The Benefits of Writing Morning Pages: Why You Should Try It (Even If You Hate Mornings)
Let’s face it—the thought of getting up even EARLIER sucks. But you know what else sucks?
Snoozing your alarm four times and then stumbling into the kitchen to microwave a sad excuse for a cup of coffee. But....
What if I told you that writing three whole pages of absolute nonsense first thing in the morning could actually make your life better? Yes, even if you’re not a “morning person”.
This magical practice is called Morning Pages, and trust me, it's not as torturous as it sounds. Especially if you set your coffee maker to ensure you have access to a fresh cup of joe.
I never thought I’d be the kind of person who would recommend getting up early to do this, but it has really helped my art career and personal calm.
WHAT ARE MORNING PAGES?
Morning Pages are three pages of longhand, stream of consciousness writing that you do the moment you wake up. You write whatever random thoughts pop into your head.
It’s not about crafting the next bestselling novel —no one is going to grade your handwriting or judge you for writing “I’m so tired” for 30 minutes straight. It’s about clearing out your brain so you can stop obsessing over the garbage in your head, and start gaining clarity on what's important.
Julia Cameron, the creator of Morning Pages, recommends doing this before your brain has a chance to actually wake up and start functioning like an adult. So, yes, this means you should probably do it before coffee. Which, let’s be real, is probably the hardest part of the whole thing. But hey, it’s an adventure.
THE BENEFITS OF MORNING PAGES
Now that you’re wondering why on earth you’d torture yourself with three pages of half-awake rambling, let’s talk about the actual benefits.
1. Clearing Mental Clutter
Ever wake up and feel like your brain is a junk drawer of random thoughts? “Did I leave the stove on? Why did I dream about eating spaghetti with Tom Hanks? What am I doing with my life?” Morning Pages are like a brain purge. You get all that mental junk out of your head and onto paper, freeing up space for things like actual productivity. It's like decluttering your mind and tossing out things that don't matter like worrying about whether the neighbor's cat is judging you with it's stare.
2. Self Discovery and Creativity
There’s something about writing with no filter that leads to the best “a-ha” moments. You’ll find yourself casually writing down your inner-most thoughts and suddenly—BAM!—you realize, “Wait a minute, I’m a frickin' genius.” You might uncover an idea you didn’t know you had, or learn that you’re way more obsessed with cheese than you realized. And while you might not be trying to craft a masterpiece, Morning Pages are secretly the best creative warm-up helping you filter through the nonsense to help you uncover creative ideas. It’s like unlocking the door to your brain’s secret creative attic—minus the cobwebs.
3. Dealing with Anxiety
When you wake up with the “oh no, the entire world is falling apart” panic (which, let’s be honest, happens more often than we’d like), Morning Pages can help. Writing about your worries takes the sting out of them. It’s like telling your brain, “Yeah, I know you’re anxious, but I’m not going to just let you roll around in a panic bubble. Let’s filter through this BS instead.” By the end of three pages, your stress is no longer the size of a mountain, but more like a small pile of laundry you’ll deal with later. Not bad, right?
4. Building a Healthy Morning Routine
I've honestly been OBSESSED with optimizing my daily routine as long as I can remember. Morning Pages is like having a little victory to start your day. Instead of rolling out of bed like a grumpy zombie, you’ll have a healthy habit that doesn’t involve social media stalking an idiot politician or Googling how to train your dog to make you coffee. It’s like starting the day on a productive note, only it involves your brain instead of a spreadsheet. It’s honestly the easiest “win” you can get before breakfast.
5. It’s an Excuse to Write About Your Dreams (Literally)
Dreams are weird and awesome, but we often forget about them before we have a chance to unpack them. Enter Morning Pages. Write down the strange, silly, or deeply philosophical stuff you dreamed about. You might not end up understanding what it all means, but it’s a great way to start the day with a little humor and creativity. Plus, future you will be really entertained reading back through your dream journal, trying to decode your subconscious after reminiscing about THAT dream you had where Beyonce made you swim in a pool of penne noodles while giving you advice about your hair.
HOW TO GET STARTED WITH MORNING PAGES (WITHOUT HATING YOUR LIFE)
Alright, you’re convinced (or at least mildly intrigued). Here’s how to dive into Morning Pages without regretting your life choices five minutes into the process:
1. Do it First Thing:
Set a timer and write before checking your phone.
2. Don’t Worry About Perfection:
This is not about writing your memoirs. Don’t overthink it. Just let your hand scribble whatever comes out, even if it’s just “I really need to pee” for the first page. It's all good.
3. Stick with It:
Give it a week. If you stop after one day because your hand hurts, you’re not going to get the magic benefits. A little daily commitment goes a long way.
4. Treat yourself:
To a fancy pen and a pretty journal. If you look forward to using the tools for your Morning Pages, you will be more likely to follow through. I also tend to treat myself at the end of each completed journals. Note: I currently have over 20 journals FULL of morning pages.
FINAL THOUGHTS
So there you have it—Morning Pages, the magical 3-page ritual that can turn your foggy mornings into productive, creative, slightly-less-anxious masterpieces. It's like your brain’s workout, but with less sweat, a lot of rambling, and an opportunity to filter out the garbage and focus on what is important.