Morning Pages - A Clearer Mind, Better Ideas & Less Anxiety (2024)

Quite interesting … & makes lots of sense.
Thanks

Reply

Chris,

Great post, and what I like best is that you said you wouldn’t do it if it didn’t help you/make you a better person. This says a lot–that you do something for 30 minutes each morning–because it works! And by making your third page about your daily plans/positive visualizations-outcomes, you really incorporate some other kinds of spiritual ideas in the morning pages practice. It’s so cool. Thanks!

Reply

This is kinda interesting. I know every morning the mind is fresh and there are a lot of ideas bouncing around from last night sleep. But didn’t thought of writing it down. If I were to do this, I would need to wake up an hour earlier everyday.. haha.. Speechless**

Reply

Hi Chris,

Thanks very much for posting this article! I tried doing the morning pages for the first time this morning and it was a very enlightening experience.

I have a question for you though. Do you always have to write three pages? What if I want to write two pages one day and maybe five the next day? Is that okay?

Reply

I enjoyed this especially because I have felt the same way. I have been writing morning pages for several months and thought they were crazy at first but I have actually found them valuable. I committed to trying the artist’s way for 12 weeks. It was great and I am actually continuing the pages. My question though is what do you do with the pages after you write them? Some say toss. Some say save.

Reply

Attempted the morning pages years ago but the inner critic prevailed. Also, bought most of Julia Cameron’s books which I treasure. Now your blog (AKA pep talk) just inspired me. I can do this! Thanks, coach.

Reply

So happy that you shared this I it’s been a little more then a month since I started doing my morning pages and it’s been such an amazing experience an for the past week or two I had some struggled to get it done but seeing this reminded me of all the great benifits that I’ve had thank you and I truly enjoyed everything you wrote thanks for the reminder and this phrase or thought reminded me of what you are doing we liberate our selfs and as we do so we automatically help others to liberate them selfs thanks for sharing take care and let those morning pages coming 🙂

Reply

Graduated Carmel High School in Mundelein, IL with Julia! She was a fascinating, unique individual even back then before we all embarked on life’s journey and what was in store for all of us! I am definitely going to give “Morning Pages” a try! Thanks for this trip on Memory Lane, Chris! ~

Reply

I hate, hate, hate morning pages. But they work!

Reply

Hi Chris…. I enjoyed your “nudge” to get back into the morning pages. I had done them for many years, and came to discovery thru doing this discipline my long-repressed artist/writer. What I never did really seem to overcome, however, was this tremendous and intense sadness… nearly every day I sat to write. I allowed it to surface, and went with it. But man, it was tenacious, had a lot of velocity, and was always present. I found, after many years of adoring the many dimensions that seemed to be “channeling” thru me, that this victimhood tendency became boring, and wore me out. I couldn’t see the benefit of feeling rather disempowered and, well, sad…. on a daily basis, so I eventually stopped. I must say, in retrospect, that in spite of that dynamic (which I don’t desire to oppress, so I embrace her too)… the multitude of benefits that came with doing the morning pages far outweighed my sadness. I have also walked with serious depression for most of my life, so I feel like that victim voice is from the very tone of depression (oppressed expression). I would love to know if others experience anything like this, as I sometimes still have ambivalence toward it, as it’s not a “cut and dry method” for me to plan my day. At all. The guts. The glory. The bleeding. The oozing. The planning. The creation. It’s messy, and it’s beautiful. At least for me. It also aligns me with my deepest spiritual compass and inspiration. So for that alone… I will return to my beautiful mess. Thank you for the inspiration.

Reply

I have read about morning pages for years. Your post put the pages in perspective in morning pages. I thought there were too many rules to follow to make mp’s truly valuable. I’m writing in the morning – my own way! Thanks Chris 🙂

Reply

I started a journal when I was 13, and the only time I really had that was all mine was the hour before I went to bed, so every night I would write down my day, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Then I would write my hopes, fears, and dreams for the next day, week, month, and my summer plans. I did these faithfully all through 7-12 grades, all through college until my dad died at 26, but that’s an entirely different story.For me, writing out my day before going to sleep, put the day behind me. It allowed me to let go of all the “stuff” of the day and I woke up starting new. Also, once I wrote it down, I was done with it. I’ve done morning pages, but I’m truly not a morning person. I think regular journaling is beneficial no matter when you write.

