A life-changing habit | Journaling

[@mcjovies36]

Sometimes I like to do some creative writing. I’ll take a book I’m reading and place myself in that world and then write for 15 minutes how my “character” interacts with that world. It’s a fun idea for those who want to start their morning off with some creativity.

[@MarcusCreates]

I love that idea. Thanks for sharing.

[@chriscouchoud]

Great Video, Marcus. I began a morning pages habit a few months ago and have already observed some of the benefits. Two things that stand out are a daily reduction in my anxiety levels and a more sustained focus on my work and activities. Pumping out what I like to call "Brain Vomit" has helped to reduce the wordless chatter that often gridlocks my brain. I agree with Marcus that it's not always convenient to write first thing in the morning. I have kids and dogs and most of the time they take priority. There are also two other things that I have found helpful in starting and maintaining my practice. First, don't pressure yourself to write 3 pages right away. I use a ruled Midori A5 notebook for my journal. Each page is broken up into two sections. I started with 2 sections and worked my way up to 6 sections, which is 3 total pages. Second, don't feel like it has to happen every morning. I usually go Monday through Friday and only do weekends if I feel like it. Remember, there are no rules to this. You will not be tested. Use the morning pages system as a framework and adapt it to your lifestyle as needed.

[@MarcusCreates]

I love this. The whole idea of customizing a framework to work for you. If you’re too rigid about anything you’re destined for failure. Also wish I’d thought to suggest people build up to 3 pages. I actually do 2 pages of my A7 Tomoe River notebook and that takes me 20 minutes 😂. Glad you’ve found something that works for you and thanks for sharing your experiences. 🙏

[@rmangold]

Been in a slump with Journaling. I got overwhelmed with several life changes at once and let it slip. When I was full steam I coupled my journaling with my morning devotions and found creative flow came easy. I know what needs to be done, but find my motivation for the writing portion has fallen to the wayside. I still do all of the things I used to do but seldom journal about them. But, when I do, I find it cathartic and cleansing. Thanks for the content. I so enjoy it! Cheers!

[@MarcusCreates]

Thanks for sharing. You don’t have to be the best version of yourself all the time. Life’s hard sometimes. You got this. 💪🏼

[@MickMontgomery]

Your channel actually helped me incorporate daily pages back in Q4 of last year. It’s been really helpful.

[@MarcusCreates]

I’m so happy to hear this. Are you sticking with it?

[@MickMontgomery]

@@MarcusCreates yes! I do. Sometimes, I miss a day, but I get 1-2 pages a day at least. Sometimes more. It’s a really effective exercise for reflection.

[@MunchkinGamingTM]

I started writing daily, but in a different tone (almost like writing letters to me two kids (currently ages 3 and 6). After watching your video I am encouraged to start a personal journal to tackle some of my personal challenges and simply getting them on paper. Another book I will need to check out as well. Thank you for your videos once again!

[@MarcusCreates]

Love that! If they are thoughts you think someone might read some day then having a diary is a great idea. But if you need to work through some things, of out you ‘crazy’ on paper, give morning pages a go. You can even shred them or burn them after.

[@sergiobasiliconi]

Thanks, Marcus! I very much liked the video for its insightful nature! I tried to do evening journaling, which I could keep up for about couple of weeks, but then “one thing after another,” and I quit. Your video made me think about trying the morning routine now.

[@MarcusCreates]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SuccessMindset2180]

1. Writing practice 2. Writing 3 pages 3. Emptying thoughts on pages

[@russellzapp7228]

Great video as always. I have been doing morning pages for a little over a month and it is now just a part of my day. I don’t even think about it anymore it’s just the first thing I do. I love my Dingbats notebook and Montblanc Starwalker.

[@MarcusCreates]

Boom. You have your routine locked in. Simples. Glad it’s working for you b

[@MostafaElGanzoury]

The video arrived at the perfect time for me. I had just started taking journaling seriously.❤

[@MarcusCreates]

Fantastic Mostafa. Get a fancy pen and some paper you love and you’re ready for this journey ☺️. Try it for 30 days. Promise you’ll see a difference in your thoughts, mood, peace.

