Are you interested in improving your productivity and success? Here’s one of the best ways to get started writing? Start with your morning journal.
In the morning, we are often bombarded by so many thoughts, emotions, and feelings. As such, it can be a struggle to create space in our minds to think about what we want to accomplish and what we are going to do that day.
This is where morning journaling comes in. It helps us get our brain out of autopilot mode and into the present moment and start the day on a productive note. The process of writing down your thoughts and setting yourself specific goals will give you the ability to stay focused on your most important priorities and ensure they all get done.
Here’s how to use morning journals to create a daily habit that can make your life better.
What Is a Morning Journal?
Journaling in the morning is one of the most effective and underrated practices to keep you focused on your goals while giving yourself a chance to be mindful and reflect on where you’re going and what it will take to get there.
A morning journal is a daily practice of writing about what’s happening in your life. It’s a chance to reflect on your day, identify what you’re grateful for, and plan for the day. It’s best to journal in the morning because it’s more difficult to write when you’re tired.
When you journal in the morning, you can:
A daily journal is like a mind map. You write down your thoughts, feelings, and actions on a regular basis. It can be a helpful tool for improving your productivity, getting in touch with your inner self, and getting out of a slump.
Benefits of Writing a Morning Journal
It helps you silence your inner critic.
Your worst critic is yourself. Sometimes there are thoughts like, “You can’t do that. You’re not good enough.” To defeat that, a simple trick that can help you is to write down all the things you want to say about yourself.
As soon as you do this, you can immediately see where your thoughts are coming from and how critical they are. That is a great opportunity for you to organize your thoughts, get rid of them from your mind and chest, stay focused on what’s important, and get over many self-doubts and negative thoughts that can drag you down and make you feel miserable.
It unleashes your creativity.
Writing a morning journal will give you an opportunity to exercise your creativity. It may seem like a silly habit, but it can be a great help for your brain to understand yourself more and your behavior better. It can also give you a lot of insights on how you think about certain situations and what things you like.
Just jot down your thoughts and feelings without judging them. You don’t need to have an agenda or put too much thought into it. Be spontaneous and simply free-write what comes to your mind.
The more you write, the more effective your memory will become. It doesn’t matter if it’s mundane, funny, or important. If you write down everything you are thinking about every day, you’ll have a chance to find the best ideas and be creative.
It enables you to process your emotions.
If you notice that you’re constantly reacting to things rather than taking action to address problems, then writing a journal is a great thing to do.
Journaling will help you process how you’re feeling, what you’re thinking, and what you’re going through emotionally.
Whether you’re experiencing joy or sorrow, feeling sad or excited, having a regular journaling habit can provide you with important insights into your emotional state. You’ll learn to recognize your triggers and understand what makes you tick. You’ll also be able to identify what it is that makes you feel one way or another and why.
This will allow you to analyze what’s going on in your mind, be aware of how you feel, and control your emotions.
It allows you to clear your mind.
Journaling can also help you focus on just one thing at a time, organize your thoughts, and help you manage your priorities better. Doing this can help you think through your problems more carefully, find solutions, and make decisions with a fresh eye.
Write off the top of your head every morning and you will feel better. The moment you start writing, the mess in your mind will clear. Then, you will be able to focus more on your daily tasks.
It allows you to see your self-improvement.
By writing in your journal every day, you are constantly reflecting on your accomplishments and weaknesses. When you write down your thoughts, feelings, and emotions, you give yourself permission to think, explore, and make sense of it.
This helps you have a better understanding on why you behave the way you do and who you really are as a person. It can also help you to develop goals, which will, in turn, improve your life and give you the confidence you need to make good decisions.
What Are the Things That You Can Write In Your Morning Journal?
Your Activities for The Day
If you can’t think of anything to write about or you’re still trying to start your morning pages, you can make a to-do list. It’s super helpful and will let you know what you need to get done on that day.
It can really help you get organized, keep your priorities straight, and stay focused on what you are doing. Write down any chores, tasks, or work that you need to do. You don’t want to leave any important things out.
Things That Can Help You Have a Great Day
Write what you can do to be more productive, successful, and happy and how you can make other people around you feel the same way.
