The TRUTH about MORNING PAGES and JOURNALING!

Morning pages and journaling are very different. They're both valuable, but in different ways, and require different approaches and techniques. This is important for those unsure how to do morning pages and journaling beginners. I'll tell you what to do if you finding morning pages or journaling difficult, or if morning pages take too long. I'll also tell you some truths about journaling and morning pages, and the skills you need to make the most of these practises, which can help improve your self awareness and mental health.
I'm a published novelist, writer, editor and Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow with 30 years' experience across business, fiction, other non-fiction, scriptwriting and education.
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This channel's about journaling, morning pages, reviews, prompts and insights into writing, creativity, productivity, mindfulness, along with reviews of stationery, writing instruments and apps.
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[@sixtenjohansson4246]

My morningpages usually end up a lot being about my dreams, because they're still in my brain when I just woke up..

[@joysedgwick812]

I think my morning pages waver between free flow and journaling but I’m not going to change anything; this is the first time in my life that I’ve managed to keep up recording my thoughts. I have found it an incredibly helpful practice, sometimes I end up planning a busy day, at other times I reflect on good things that have happened. On the best days ideas trip over themselves and astonish me, I am excited to sit down each morning and start. Nearly at 1k Martin, your channel is growing, well done.

[@sketchley]

Great strategy - just how it should be! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 🙏 And yeah, nearly at 1,000!

[@carmenM-ey6qy]

⁠@@sketchleyAlmost 10,000 now 😀

[@missfriendlylemon2044]

i thought i’m doing journaling throughout a day, but with the help of your videos i understood, that for several years i have been doing morning pages, mid-day pages and evening pages 😄😄 “whole day pages” 😄😄 and this REALLY helped with my anxiety and overthinking. thank you, because of you i’ve started to do it again, after a six-months break.

[@sketchley]

Thank you for taking the time to leave such a lovely comment 🙏 Good luck, and keep it up!

[@jenniferhanley4841]

Thank you for this. I absolutely agree that morning pages and journaling are 2 different animals . I do morning pages and journaling every morning- two separate practices.

[@sketchley]

Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 🙏

[@Taomola]

Ay! To the no rules point. I used to feel a bit conflicted as to what comes first thing in the morning. Science tells us a brisk walk and bright light, preferably sunlight for twenty minutes. Some people suggest meditation, others exercise, others cold showers. These days I feel comfortable doing whatever calls me the loudest and do one of those first and the rest in whatever order feels right that day. No drama. 😉 Thanks for the video, well crafted and full of wisdom. 👍

[@sketchley]

Thank you! Do wherever feels right for you. Rules can create tension. Be free!

[@JeanLoupRSmith]

I always find them a chore, whether I do them first thing after I get up or after messing about doing something else. Part of it is as an overthinker, the line between morning pages and journaling is very very blurry, so my morning pages do end up being journal entries really. It's not that I have to think about what I want to write, it flows pretty easily (and I'm still amazed you were able to write 3 sheets of A5 in 20 to 25 minutes btw), I don't normally have to stop much at all and I've already used up 2 pens. It's more that I'm still not sure why I'm even doing this, I get the self exploration but some stones are harder than others to carve out I guess...

[@sketchley]

This channel used to be called "The Overthinker"! I feel your pain. Not sure what to suggest, though. But if it flows easily, that's a good sign. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 🙏

[@bethsartcorner]

I stumbled upon your video when I was researching morning pages. Thank you for explaining the difference between journaling and morning pages. I do notice I have a lot of overlap, but clearing the mind cobwebs out in the morning helps me streamline my main journaling and creative projects. I plan to review at the end of the month and hope to see some patterns and ideas to take forward.

[@sketchley]

Glad you found it useful! Look out for this week's video: Journaling as a powerful productivity tool. And today's VLOG also mentioned how I've used morning pages, so maybe check that out too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/noq1c6Wal76fZtE. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment 🙏

[@essjay2447]

Great points in video Martin, thank you

[@sketchley]

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment 🙏

[@rhonaforbes7039]

Thank you for this video ⭐️ ~ Great explanation about the differences between the two styles of writing ☀️📚

[@sketchley]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@bilvers]

Thanks for this Martin. I'm journalling daily at the moment. I have used 'free writing' as I call it in the past when I used to look out at the very large garden that we had at the time in the early mornings. This has made me think a bit more about starting again.

[@sketchley]

Let me know how you get on!

