Why morning pages are the best thing I've done for my creativity and mental health

This is the only journaling technique that works for me

Photo by César Couto on Unsplash

Over the past few years I’ve tried dozens of journaling techniques.

There’s really been only one that’s worked for me.

Last year, after experiencing burnout, I needed a creative refresh, a reset.

A colleague recommended that I read The Artists Way by Julia Cameron (it’s an incredible book and a must-read for creatives).

There was lots of things I learned reading that book, but this is the one technique she prescribes that has stuck with me the most.

It’s called Morning Pages, and it’s almost stupidly simple.

Here’s how it works:

Every morning grab a pen and a notebook, sit down and fill three pages with your thoughts.

No matter what, fill three pages.

Even if you don’t know what to say, write ‘I don’t know what to say’ until you’ve filled three pages.

Now, the trick is, you’ve got to ignore that little negative voice that is constantly judging what you write (Cameron calls this ‘The Censor’) and instead, just write. No judgement.

This is an almost unconscious stream of thoughts. Just get them down until you have filled three pages.

Then close the book, don’t read it back, don’t show your dog, close the book and move on with your day.

I told you it was simple.

After a little bit of practice, I found it surprisingly transformative. 

It felt like I was able to open up my brain, clear out all the crap, and move on with my day.

I felt lighter, I felt like I wasn’t hamstrung by all these silly, petty, whiny thoughts weighing me down. I even felt more ‘creative’, It’s like I had more space upstairs to make room for positive creative thinking.

And over time it’s had a compounding effect, not just on my creativity but more importantly my mental health.

Other journalling techniques left room for that nagging ‘censor’ to weasel it’s way in. I would judge what I was saying (why, I have no idea, it’s a personal journal for god’s sake), I would leave feeling like I had more questions.

Instead, now I just need to fill three pages, I just need to get out all the garbage that’s running around up there onto the page, three of them. That’s it.

If you’re feeling like you need a creative reset, give it ago, it’s 15 minutes of your time. I hope you find it to be as brilliant for your brain as I have.