Write the things that you have done to become the better version of yourself and how it brings joy into other people’s lives. When you see the results of everything you do, you will have a feeling of fulfillment, courage, and confidence to continue doing it so you can make someone’s day great and your days greater. Your journal will stand as your reminder of all the great things you do every day.
Things That Make You Happy
Think about what makes you happy, no matter how big or small that is, write down every possible thing. This will help you realize why you’re feeling happy in the first place. What is your happiest memory? What are your favorite things? And, what is your special hobby?
You may also include your gratitude and appreciation for your life, your family, and all of the people who love you. The idea of creating a list of things you can be grateful for every day has gained momentum in recent years. Having a positive mindset is the key to having a good day. It can give you the inspiration you need, keep you motivated, and help you see opportunities where others do not.
Keep in mind that there is always something to be grateful for in the day, writing it down helps you be more conscious of the positive things in your life, which can help you to be happier—and in turn, more productive.
Your Lifestyle
You can write about your habits, your activities, and your dream life. Do you exercise? What do you eat? Do you enjoy being with friends and family? What’s great about your favorite coffee shop? What is your ideal life like? What would you like to do differently?
You can write about your daily travel to work, the weather, or your wellness journey.
How do you handle your daily situations, especially when facing a problem? What do you do? Who do you approach for help?
Remember to pick one topic that is meaningful to you and focus on that.
Your Inner Thoughts
Go ahead and write your inner thoughts in your morning journals because no one will judge you. Writing down what you’ve been keeping to yourself can help you gain insights and make better decisions. So just let it all out, even if they are negative.
It’s easy to get stuck in a negative mindset, and this can have an ugly impact on your life. Often, your inner thoughts are the root cause of your problems.
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You can write down your inner thoughts about your work, your relationship, your health, and your personal life. Then, you can start by writing down the things that make you happy, and then later on start to get into the areas where you might have less control. Finally, you may find that your journal is one way to vent your anger and frustration.
Now, you don’t have to share these with others, but the point is to start getting them out, even just on paper. You might find that it feels good releasing all those bottled-up emotions. Also, acknowledging these thoughts can eventually lead you to start working on the difficult parts of your life.
Things That Happened in Your Dream
You have probably been sleeping, dreaming, and when you woke up, your perspective on something had changed completely.
Dreams are sometimes meaningful and can act as a guide for you to know your inner struggles and thoughts. So if you had a dream, write down everything that you can remember, such as the emotions you felt while dreaming, scenarios that happened in each dream, and any thoughts or insights that you have in mind during the experience.
You need to try to write as much information as possible. This way, you will be able to find out what your unconscious is telling you. It can help you connect the dots between your dream and your waking life, your personal issues, relationships, life problems, and things you’re afraid of. By doing this, you help your subconscious mind to understand yourself better.
Your Short and Long-Term Goals
Journaling your goals helps you focus on reaching them, makes sure you’re always moving towards them, and keeps you from procrastinating. It also provides a record for you to see how your life is progressing.
Writing down your short-term goals is like helping yourself to make a plan and accomplish it in the next few hours or on a specific date you set. While writing down your long-term goals will give you more of a picture of where you want to end up in the future. Through the process of setting and accomplishing short-term goals, you are also making progress towards your long-term goal.
Tips to Help You Write Your Morning Journal
Get ready for the morning.
On the night before, prepare all the things you need in writing, such as your pen and notebook, so that your time in the morning will not be wasted.
Set an alarm and sleep early as much as possible. Keep your notebook beside your bed so that you can quickly reach for it if you have something to write down, like the first things that come to your mind when you wake up.
Do it first before doing other things.
A morning page is a great way to start your day. Do one for a single day and before you know it, it’s already a habit.
You need to do this before taking a shower, before eating your breakfast, before checking your emails and social media, and before even going out of your room. When you put other things before writing, you may forget the things you want to write because they will be replaced by the things you are currently doing or have already done.
Do it regularly.
It’s important to have a daily practice of morning pages. Julia Cameron, author ofThe Artist’s Way, recommends making them a non-negotiable part of your daily routine. If you do this, you’ll be strengthening your habit.
If you want to be disciplined, you’ll need to set a time when you can write your morning journal. This way you won’t have an inconsistent schedule.
Just write.
Don’t let excuses keep you from getting started. You can start today and get it done. Just wake up and write.
