Morning Routine For Productivity

Since 2020, I've done one thing almost every morning. It takes 20 minutes and is very impactful. It's called Morning Pages. I first came across this from "The Artist's Way" by Julia Cameron. And honestly, it sounded a bit woo-woo when I first heard about it. But the method itself is pretty straightforward. Wake up. Grab a notebook. Write 3 pages by hand. Earlier on some days, I started with "today is going to be a great day" because I literally didn't know what else to write. But I now have a few journaling prompts I use that I've also linked below. The mind is always processing stuff in the background. Things you need to remember. Worries about work. Random ideas. All this mental clutter just sits there, taking up space. When you dump it onto paper, two things happen: ↳ Your mind feels less noisy. ↳ You discover ideas you didn’t know you had. I've come up with video ideas, solutions to work problems, and realisations about things I've been avoiding. All from just writing whatever is in my head at 7 AM. Funny thing is, I’m pretty inconsistent with this. But on the days I actually do it, especially when I've got a lot on my mind, it genuinely helps. A few things I've learned: 1️⃣ Don't aim for 3 pages if that feels like too much. ↳ I started with half a page. 2️⃣ It doesn't have to be deep. ↳ Sometimes I'm just complaining about being tired. 3️⃣ Use pen and paper rather than typing. ↳ Handwriting makes it feel way more real. 4️⃣ Nobody ever has to read this. ↳ It's basically a brain dump. If you've been feeling like you've got too many tabs open in your brain, this might be worth trying. If you want to get all the journaling prompts I use to figure out what I want in life and make better decisions, get them here: https://lnkd.in/eGx6QJ7n

There's a journaling ritual I return to every autumn. When the leaves begin to fall and something in me knows it's time to let go. It's called Guided Journaling from the Presencing Institute—a set of questions that takes you through the U-journey, from what's dying to what wants to be born. Not "think first, then write." But "put pen to paper and see what emerges." The questions move through layers: What frustrates you most? What energizes you? What does your younger self want to say to you now? What footprint do you want to leave on this planet? What must die for your future to emerge? What seeds of tomorrow are already here? Each question opens a portal to your highest emerging future. Each answer reveals something you didn't know you knew. There's something about writing these questions while surrounded by trees that are literally letting go—shedding what they no longer need—that makes the process embodied. The U-journey mirrors nature's cycles: Of initiation. Letting go. Presencing. Letting come. And Guided Journaling creates the container to move through it consciously. If you're feeling the pull of autumn. — If something in you is ready to shed— If you sense a future trying to emerge but can't quite name it— I recommend this practice. Take 90 minutes. Find a quiet place in nature. Bring pen and paper. Let your hand guide the writing. It's one of the most powerful practices I know for listening to what wants to die and what wants to be born. Especially now. Especially in autumn. What practices do you use to let go and listen for what's emerging? #presencing #journaling #autumn #theoryu #transformation #nature #regeneration

📝📝📝📝📝 Ever thought about keeping a daily journal? It’s a game-changer! Just jotting down your thoughts and feelings each day can really help you get to know yourself better and feel more in control. ✏️ One awesome twist to this is adding a bit of visual thinking. Imagine mixing in doodles, sketches, or even simple diagrams with your writing. It’s like turning your journal 📓 into a mini art project, making the whole process more fun and engaging. Why does this matter? Well, visuals can spark ⚡️ your creativity and help you see things from new angles 📐 . Plus, they make it easier to remember 🧠 stuff because our brains love pictures. Over time, you’ll find that you’re not only managing stress better but also coming up with cool new ideas and solutions to problems. So, why not give it a try? Grab a notebook, start scribbling, and let your thoughts flow. You might just find that a few minutes of journaling each day makes a big difference in your life.

