Your alarm throws you out of a precious dreamland and into another busy day of to-do lists.
For a moment, you pause, grateful to remember your little rituals waiting for you. The latte you’ve probably spent too much time (and money) trying to perfect. Your skincare routine, which has definitely cost you just as much. The mini doomscroll sesh which, although free, steals a little peace of mind. And just like that, you’re running at a deficit before you even begin your day.
Some mornings certainly call for choosing double Americanos over breathwork exercises. But the key is to not allow this state of rush to become the norm. Remembering the practices that anchor you gives your nervous system a chance to reset, your mind a moment to clear, and your body a second to breathe. So, set the tone for the day by sprinkling a quick morning writing practice into your routine.
It’s Simple — Creatives Must Create
If you’re a writer or an artist of any sort, creating for the sake of creation is vital. Honoring our divine artistic flow reminds us that the purpose of art is the act of creation itself. Whether someone else witnesses our art or not, it remains art because we decide it is.
It’s likely that you’ve heard of a workbook called The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Throughout this book, Cameron asks readers to reflect on what fuels and frees their creativity. One of the first, and most popular, practices she lists is called “morning pages”, a quick exercise in which readers write three pages free of expectations. You just write because, well … why not? No grammar, no breaks, no audience, no end goal. Simply, writing.
Naturally, The Artist’s Way quickly became one of my most loved books. Nearly every activity mentioned by the genius Julia Cameron was a breath of fresh air. But my morning pages undoubtedly triggered the most breakthroughs. My mind quieted as the flow took over each morning. Those three pages of freedom gave me an anchor of peace to revisit throughout the day.
I could handle the tough conversations because I was present.
Deadlines were met with ease rather than anxiety thanks to my deepened sense of self-trust.
I was able to show up more fully for those I loved because I had taken time in the morning to show up for myself first. Not to mention the insane inspiration that poured out of me because I allowed myself to write with clarity. With practice, you begin to see and feel the benefits of writing every day.
Tapping into our artistic abilities early in the day connects us to pieces of ourselves the busy world so frequently asks us to ignore. Choose to embrace your artistry and intuition by making it a part of your daily routine. Some days, the world does all it can to dim your light. All we can do is embrace every opportunity we have to shine as brightly as possible. These chances begin when we open our eyes each day.
Morning Writing Techniques: Choose Your Ritual with Curiosity
Take a look at your daily morning routine to find 10-20 minutes to practice intentional living with one of these exercises below. Bonus points if you pick more than one!
1. Speedy Sensory Snapshots
- Set a timer for 10 minutes (or less if you’re in a pinch).
- Describe your surroundings with help from all five senses.
- Leave opinions out of this and instead, experience presence.
2. Create a Character
- Imagine someone you could pass on the street and never meet. Perhaps the woman who was jogging last night as you left the subway station last night or the street performer you saw playing the tuba.
- Consider their life, their joys, sorrows, fun, regrets, interests.
- Spend 10-20 minutes writing anything about their life without worrying about accuracy.
3. Memory Recollection
- Choose one simple childhood memory
- After setting your timer, describe it as vividly as possible.
- Should bigger emotions arise, feel free to note those sensations as well.
4. Object Meditation
- Select your desired timer length and begin it.
- Close your eyes and take a deep breath.
- After your exhale, open your eyes and select the first object you see.
- Write about it, its design, its journey, the stories it holds for you.
5. Gratitude Lists
- Each morning after setting your timer, create a list prompt centered around gratitude.
- “People who feel like home”, “things I wish to appreciate more”, “calming colors and sounds”, etc.
- Make this list as poetic and free-flowing as possible to witness what arises organically for you.
6. Mini Essays
- Choose a random object of the day and select the length of time you wish to write.
- Write up to 200 words on this subject and refrain from repeating ideas. The key is to practice curiosity rather than perfection.
7. Day Scripting
- Set that timer!
- Take two minutes to close your eyes and feel the energy of today with your whole body. Note the emotions, sensations and experiences that come up for you.
- Then begin! Write about your day ahead as if it’s already passed and you’re remembering it years from now.
Tips for Building a Successful Daily Writing Practice
Be your future self’s best friend and make your creative routine accessible. The more steps it takes to accomplish a task, the less likely we are to complete it. So prep your nightstand with pen and paper, and set an alarm the night before. Recognize what often stops you from succeeding. Then find a way to overcome the challenges so you can start your day on the right note!
- Schedule writing time and alarms into your morning routine
- Keep your pen and paper by your nightstand
- Write before you scroll!
- Set a timer (10–20 minutes).
- Save time and don’t reread immediately (if at all).
- Save even more time by skipping the second-guessing.
- Use pen and paper to build the habit– muscle memory, baby!
- Make it cozy (tea, coffee, candle, instrumental music).
You see, the most important promises we make are the ones we make to ourselves. Unfortunately, those are also the ones we break the most often. We think, “I’ll write later.” We barter, “If I make it home on time, I’ll finally paint.”
My Advice: If there is one thing I could share with other creatives, it is to make room for aimless creation.
Choose the morning pages, an activity above, or a mindful journaling practice entirely your own.
But make it happen.
Keep this promise to yourself and watch your art, mental health and daily routine begin to flourish. Give yourself grace while building a new habit and know that it isn’t always easy or convenient to keep these promises. Everyone misses a workout now and then. Your mental workout is no different. The sun will rise again tomorrow, just as you will. But this time, you’ll begin your day knowing it will be different than yesterday. This time, you’ll choose to create. You will choose yourself.
Related Resources for Your Writing Routine
Sometimes, having the right tools, like a quality Moleskine journal and a pen that glides across the paper, can help you feel inspired and stick with your goals. Here are a few of the books mentioned in this article, plus some related resources to help you build your morning writing routine.