Write about anything that pops into your head. Write down whatever you are thinking about right now. You can write about your life. Write about your dreams. Write down the good things you did and the bad things you didn’t do.
It can help you to think about the things, thoughts, or feelings that are bothering you.
Keep yourself away from distractions.
A distraction-free environment can help you get your task done without having your mind wander to places where it is less productive. It can also help you not to lose track of the progress you’re making.
When you are writing, try not to be distracted by the noise around you. This includes other people, whether they’re your family or friends. Turn off or put your phone on silent mode, so that notifications, emails, and calls do not disturb you. Avoid checking your social media. Do not play loud music, but some low-volume soft and calming music is an exception if you don’t want a soundless surrounding.
The more you are able to avoid external stimuli, the better you can focus on what you are trying to accomplish.
Find yourself a comfortable space.
Find a cozy spot in your home where you can sit and write. Make a cup of coffee, find a pen that feels good in your hand, or use an inviting notebook.
Write your morning journal in a quiet place where you will not be interrupted and disturbed. Some people prefer a spot by the window, while others like to sit at a table in the living room or in their bedroom. Wherever it is, the most important thing is to give yourself permission to be alone in a way that you never have before.
This might be in a special place or a space that is completely off-limits to anything but writing. The more relaxed you are, the easier it will be for you to journal.
Don’t censor.
Your journal is a safe place for you to reflect. Start writing what’s on your mind, regardless of how petty, silly, stupid, or crazy it may seem. Your morning journal will make you look at your life with honest eyes, so don’t limit yourself in writing and bring out all the feelings. You’ll be surprised by what you’ve been hiding from yourself.
Writing down your thoughts with no filter is an essential step to releasing negative emotions and improving your emotional health. Over time, your resistance to writing about even the darkest secrets you’re hiding from yourself will disappear, and your pages will become truly authentic.
Write using pen and paper.
For morning pages, don’t use a computer. Writing with pen and paper is an ancient practice that has proven effective in helping us process our thoughts and emotions. It also helps you slow down and get into the present moment.
Writing by hand is more thoughtful, and it allows you to process what you’re expressing. It also takes longer to keep up with your thoughts, which leaves no time to edit what you write. Writing by hand also helps you remember what you wrote, even if it was ages ago.
Don’t be a perfectionist.
When you’re writing, it’s easy to get caught up in the minutia of following writing formats and thinking about what other people might think. Don’t worry about all that. No one should see your journal if you don’t want to, so just pour your thoughts out. You also don’t have to worry about the words you are using or the grammar. Rather, write whatever comes to your mind.
And no, you don’t have to follow any rules. Your content, your style, and your handwriting are irrelevant. It’s what you have to say that counts. Morning pages are raw emotions and real thoughts.
Your journals can be just for you.
If you’re not comfortable sharing your journals, that’s okay. Don’t worry. You don’t have to be concerned about anyone else reading your journal. You can treat them as your private property.
Think of your morning pages as your sacred space where you can write down all the things that you are thinking about every single day. You can be completely open with yourself and not let anyone in. They are for you to look back on in the future.
First Step to Becoming a Writer
The most effective way to get started writing your morning journal is by writing every day for five minutes, regardless of what you’re thinking about. You can use this time to clear your mind or simply to write down the thoughts that have been running through it.
Morning pages are a great way to process emotions. They allow you to be more productive and make positive changes to your life.
We all have those days where we’re so busy that we can’t even remember what day it is, much less what we did with our time. If you want to get more done in a day, make sure you have time for yourself. It’s a great habit to get into.
If you find yourself struggling to write, it’s a good idea to make it a habit to write in the morning. That way you have time set aside for creativity.
Additional Resources
How to Make Money as an Author: Ever wondered how the likes of John Grisham, Stephen King, and J. K. Rowling make money? Ever thought about what their journey might have been like from humble beginner to world-renowned author?
The Cost of NOT Writing a Book: Entrepreneurs often ask how much producing a book will cost them but have you ever considered how much NOT having a book is costing you and your business?How Long Does it Take to Write a Book: The first question first-time authors ask is: how long does it take to write a book? Some can take years or even longer. Leaders Press can help you write a best-selling book in a year or less. Want to know how?Schedule a consultation for free!
