Getting Started with Morning Pages: QUICK GUIDE
Are you wondering…
What journal to use? What type of pen is best? Check out the following guide to get started on morning pages TODAY!
If you consider yourself a creative, chances are you’ve heard someone you know refer to morning pages. They are the secret weapon of high-performers, wealthy entrepreneurs, and successful artists. If you haven’t already read it, grab a copy of Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, where she explains morning pages more fully. Simply put, the key to starting morning pages is to just start. Get a journal, grab a pen, and sit down to write. When it comes to journaling, stationery aficionados understand that it’s not always that simple. This quick guide is for people interested in a mindful, writing experience instead of just adding another productivity chore to their day.
We want to answer common questions we get when people first start journaling. The goal of this guide is to make it as easy as possible for you to just start.
Finding a Journal
There are millions if not hundreds of millions of different types of journals out there. Ultimately your decision on the best journal for your morning pages is going to come down to preference. Not all journals are made equally, and a quality journal translates into a quality writing experience. When building a writing habit, we have found it much easier to stick to the habit when you enjoy the tools you’re using.
Journal Page Layouts:
College Rule (lined)
Wide Rule (lined)
Dotted
Blank
College Rule
College-ruled notebooks have smaller spacing between the lines than wide-ruled notebooks. This type is perfect for those that may have smaller handwriting or tend to be long-winded when they write. College-ruled notebooks and journals are great for morning pages because you don’t feel psychologically confined by small margins or write less than you intend.
wide rule (left) and college rule (right)
Wide Rule
The wide rule is the spacing a lot of us will remember from elementary school. The spacings are wider. If you have ever had to do it, this was perfect for writing drafts long hand and double-spaced.
Dotted
Instead of lines, spacing is dotted. The dotted rule is similar to the grid style because the margins are not as clearly defined as in lined notebooks. This layout is common to those interested in bullet journaling and other types of habit-tracking journals.
left to right: blank, wide rule, grid, dotted
Blank
This is the layout with the most freedom. These journals are typically blank through and through. This layout is common for streams of consciousness and mind-mapping style brain dumping.
Choose whichever journal style you prefer, even if you need to flip through some different styles in a local bookstore or office supply store to decide.
Journal Sizes (smallest to largest):
Passport
Pocket
A6
B6
A5
B5/Composition
The B5 or composition size is recommended for anyone interested in journaling. Smaller sizes are better served for quick to-do lists and note collection. Standard composition books or full-page journals are also sufficient sizes.
You can find a notebook or bound journal anywhere office supplies are sold. Here are some options from some of my favorite retailers.
Amazon: RETTACY Notebooks
RETTACY Notebook I am currently using.
After filling my last journal, this is what I bought as a replacement. The paper is great quality and the lines are college ruled. This journal features two bookmarks and a back pocket. They are also sold in a two pack, almost 500 pages combined!
Alternative Option: Leuchtturm 1917
Leuchtturm 1917 notebook, a classic.
Although I haven’t purchased one for myself just yet, they are well known and frequently purchased. This brand has a wide variety of colors and sizes so finding something that fits your style should be easy.
OR Office Depot: Eccolo Desk-size Journal
This is the journal that sold me on the B5 or composition size. This was the first full-sized journal I have used and have decided I am not going back. This journal is also college ruled and the pages give maximum space for writing. I would repurchase this 10 times over if it came in different designs.
Now that you’ve got your journal, it’s time to get your pen or pencil in hand. But how do you find the perfect pen?
The Perfect Pen
There are two rules for finding the perfect pen to journal with.
Is it comfortable to hold?
Is it easy to replace?
Morning pages are three pages of long handwriting. The pen (or pencil) should be comfortable to hold - not too big or small in your hand and comfortable in your grip. The pen should also be easy (or cheap) to replace. No $900 fountain pens are necessary. Running out of ink, faulty roller ball, it doesn’t matter if the pen you use is easily replaceable. Pick a pen that you enjoy using but can also be bought in multiples.
Our favorite: TUL Pens
TUL pens are the best pens I have used to date, and I have tried a lot! The ink is rich and all their pens write like butter. The standard point size we use is 0.5, but they have a plethora of options in both 0.5 and 0.7 points.
Time to Write
If you have never journaled before, sitting down to write is going to be uncomfortable at first. Schedule time to write and a lot at least an hour to write. It may take you 45 minutes or 2 hours, either way, set the appointment with yourself and show up. Scheduling time to do your morning pages also makes it easier to incorporate into your daily routine. Instead of scrolling social media with your morning coffee, sit with a journal and prepare for the day ahead.
Final Thoughts
This guide serves to help you sort through the smaller details so it’s easier to start. It’s easy to say just grab a piece of blank paper and start writing but that is not practical to build a habit. Get a journal and pen that you like, standard composition size. Set time aside in your morning when it would be easiest to write. Even if that means getting up earlier or skipping a CNN update.