[@tokyorosa]

I'm glad to see you encourage journal writing! I've been journaling since middle school (several decades now), both on paper and online. (I usually have several journals going at any given time, two paper, one or two online, an art journal, plus a gratitude or habit tracking journal. Many options help me keep the habit going because if I don't feel like putting pen to paper, I can type a few words or sketch/paint/collage, write captions, etc.) It wasn't until a few years ago that I tried morning pages. I found that they are great to do, but they can also feel like a slog or a chore sometimes. (It can be interesting to push through that feeling though--or to try to--and prompts are really useful in that process.) For me, journaling/writing bleeds off some of the stress of daily life or marks important events and I find that it helps even when I don't go back and read my journals. Anyway, Jetpens is my new fave place to buy Japanese stationary, if only because I think Jeff Bezos, et al., might be rich enough! Jetpens carry Kaweko and Tomoe goods, too, along with a bunch of other good paper and pens and pencils, etc.

[@MarcusCreates]

I’ve heard of jetpens. They seem expensive but they have a lot of stock.

[@lbmediawebdesign]

You're awesome mate. Greetings from Slazburg in Austria!

[@MarcusCreates]

Hey, thanks! What a nice thing to say. Greetings back.

[@kenneth1767]

I like the idea of the Gratitude list. Creative writing is my forte, so am hoping that the continued writing will free me up to tap into my true voice. I am hoping to use it as a way of visioneering too, writing to myself in this present time from a future time that I envisage. I'm only eleven days into Morning Pages, writing by candlelight first thing after waking up - literally - while the fog and dreams are still lingering. Using a fountain pen too, writing 3 pages (average about 650 words in 30 to 45minutes) in a stitch-bound hardcover A5 bond-paper journal that I made specifically for this. I calculated sufficient pages for three months of writing, so each journal represents a season. I'm very interested to see where this is going to go. Thank you for an encouraging video.

[@MarcusCreates]

I’m so glad to hear you’re on this journey. Please come back in 3 months and let us all know how it went.

[@kenneth1767]

@@MarcusCreates hi Marcus. I'm here to report back. This morning I did the 90th consecutive day of morning pages. There's too much reveal in this short message. But briefly: Day 24 was a major breakthrough with characters representing facets of myself appearing on the scene. And with time it is opening up ways of exploring the inner world. Also, New story concepts, new plot paths for current story, ideas, visioneering, dreams, memories forgotten, and most importantly a strategy for how to orchestrate the quest I'm on is being revealed. So I've bound another journal for the next three months.

[@MarcusCreates]

@@kenneth1767 love it 👍🏻❤️

[@LandmanEDC]

Wonderful video Marcus. I had done morning pages for a while but got out of the practice. I think I’m going to get back on it!

[@MarcusCreates]

Glad to hear it LandmanEDC. It takes time but it’s the best time spent. Keep your head straight. 😊

[@codybeseda357]

I keep seeing your calendar drawn in a notebook featured in thumbnails. Would you ever do a video showing that? How you set it up or ways you use it?

[@MarcusCreates]

I might do in future. Thanks for the suggestion. My notebook videos don’t do so well but I enjoy making them. ☺️

[@codybeseda357]

I’m glad you do. I enjoy watching them. I’ve watched every one. Can’t really afford the EDC stuff but there’s just something incredibly satisfying about a well used and written in notebook. Cheers!

[@KarimGutermann]

Great Video! Thank you for the advice, definitely trying it out.

[@tajindersingh5125]

You are really good man

[@MarcusCreates]

Thank you

[@yukitake5100]

Great video! Thinking of starting this up! I really appreciate how organized and logically planned/sequenced the video is. I have a few questions: I am curious as to what you do with all of the journals when they are finished. Do you ever go back and look at the past entries? You said you burned more of your trauma notes, but do you ever write things you would not want your kids or partner to read? Do you find yourself ever self censoring? Long term, what do you plan on doing with the many note books. Would they be for your children to one day read? Or to be thrown out? These are a few questions I am asking myself before starting. Not that I would have anything I am trying to hide, but these are a few things I have pondered before I start.

[@christopherschmitz2815]

Thanks for the video, I am not only going to give this a shot, I am going to pass this on to my oldest daughter, who I feel could benefit from this as well! By the way, what Watch are you wearing? One of my hobbies is Watches , collecting and repairing. That looks sharp!

