Morning Pages and the benefits of it
I was at a difficult point in my life when I realized it was time to close my business and take a break. I had been hemorrhaging money, believing it would be successful, but it was the opposite. The "entrepreneur blues" kicked in and I was completely miserable for three months, to the point my fiancé was worried about me because I wasn't getting out of bed and was sleeping a lot. #thestrugglesofentrepreneurship #mentalhealth #depression
Like many of us, during this funk, I became obsessed with TikTok and found one of my Instagram faves (@hermessybun) on the app. She kept talking about "morning pages" and how they had helped her manage her ADHD and focus better with her business and life. To be honest, I thought it was just another journaling technique that wouldn't work. I had already tried journaling, and while I enjoyed writing and venting on paper, I couldn't stay consistent, especially on uneventful days when I had nothing to say.
Fortunately, @hermessybun offered (and still offers) one free "Morning Pages" session, where you can try it out and see if it works for you. I was excited to try something new that might bring my "badass vibe" back, and I was eager to get out of my funk. On the first day, the prompt hit me so hard and I ended up crying, writing down so much that I had been holding on to. As soon as I saw the effect of one prompt, I knew I had to do it every day and joined her community.
What are Morning Pages?
Morning Pages were created by Julia Cameron, who talks about this practice in her book The Artist's Way. She suggests writing three full pages every morning, preferably by hand, without re-reading them. Danielle, from Her Messy Bun, added a twist to the Morning Pages practice by adding a personal intention – what you are focusing on for the day – then shuffling cards (oracle, spirit junkie, etc.) to get a group intention, and then providing a specific prompt that focuses on your business, personal life, self-care, etc. If you don't like the prompt, you can always write whatever is in your head, and cheer that we showed up. We get 30 minutes, then stretch out, talk about our wins (if we have any), and that's it. After brain dumping during Morning Pages, you will feel ready to conquer the world.
What is the purpose of Morning Pages?
When you wake up, your brain is active and starts thinking about everything that needs to be done, processing emotions, figuring out the next steps, creating something, etc. Your brain is awake and ready to go. The purpose of Morning Pages is to clear your mind of all the thoughts you woke up with, so you can prioritize what needs to be done for the day. This practice is a type of meditation, as it gives you clarity in the morning to start your day off right.
Besides clearing your mind, Morning Pages can help you figure out the next steps, identify priorities, and put all your ideas on paper. This gives you insight into what is happening in your head and how to manage all those thoughts once they have been written down.
Benefits of Morning Pages
Clears your mind
It helps you identify and express feelings
Doing them in the morning helps you create a routine
Helps you track progress and goals
Connects with yourself
Allows you to reflect on the past and plan for the future
Clarify thoughts and feelings
Explore new ideas and solutions
Develop creative thinking
Improves mental health
Reduces stress and anxiety
Builds self-awareness
Some of you might not be into journaling or writing your thoughts because you think it's a waste of time or have nothing to say. I totally get it, and after a year of doing Morning Pages, there are days when I still can't write anything and my mind wanders during those 30 minutes. However, I suggest you try it at least once and see how it can make a difference to put all your thoughts on paper. Who knows, maybe you have a genius idea that could turn into a business…
If you want to try Danielle’s Morning Pages click here and set a day that works for you.
