Morning Pages

In this article, I want to explore how the famous ‘Morning Pages’ habit has helped me in the last 12 months. I am not the only one who has encountered a positive experience using this technique; if you do a google search or Youtube search you will see how many people have talked about their experience with ‘Morning Pages”.

In this post, I will share the following:

What are Morning Pages (MP)
How to use MP
What are the benefits?
My top ten tips when using MP

What are Morning Pages?

I first came across the idea of (MP) in April 2020 from the Tim Ferriss book Tools of Titans, which I also refer to in a previous post on journaling. As we were entering the first lockdown because of the global COVID19 pandemic, I wanted to develop my creative and writing skills, so I downloaded the Kindle book by Julia Cameron called The Artist’s Way. It is best described as a workbook, rather than a book. Julia Cameron is an American teacher, author, artist, poet, playwright, novelist, filmmaker, composer and journalist. The purpose of the book is to help people recover and discover their creative abilities and not to live in fear of themselves or others that would prevent them from being the creative person they wish to be.

The Artist’s Way is a 12-week journey in which Julia asks you to read one chapter per week and complete the tasks that she sets for you to do. The most famous part of this book is MP. The book is filled with so many helpful techniques to encourage you to unblock or discover your creativity. Millions use the MP you will never know about many people you will recognise, like screenwriter Brian Koppelman, podcaster, author and angel investor Tim Ferriss and podcaster and celebrity Russell Brand.

Koppelman truly believes in this practice, and this is what he had to say about it. “Every morning, what I do is based on the morning pages by Julia Cameron in The Artist's Way. It's three long-hand pages where you just keep the pen moving for three pages, no matter what, no censoring no re-reading. It's the closest thing to magic I've come across. If you really do it every day in a real disciplined practice, something happens to your subconscious that allows you to get to your most creative place.

I've given that book to 100 people and said I'm telling you, you need to do this. Of the 100 people I've given it too, maybe 10 of them have actually opened the book and done the exercises. Of those 10, seven have had books, movies, TV shows, and made out successful.

It's incredible, that book changed my life...”

How to use this practice

As Koppelman explains the MP is a simple habit of writing for three longhand pages each day. The key is not to think about what you are writing but rather to simply put pen on paper and begin to write, if you make a mistake, don’t go back to correct, if you write something that sounds stupid don’t go back and erase it. The key is simply to write in such a way that no one will ever see what you are writing so that you allow yourself the freedom to write how you are feeling, what you are thinking, what is making you happy or what is making you angry. It indeed can be anything. Creating the habit of MP and working through the specific exercises in the book will allow you to remove faulty belief systems that may prevent you from being your true creative self. Creativity can be expressed in various ways; it is not just for writers; it works for everyone regardless of skill level.

“What things would you do if no one cared?”

— Julia Cameron

When you write, you must not think of those who may read it; these pages are not for anyone else to see; they are yours alone to view. Once you have filled a notepad, you can burn, shred or bin them. This writing type allows you to be free and get what is in your head out onto paper.

Two benefits of Morning Pages

Brain dumping

MP act as spiritual windscreen wipers removing the blockages in the way so that you can see what is ahead of you and get on with your day. This practice allows you to create focus and clarity for the day ahead. When using this as a brain dump or vomit, you can write about what is troubling you or upsetting you, and the simple act of getting this down on paper frees you to win the day.

During the first lockdown, I found this extremely helpful as it allowed me to vent my frustrations on paper, instead of thinking about things. I am a very positive person, filled with hope and vision but I guess like many people we faced those frustrations that lockdown brought and some of us may still face. So this simple practice will help you deal with the challenges or frustrations you may be feeling. My personal experience is that it helps with stress reduction and removes the nebulas fear or discomfort that I may be feeling at that moment.

Idea formation

MP is also a great way to develop new ideas for the things you are working with. The key is not to sit down to come up with ten ideas but instead, as you write in a relaxed way, an idea can pop into your head. As we sleep, our brains work to solve problems and offer us solutions to some of the issues we may be facing. So as we begin to write in the morning, those ideas move from the subconscious mind to the conscious mind.

When I get an idea, I will take it from my MP and place it into my journal as by in large the stuff around that idea is often brain vomit and not with keeping, remember this is the point of MP.

“We are what we do repeatedly; excellence is not an act but a habit. ”

— Aristotle

That one idea to solve a problem, or that one idea to create something new could be the winning idea you need. This alone is reason enough to practise the MP habit.

Richard Branson explains, If you don’t write down your ideas, they could be gone in the morning. Have you ever had that experience, and suddenly it seems to have disappeared when you get an idea? This is why you should carry a notebook with you, so you take those ideas down.

Here are my top ten tips when practising MP

Get up earlier - it takes up to 20-40 mins to complete.
Don’t get distracted by other things - keep your phone switched off.
Make it a ritual - good coffee, a nice chair, and nice room.
Excellent supplies - paper, and pen you enjoy writing with.
Don’t worry about your handwriting, grammar or spelling - you don’t even need to finish one thought to write down another.
Use a brain wave app to improve focus or music if you prefer
Prayer/stillness beforehand to get you in the zone.
Do them in the evening - if you are not an early riser.
Don’t censor yourself - no one is reading it.
Don’t panic if you don’t write every day - do it when you need to.

I would recommend that you get hold of a copy of The Artist's Way and work through the book and the exercises, you will find this practice extremely valuable may even give you the winning idea that could change your life.

Thanks for reading