Reply

This came to me at the best time. I was making a list of things I want to start to do so this is on the list and I am going to do 3 pages…again. thanks for the inspiration.

Reply

I read Julia’s book years ago and wrote morning pages for about a month. It really helped but somehow, I allowed life to get in the way and I got out of the habit. I will definitely get back into this practice. Thanks for this reminder of a great process!

Reply

I loved what you had to say about Morning Pages and agree with you heartily. I was surprised, however, that you made no mention of Julia Cameron who started countless thousands of us on the Artist’s Way. If I am not mistaken, she is the one to first encourage Morning Pages, and I would surely want her to be credited with that powerful, simple tool.
And she would be delighted when anyone shares that idea and its potential benefit with others.

Reply

I owe Chris an apology. I read right past his acknowledgement of Julia Cameron as the source of his introduction to Morning Pages. Obviously, she did receive credit as she was due, and I need to pay better attention!

Keep spreading the good word, Chris. You did a wonderful job of stating the value of this simple exercise, and I thank you for that!

Reply

I was introduced to this from a dear friend whom I so look up to! Today was the first day of the rest of my life and I want to make it better! I began my Morning Pages this morning and am excited to do this! Not a morning person but strive to make this a new goal to do! I have journaled off and on over the years but not in this format. Thanks to Julia, Mary and you for bringing this to my attention!

Reply

Good Morning, Chris. Great blog for me this morning. I have done morning pages in the past, and strayed away from them. However, they have been on my mind, and I sensed I needed to get back to them. So, you blog this morning, was just what I needed to get jump started. For today, I will focus on doing my morning pages tomorrow. And I’m feeling a bit excited about the prospect!!! Thanks, Chris. Have a most awesome day.

Reply

I love your take on MPs (what I call them). I’ve been doing them for the better part of 10 years and I feel lost when I don’t do them. I appreciate the way you’ve taken the 3rd page for visualization – I think I might try that tomorrow. Thanks!

Reply

Hi Chris- I am 2 weeks and counting with my Morning Pages. It has inspired me to make some radical changes to my artist website! Thanks.

Reply

Great article on morning pages ! A friendly reminder why it is so important to stay consistent. I was good for 3 years while living in BC and I’ve never had so many “dreams come true”. I won a writing contest, published an article and got paid by a major magazine, wrote various music reviews (health and fitness is my field, but I have an underlying passion to also write about music so being accepted to write for websites was a wow experience) …. I essentially found my creative self and it was amazing. I am starting again now for 2015. Your article just reminded me how important it is and to not judge myself…. Thanks!

Reply

Thanks, Chris! I’ve done the pages on and off before, but I was never confident I was approaching them the right way. The way you described the process makes me feel good about giving them another try! 🙂

Reply

I am so impressed and lucky to read this..……………surely will give it a try.

Reply

Hi mr.winfield i really owe you a great thanks because i used you topic and article for my presentation in university of course i mentioned my source and introduce you to my friends.
anyway thanks for your great articles i wish as i enjoy them i can do them in my real life.

mina, a student of tabriz university

Reply

Great post!

I had heard of this technique being used for songwriters, but I hadn’t thought about using this to start my day. I often struggle with getting up and staying up so this is a great help!

Thanks,

Chiereme

Reply

Great article!

Too often do people forget that it’s all about putting your thoughts on paper, without any preparation or thinking too much about it.

I love the way you do the morning pages exercise. The first sentence you write is a positive affirmation and lets your mind embrace the new day with joy and peace.

I think it’s a great solution for those who have a hard time starting their morning pages. They can just write down a positive statement about life in general, or something they are grateful for, or just a reminder that this new day is a gift. And they can use it as a starting point each morning to build momentum and let words flow.

Thanks for sharing this post.

Best,
Lidiya

Reply

I have been doing Morning Pages for more than 15 yrs., and it has changed everything. I also draw a mandala at the end of writing my pages. Now, I schedule nothing in the morning, because this is sacred time. It is as necessary as breathing to my day.

