Hey ,
I found myself crashing and burning last week. From dealing with a work deadline to an unexpected family emergency, I felt overwhelmed with everything that needed my attention.
Carrying around so much tension and emotion was overwhelming. Raise your hand if you've felt like this before 🙋🏿.
Last week, I happened to listen to Julia Cameron on a podcast discussing the benefits of Morning Pages. After hearing her perspective, I believed this technique could be helpful to finally put my mind at ease.
What are Morning Pages? A technique used to help clear your thoughts at the start of each day. When you wake up, grab a journal and write three full pages before doing anything else. It's that simple.
According to Julia, "*There is no wrong way to do Morning Pages*– they are not high art. They are not even “writing.” They are about anything and everything that crosses your mind– and they are for your eyes only. Morning Pages provoke, clarify, comfort, cajole, prioritize and synchronize the day at hand."
I committed to one week of Morning Pages and I can honestly say it was impactful and implemented at the perfect time. They helped me clear my mind and gave me the ability to focus on one thing at a time. Here's what else I learned:
- Trust the process: Don't strive for perfection, just honesty. I found myself writing so many thoughts from the day before (or the day ahead). After completing each journal entry, I felt a sense of calm and ease in my mind and body.
- Notice thoughts: Give yourself permission to accept the thoughts that come up for you and let them go.There were moments when I didn't know what to write or didn't think that a thought was worth further exploration. Julia says it can take about 30-40 minutes but there were some instances where I wrote for an hour.
- Progress not perfection: Let your thoughts pour into the page exactly how they come up for you. You are not journaling like you are writing a future New York Times best seller. Allow yourself to be raw and messy to gain new found clarity and focus.
I'm really glad I tried this technique, . My intention is to keep it going for another week. Will you join me? If you journal (or would like to journal more), this strategy is perfect for you to try. Check out the podcast
interview that got me started, and let me know if you are up for the challenge!