Most writers think they are blocked. In reality, their brain is just under‑stimulated. When you stare at a blank screen, your brain is in low voltage mode. You’re asking it to produce original ideas on demand… while giving it nothing sensory, emotional or rhythmic to work with. No wonder it serves up procrastination, LinkedIn scrolling and another coffee. There is a far better way to switch it on. Copywork: the forgotten high‑performance habit of writing by hand. Neuroscience is finally catching up with what great writers have always known. Studies using brain scans and EEG show that writing by hand activates far more of the brain than typing, especially in areas linked to memory, learning and meaning-making. One 2024 study in Frontiers in Psychology found that when students handwrote words, their brains showed much richer connectivity, particularly in regions associated with memory formation, than when they typed the very same words. In simple terms: handwriting lights up your brain far more than tapping keys. Now add copywork. When you handwrite a passage that moves you, you’re tracing every choice the writer made. You’re engaging motor, visual, language and emotional circuits all at once. That’s why it can feel like your brain is suddenly full of ideas. Energy and creativity flow. If you’re a writer, founder or leader who needs to produce words that matter, try this simple protocol the next time you feel stuck: 1. Select a passage. Pick a paragraph that has left you in reflective mode: a memoir, a speech, a novel, or even a post. If it makes your chest tighten or your eyes sting, that’s the one. 2. Copy it by hand. Slowly. Notice the verbs. Notice where the sentence forces you to pause. Notice how long the lines run before you get to a full stop. Name what it’s doing. Is it intimate? Urgent? Playful? Defiant? Write one line about why it moved you. 3. Write your own lines. Without looking back, write for five minutes about something that matters to you, borrowing only the energy and rhythm, not the words. You’ve now done three important things: 1. Flooded your brain with the kind of rich connectivity that supports learning and creativity. 2. Modelled your writing on work that genuinely moves you (not generic “best practices”). 3. Proven to yourself, in under 10 minutes, that you are no longer blocked, you were just unplugged. For the writers in my world: If you are sitting on a book, a keynote, or a story from your life that refuses to come out, hand write the sentences that make you feel something, and let them rewire your brain for a while. Then, when your own voice starts tapping you on the shoulder, follow it onto your own page. Curious? if you opened your notebook right now, which passage - from any book, speech or song - would you choose to copy out first, and why that one?  

I have journaled every day at 17 years old for 2 years. Here's how it helped me find meaning and make $$$ It helped me ruminate on ideas to help my clients: - get accepted into a panel of experts - close $63k in premiums through quality sales scripts - close $1.2M for their sales campaigns - give speeches at a conference for C-suite - get booked for workshops and events When I was 17, I discovered an open secret. That private victories precede public victories. The success we want lies in the inner work we must do. My first journal even had a "High School Musical" cover! Journaling is a process of self-discovery. It's also a space to make sense of your experience in the world. Here's how my journal helped me grow: 1) It is a canvas for self-discovery At 17, I wrote about giving speeches and making an impact, And today, that has become a reality. Your journal is a space to clarify your identity to yourself. Before your prospects and clients get clarity on who you are, You must first get clarity on who you are & what you stand for. Only then can they work with you and resonate with you. The journal is the space to unearth: - Who you are - What you believe in - What you stand for - How your history has shaped you - What matters most in life 2) It is a strategy book for ideas High-level ideas don't come on the fly, You have to work at it by letting it marinate in your journal, Some of my best ideas come when I scribble in a journal, Other times, it's just scribbling on an IPAD, Journaling provides a way to connect our ideas, You can also use the space to explore the repercussions of your actions, When you can play out possibilities in that journal, Your ideas would be much more thought-through, Structure gives your ideas more credibility as a professional 3) It becomes a magnet for opportunities When you know what you're looking for, It's easier for you to go get it. The magic doesn't happen on the paper. It happens when you take what's on paper and embody it, Then you do follow through on the strategy you've put in place, Then you find the people who have already lived that reality, Then you continue refining yourself to contribute to people. Opportunity favours those who are prepared. One step further, opportunity favours those who have done their work. It is not a silver bullet and it is not the only way to get self-awareness. But it's a really powerful tool to start :) What do you think of journaling and inner work?

I start my mornings off with a 10-minute brain dump where I free-hand journal with no structure 📝 It’s not about writing the perfect sentences. It’s about creating space to think, feel, and dream without filters. When you journal like this: • You start to notice the narratives (good and bad) you tell yourself • You catch thought patterns before they run your day • You connect with your dreams and desires, without judgment or opinions 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻, linked to logic and reasoning, which helps you organize your thoughts, process emotions clearly, and feel less overwhelmed. If your mind feels cluttered or your goals feel fuzzy, try putting pen to paper. Here are a few prompts to help you get started: • 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗺 𝗜 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄? • 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆? • 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄? • 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆? • 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗺 𝗜 𝗰𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆? • 𝗜𝗳 𝗜 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗴𝗼 𝗮𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿? Pick one, start writing, and see where it takes you 🚀 Lastly, there’s something really special about capturing your thoughts and memories...and being able to look back over the years to see how much you’ve evolved.

