me (@coachmichelepeterson) if you’re coming along for the ride.
By the way, notice that I’m not waiting for the first of the month to get started. The best day to start any new habit is the day you commit to doing it.
Numerology aside, there’s nothing magical about a day identified by a number 1 on the calendar. There’s no need to wait. In fact, there’s probably more reason to start now rather than waiting.
And that’s true for just about anything.
Day 1: The Journey Begins
“I’m excited, but also a little intimidated by this 30-day commitment to daily Morning Pages.” And that’s how this journey begins.
I unapologetically confess that the journal I chose for this experiment is a compact 5-1/2″ x 7-1/2″ lined notebook. Chosen because I had it on hand sitting on a shelf of my home office, but also because the smaller page size meant less to write each day to fulfill my 3-page commitment.
It took just 15 minutes to fill those 3 pages today. And it was totally stream of consciousness. No paragraph breaks. Little to no proper grammar. No organizing my thoughts.
I’m happy with my Day 1 attempt and am looking forward to continuing.
Day 3: Feeling Good about the Process
A change of scenery and also earlier than previous days to accommodate a 7:30am BNI meeting. Again, it took about 15 minutes. Manageable.
I’m feeling good about the insights I’m uncovering through this uncensored writing. Definitely feeling a renewed sense of clarity. I felt more centered and grounded upon completing my pages this morning.
Also, it sets a good tone to the day to have already accomplished something first-thing.
Day 4: Starting to Feel Like a Chore
And just like that, the honeymoon is over. It felt like a chore to sit down and write today. Ironically, it actually took me less time … just 10 minutes to fill my 3 pages today.
It felt like my inner voices were shouting at me. Demanding to get my thoughts on paper. I felt almost manic.
Definitely a different experience today. And that’s okay. I’m trusting the process.
Day 7: Commitment Holding Strong So Far
Letting it not be perfect has been a learning curve. I’m more used to thinking about what I’m writing instead of writing what I’m thinking.
And yet, it’s freeing to just let the words flow out onto the page … to release the thoughts onto the page, and then close the notebook at the end of the session.
It’s cathartic and does bring easier clarity and better focus when I’m ready to sit down to work.
So far, so good after a full week.
Day 8: Feeling Grateful and a Bit Nostalgic
Did my Morning Pages writing outside today with the smell of rain lingering in the air from overnight rainfall and clouds overhead.
Today, the rain brought back memories of rainy day schedules at school. Rainy days always seemed so “special,” even though we didn’t really do anything all that great.
It was more that it was something outside of the “normal” routine.
Which is a good reminder that we can make any day feel more special if we set the intention to do so, even if it’s just doing something a little different … a little out of the ordinary.
Day 10: What a Journey it’s Already Been
I’ve been uncovering so many “denied truths” about myself during this Morning Pages practice. Some of the insights have been staggering.
Not that I’m resolving any childhood trauma, but it seems like maybe the baggage I’ve been dragging around might be slightly lighter for being brought into the light.
I honestly didn’t expect my stream of consciousness writing to go so deep. But I guess that’s what is so great about this practice when you fully commit to letting thoughts flow onto the page without overthinking or editing them first … without filtering them.
There’s no right or wrong, there’s just what is.
And it’s freaking amazing!
Day 14: Two Full Weeks of Morning Pages
For this 30-day experiment, I am continuing the Morning Pages practice on the weekends. Not so sure that I will continue that on a regular basis, as I also like the idea of a break from the routine once in a while.
But at the nearly half-way point, I’m feeling grateful for the commitment I’ve made to myself.
It feels good to keep the promise I’ve made to myself. It reminds me I’m worthy of kept promises.
Day 17: Better Late Than Not at All
So, life got in the way today and I did not write my Morning Pages first thing before anything else.
Proud of myself for still doing it, though, because there was a time not so long ago that I might have let the thought of “not doing it right” derail me into skipping today all together.
And interestingly enough, I did notice a difference from writing mid-morning instead of first thing.
It’s nice to know that my trust in the process wasn’t misplaced.
And also a good reminder – a humbling reminder – that we aren’t immediately and consistently good at everything we try.
Day 19: A Beautiful Way to Start the Day
I’ve written my Morning Pages in a number of different spots around my home … both inside and outside. I’ve found it interesting how the different locations play such a part in the experience AND to the thoughts that come out.
It gives credence to the importance of intentionality in our living and work spaces.
It shows the power we hold in creating our own experiences, our own realities.
Day 21: Are We There Yet?
Do new habits really form after 21 days? I’m not sure I’m quite “there” yet with this new habit – this new daily practice – but I’m enjoying the journey.
And isn’t that the most we can hope for?
Isn’t that the best goal?
Because while the destination is important, the journey is even more so. It’s during the journey that we become who we need to be when we get to the destination.
I feel like my brain is waking up, thinking thoughts I haven’t in a while. And it feels really good.
Day 25: One Page at a Time
Like eating an elephant one bite at a time, you fill a notebook, a journal, one page at a time.
Today I reflected how it’s taken me – a professional writer – this long to finally “get” the power of daily journaling. I’ve realized that it’s not about waiting until you have something to say – something to write – it’s about sitting down, writing, and seeing what comes out.
One page at a time.
Day 30: What a Ride
I did it! A full 30 days of a Morning Pages practice of daily journaling.
It consistently took just 10-15 minutes each day to write the 3 pages.
Some of the pages are illegible because my handwriting got so bad with my hand trying to keep up with the thoughts flowing out of my brain.
Some of the pages contain deep, dark thoughts. Others are full of gratitude, joy, and light.
Either way, the act of getting the thoughts on paper … releasing them onto paper … left me more able to focus on other tasks of the day, which certainly had a positive effect on my productivity. And with the regular “exercise,” my brain feels more “fit” … like it’s more toned and my thoughts fit better.
I’m glad I committed to this 30-day experiment. And I’ll be continuing the practice.
I encourage you to do your own experiment with Morning Pages. Your experience will not be the same as mine … because we are not the same people. But if you are open to it, it will perfectly be what you need it to be.