Reply

Dear Chris,

I came across this topic in a post I used with my students in class today and I decided to dig a bit. I’m definitely giving it a try!! Thank you for the idea and links throughout the text – they are amazing!!

Cheers,
Vivi

Reply

Thanks Chris, I came across this site when writing my own far more basic post on Morning Pages. Think I linked back to you.

Anyway am now past the 1 week mark of doing them daily by hand. Had tried typing them on and off before.

The only thing I do differently from yours is that I write Today is going to be the best day ever as the last line, rather than the first. And I always read the last line of the day before I start writing.

It’s a pretty awesome way to start the day!

Reply

This may sound like a silly question but when you say three pages does one page mean an A4 sheet of paper both sides??

Reply

Thanks for the blog. I have 500 plus streak going on 750 Words.
Because I do not know anyone else that is doing it, I was thinking I may be a little nuts.
After reading your blog, I am probably okay. lol
The most helpful part was you saying that you write in the first person, but not always. This happens to me and I do not know where the thoughts or ideas come from, but they come and I write them. Thus the thinking that I may be a little nuts.
Again thanks for sharing what you do in your writing. I loved it.
Regards,
Norma Lee

Reply

Hi Chris, i found your writing so inspiring. well this is something that so many people have already told you. but i have started practicing it. it is helping me. its only a week by now that i have started this. i am a student and looking for a good job. so for me my studies are all too important and also to be settled in a career. sadly i could not find any mentor for me. which i feel is the reason for lack of control in my life. but by god’s grace hopefully i would find a mentor who can help me in this process… thank you once again… well i found that power breathe too scary…. :-). i am little sensitive to my breathe. but really thank you.

Reply

i am so excited about this, but my question is how long is a page? i mean how many lines is a page? are we getting a notepad or a notebook, or a long note book?

Reply

Great article and very informative. I just want to get your take on how to handle a practice like this is you work the night shift for 4 or so nights a week and therefore spend a lot of time sleeping in the daytime?

Reply

Okay so what does one do with the notebooks when they are full??

Reply

I’ve been practicing morning pages for about two weeks now, and it’s going great, I just have one question…is there any age criteria for doing this?

Reply

So today was my first day writing morning pages, and let me tell you, I feel amazing and lighter if that makes sense… I was typing it because I have a 17 month old baby who needs a lot of attention but found that I got distracted so easily. By writing I felt true to my word! It’s so nice. Anyway, I was wondering if ONE page is front and back? I did one page, not front and back, and it seems a little short. Just something that’s been stuck on my mind and am dying to know the answer lol. Thanks for the article, great read!

Reply

So today was my first day actually writing, I have been typing my morning pages and it makes such a big difference! I love this article, you bring up a lot of different points and benefits to morning pages which made me realize that I actually need it in my life. So after writing my three pages it seemed very short. Do you consider one page Font & Back? It’s killing me lol! Thanks again!

Reply

Hello !

I’m a young French medicine student and I find your post and your whole blog SUPER ! ?

Thanks for giving us all those advices and for explaining us how to try dealing better with ourselves.

I’ve been working on doing these three pages every morning and I think that I’m now close to get it right. I mean to do this regularly and hopefully.

You’re inspirational ?

Thank you Chris

Reply

This is amazing! I’ve been trying to find the best morning routine for me and this is something I’ve really been trying to incorporate so thank you for the advice. I have one question, do you meditate before or after you do the morning pages? Or do you feel it doesn’t really make a difference which you do first? And lastly, what type of meditation do you practice? Thank you!

Reply

Ideas quite sharing….!!!!Great

Reply

Great read. I’ve been doing morning pages for just over 15 months now. They’ve become my keystone habit and a fundamental part of the morning routine. Morning pages are extremely impactful and I think most people could benefit greatly by following your recommendations.

Reply

Hey Chris, just read the title of your post three days ago (not the article) and I started – I just knew it was right for me! I am early riser so time is not an issue – I like going through the motions of taking out my diary, my pen and then settling down to it. It’s a fantastic idea. Today I read the article ? and I must say, it’s one of the simplest good advice from anyone to me! There’s no wrong or right way but the goal is the same. Cheers & thanks ?