Has anyone tried Morning Pages? Turns out a big reason Julia Cameron developed it was to combat her inner critic. In my enlightening interview with Julia, author of "The Artist's Way," we explored the transformative power of Morning Pages for creatives. This simple, yet potent practice is about writing three pages daily on anything and everything. It's not about perfection but about giving space to your creativity and quieting the inner critic. Julia described our inner critic as a "forbidding, looming figure" - a voice that constantly tells us our work is boring or not good enough. The beauty of Morning Pages is in its approach to this critic. Instead of fighting it, you acknowledge it. When doubts whisper, you simply respond with "thank you for sharing," and keep writing. This practice trains the critic to become a minor annoyance, shrinking from a terrifying ogre to more of a cartoon character. The result? Empowerment in creativity. Morning Pages teaches you to create despite the critic’s noise, building confidence and momentum in your writing journey. It's a blend of psychology and habit, where facing and acknowledging your inner critic daily takes away its power. If you're struggling with self-doubt or creative blocks, Morning Pages could be your key to unlocking a new level of creative freedom. It's a small daily commitment with a potentially huge impact on your creative process. Embrace this practice and witness a transformation in your writing, one morning at a time. 🌞✍️ #MorningPages #CreativeFreedom #SilenceTheCritic #JuliaCameron #TheArtistsWay #innercritic #morningpages #juliacameron #morningmessage #cameron #critic #author

Here’s a list of journal prompts to help you start writing and gain inner clarity: Am I having a breakdown or a breakthrough? Are my current actions in alignment with my future self / the person I want to be? What am I currently doing well? What questions have I been pondering? Are they pulling me into the past or pushing me into the future? What are ideal solutions? Ten years from now, what will I regret if I don’t learn it or do it now? Am I willing to take a gap year, at minimum, once per decade, until the end of my working life? What is my unique gift that I’m supposed to develop in this lifetime and then share with the world? What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? Am I who I think I am, or am I who others perceive me to be? What change can I make today that my future self will be grateful for? What are you good at? What could you be the best at? What makes you happy? What excites you? What makes you feel accomplished and good about yourself? What are you most proud of having accomplished in your life? Can you repeat this or further develop it? What do you enjoy sharing or experiencing with other people? How do I express love and affection? What are my favorite forms of self-care? What am I most afraid of today? In general? What is the dominant emotion I’m feeling right now? When did I last feel truly happy? Who was there? What were you doing? What is one thing I must let go of to unburden my mind and spirit? — What are other journal prompts that have helped or inspired you?

The biggest periods of growth in my life all have one thing in common: they occurred when I had a daily writing habit. Journaling, to be specific. Nothing fancy. I follow Julia Cameron’s advice. Three pages every day. If I don’t know what to say, I literally write, “I don’t know what to say,” over and over again until I do know what to say. I don’t think I’ve ever had to do this for more than half a page. It’s a simple practice, but it can be incredibly transformative. Over the years, I’ve spent some time thinking about why it’s so powerful and I think I’ve figured out why. It forces you to commit.  Each day, when I begin writing, my mind is a cluttered mess. Dozens of incomplete thoughts swirling, colliding, competing to be the one that makes its way into reality. Or even worse, nothing complete enough to qualify as a thought emerges from the subconscious goo. But the process of physically forming the letters and words on the page (I always journal freehand) forces me to commit to one line of thought, to pluck one of these ideas from the ether of my mind, flesh it out, and usher it into objective reality. That’s a powerful thing because it’s the hard part of creativity. We all have little projects developing in our minds. But most of them don’t go any further because we never commit to one version over another. They exist forever in this liminal state, stillborn, until the creative energy dissipates and you move on to something else. Eventually this becomes a habit and you become a ‘creative person’ that never actually creates. Developing a daily practice of physically putting pen to paper breaks that pattern and creates a new one that involves actual creation. This will take work. It will take intention and commitment. Creation requires courage. It’s hard to create something from nothing. It’s hard to get up every day, sit down in front of the empty page, and confront the chaos of your mind. It’s ambiguous, and you’ll find that the second you sit down, you need to check your email, or do the dishes, or one of the many other tactical, unambiguous things you could be doing instead. But it’s worth it. If you develop the habit, you’ll find that you’re clearer, more focused, and more confident as you go throughout your day. So tomorrow morning, wake up, get a cup of coffee, and fill three empty pages, even if you don’t know what to say.