[@MarcusCreates]

I hope your daughter benefits from it. If you like watches, check out tomorrows video ☺️

[@Camden_hades]

I think you’re missing out on the ESR paperfeel screen protector for the iPad. Far more superior product.

[@MarcusCreates]

Thanks for the heads up

[@pkpmendez3]

Great video as always! I have been doing this type of writing at night as a way of to dump everything that is in my head and sort of clear my mind. I find that I get better sleep when I do this, but I am wondering if I may not gaining the full benefit of tapping into the creative process? 🧐

[@MarcusCreates]

Whatever works for you to be honest. I bet you’re getting 90% of the benefit.

[@ArthurCapers]

Would love to beginning the practice of morning pages, but getting organised it a challenge

[@MarcusCreates]

You can do it!

[@MrArsenal1612]

Hi Marcus, Hope your well. Love all your videos, what's the silver band on your right wrist?

[@MarcusCreates]

Hey buddy. It’s a bracelet I bought in Ireland about 25 years ago. It was in a small jewelry shop in Killarney. I’m afraid it’s likely one of a kind.

[@DavZell]

Google: sterling silver cuff bracelet, and you'll find a large variety of options.

[@krptnexe]

Love the videos! Just wondering what sofa you have in your at home office. I need one in a similar size and am struggling to find one with a design I like

[@MarcusCreates]

It’s on sale right now apparently for $400 www.wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/modway-carson-carrington-hedeby-upholstered-fabric-sofa-w003162767.html

[@amyyoder768]

Hey, just tried to use your link and it doesn't actually apply a discount. Not sure if you need to check in with them.

[@MarcusCreates]

Sorry about that. Will reach out. Thanks for letting me know.

[@agabrielhegartygaby9203]

Actually writing out the anger can also be great - anger can make one particularly articulate- why not answer the question what are you doing there with your stupid this stupid that and stupid other? I am a psychiatrist and recently re trained in psychoanalysis - and for the record advice based on kindness and common sense will often do good, almost always be doable and more or less never do harm....FYI.....nice session G ps every morning fyi

[@MarcusCreates]

Thanks for sharing

[@MichaelR-kl6hk]

?????A person who creates KZbin videos, on a video he created saying he's not a creative???

[@MarcusCreates]

Thanks Michael. I suppose you’re right ☺️. Hope you enjoyed the video. Thanks for watching and for the general positivity.

[@rmangold]

Thought the same thing! You underestimate yourself brother.

[@arturodeguzman]

He has a day job in SV. He’s a professional Professional.

[@JeremyKiefer]

Great video! Definitely something I need to start doing. Is there a particular app you use on your iPad to transcribe your handwriting to text, or do you just leave it as your own handwriting?

[@MarcusCreates]

Hey Jeremy. I leave it as my own hand writing. I have used a bunch of different note taking apps over the years but right now I just use the Notes App on my iPad. It's come on leaps and bounds over time. As always, thanks for watching :)

[@MostafaElGanzoury]

Day One is doing what you are looking for Jeremy, i just subscribed to premium today ! 😅

[@manwe_sulimo]

Please tell me, what is it that you wear on your upper arm?

[@MarcusCreates]

It’s a whoop 4.0 fitness tracker.

[@MarcusCreates]

It’s a whoop 4.0 fitness tracker.

[@wadeadams8533]

Are those Homies figures in the case on your desk?

[@MarcusCreates]

They’re Lego mini figures

[@iblair5]

New Rollie?

[@MarcusCreates]

Keen eye. Check out tomorrows video

[@-_M___M_-]

I love how you are just copying Andrew Huberman's podcast references here, while pretending to have done the research and dug out the article yourself. See the "A Science-Supported Journaling Protocol to Improve Mental & Physical Health" episode. Huberman however, was much clearer and truthful about the type of journaling that has been studied by Pennebaker. "[This] is a very different form of journaling than say morning [pages] (...) it is not a protocol that is likely to feel good (...)". The type of journaling studied in the article you didn't even list in reference, is trauma-work. It is as if you haven't read the article... or even watch the Huberman episode, in its entirety.

[@MarcusCreates]

Thanks for watching and commenting. It all helps the algorithm. You sound very angry. Can I suggest you try Morning Pages?

[@-_M___M_-]

@@MarcusCreates you would think that after that hbomberguy vid, youtubers would spend more time doing the research themselves.