Reply

Ah, now I know why my journal entries tend to be mundane and whiny. Lol. Thanks. Great post.

Reply

I’ve only done this for several days, and can feel all the benefits you describe. I think it’s a great way to break stagnancy in any area. One suggestion I’d make though…I believe it’s more beneficial to write without any thoughts or structure involved. I’ve tried it both ways.

Reply

Thanks Chris
I’m a huge fan of this process. I always say TRUST THE PROCESS.
In the beginning this can seem tough but after some time with this your body yearns for it. Give your mind the opportunity to remove the clouds and see the Sun!
Thanks for this great post

Reply

Hello,
I tried to do the morning pages but I couldn’t complete even a page..My mind was totally blank and I did not know what to write..I tried it for a few days and it was still the same..
How do I get past this block??

Reply

Try morning pages with Writelight App! You might like it =)

Reply

I have a question. Ok. I read Julia’s ‘The Artist’s Way” …somewhere around 2000 & immediately started the Morning Pages practice. There were periods where I did write them on a computer for a bit but everything else about the routine was kept in line. Oh- and I at some point added a 4th page which I called my Gratitudes Page.
Then fast forward to last year… I had a rather life-altering run-in with encephalitis that brought a few rather unsavory people into my life to reap the rewards of my horrible short-term memory combined with my tendency toward honesty. One of them took as many of my old notebooks as possible & obsconded them off somewhere. I don’t know if she even bothered reading em or just trashed em or maybe even sat around the local pond, reading em out loud to a bunch of homeless crackheads… I just know they’re ALL gone & that seriously interfered with my previously established (&faithful) practice cuz every time I pick up a comp book to start writing I’m immediately reminded of ALL those missing years of writing.
Hence my current poking around, looking for slightly different approaches so it’s not so triggering.
Thanks for putting the word out there about MP’s cuz yuppers- they are awesome. Very very helpful & that 4th Page of Gratitude seriously gives a nice boost to all things positive in our lives.

Reply

Great article…as far as I could read without getting exhausted due to all the FB, Twitter, Pinterest, etc buttons right over the text. It’s a pitty….There is a very little room on the bottom of the page where I could read the very first words from the left. I promise I’m back to finish reading the article if it’s made easier to read.
Love,Ioana

Reply

Morning, great read. Thank-you.
I tried to download the report and the link is not working for me. Any suggestions?

Reply

Chris, I am very stingy with my email address- a popup is one way to guarantee I won’t give it to a site. But I noticed no popup on this page, and I loved the article- you drill down to specifics, offer examples and action items so compelling I saved them elsewhere. I downloaded your ebook and you have my personal info now for your list. Thanks for being truly worthy of it.

Reply

Thank you for sharing so much appreciated. I did a search and your post popped up. I’ve tried Morning Pages in the past and loved the exercise however after three months I didn’t follow through as I keep a regular journal and it became too much or I just didn’t make enough time.

I love journaling and I’d like to resume my morning pages not at the expense of doing away with my journal as I like to read over my journals from time to time and Morning pages aren’t supposed to be Re-read. I’m torn but I do want to give it another go.

Reply

I am so glad I stumbled upon this, what I great reminder of the value of this exercise, I did it for a few months last year and I know I got lots of benefits from it, but then the devil in my ear whispered, “you haven’t got time for this, look how terrible your handwriting is, you are not saying anything worth reading etc”, and I stopped. I have been using an online journaling site and it really isn’t the same although I do like the praise for the daily success (oh, the power of writing, I didn’t realise it was that I liked about it, ego likes praise, ha!) but I know that my ideas flow much better when I write by hand, so am going to return to my notebook and my terrible handwriting. Thank you

Reply

My friend told me about Morning Pages. I’ve really been thinking about it. I read everything you had and all the “helps” you mention. Decided it’s time to stop thinking about it and get busy writing and believing it will be the beginning of all for which I’m desperately wanting. It sounds great. I guess now it is up to me. I’m starting tomorrow!

Reply