[@bilvers]

@@sketchley Certainly will

[@EuphoricBlights]

I find that my morning pages go back and forth from being stream of consciousness to journaling a few things out since I've been having a hard time keeping a journal. I find this works well for me and makes me happy to return to the page daily. I do my best to write shortly after I've woken up but there's days where I need to load up into the world before I can bring myself to sit and write my pages. And I'm teaching myself that's alright. Like you and many others have said there isn't any right or wrong way to attend to the Morning Pages. Everyone's experience will be individualized, including my own :) P.s. Thank you for the great videos! & Congrats on the 8.29K followers!

[@sketchley]

Great approach. I think anything that adds _tension_ isn't what morning pages are about. With my current work I've gone from writing them five days a week to two or three. And like you, I'm teaching myself that's all right. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment. 🙏

[@sketchley]

If you appreciate this video, you can support my work with Superthanks, above! ⬆🙏 Do you find anything else difficult? Let me know! ⬇👍

[@lorimc7964]

I have been an avid morning page writer for 9 years till last year when I got into my head that oh my god I can’t have my family read these when I die. They may think I’m crazy or be hurt by what I wrote. So I burned them and stopped. Now I am feeling the effects of not doing this practice. How do I overcome this fear? I still journal but it’s more on documenting my days. Not my feelings.

[@sketchley]

I have told my wife to burn my books if anything should happen to me. Why not just write the pages, then shred them? If you're a gardener, the shreddings can go into the compost!

[@lorimc7964]

@@sketchley I am and have not thought about that.

[@sketchley]

@@lorimc7964 your mind feeds the pages, the pages feed the earth... 🙏

[@julief5474]

I got an erasable reusable notebook and pen set... So I write whatever I want and then rub it out!

[@lorimc7964]

@@julief5474 your don’t feel the need to refer back to what you wrote?

[@maureenrowcliffe5277]

Thank you, great video. I'm finding I'm journaling a lot less since I started morning pages, like the processing all happens there and then I just capture the gems in my journal. sometimes. btw What do you do with all your MP books? do you ever read them? I'm using A4 paper and the stack is getting thicker and thicker and I don't know what to do with it all.

[@sketchley]

Hi Maureen. I store them on a shelf. Sometimes I glance through them but not very often. Fearne Cotton burned all hers! Thanks for watching 🙏

[@shrishtinarang8650]

Back in school days i was very negative writer. Often people were behind my diary to discover secrets. Hence I left writing. You motivate me to write.. But journaling is reflection it would be request to be crisp as to what exactly is to be done in morning pgs just write unintrepptedly like what exactly... I m ready to write again❤

[@sketchley]

Go for it. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave a comment 🙏

[@stephenbrennan4178]

And so it goes, day 3 and struggling a lot

[@sketchley]

Keep going. Three days isn't long. This does take practise, just like any new skill. And tapping into the unconscious mind is definitely a skill. Keep it up, and let me know how you get on 👍

[@vicmarini1]

Hi! you talked about the size of the pages but when you say three pages. Is it single page or both sides of the page?

[@sketchley]

Three sides. I now do B5 composition size, which I think is between A4 and US letter. Thanks for watching and leaving and comment 🙏

[@SharenaRoda]

Just wondering about the yellow highlights?

[@sketchley]

They will be bits that stood out that I felt were important and wanted to use or consider using. Check out my other videos too 👍 Thanks for watching, and taking the time to leave a comment 🙏

[@boy_peeps]

Three pages seems like an arbitrary number. Is it scientifically verified that something happens on the third page versus the first or second? Seems I should just stop when nothing comes to mind. Else, it’s just a waste of time forcing something that isn’t there. I don’t see the fascination of “three pages” just because an author recommended it. Why not make it five, or ten? Someone help me understand this concept / fascination(?)

[@sketchley]

Great question! I'll make a video to answer it: watch this space! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment 🙏

[@boy_peeps]

@@sketchley thanks! Looking forward to the video.

[@sketchley]

@boy_peeps I'm going to use your quote in the video; are you OK for me to include your profile pic and username, or would you rather it was anonymised?

[@boy_peeps]

@@sketchley hey there, I’d rather be anonymous (name/pic) as I don’t mind if the quote is used. Thanks!

[@esidarasun8151]

Question still remains. What to do if, at the end of days of several pages, there is still only 'I don't know what to write'?

[@sketchley]

You could try the following: write honestly about something that's on your mind - we all have stuff on our minds... Or ask yourself what you would like to change in life. Then, why you want to make that change and how you go about making that change. Or, what you would like to achieve. Things like that. It's also true that morning pages just aren't for everyone.

[@esidarasun8151]

@@sketchley but ... isn't that steering? This whole thing is a confusing intrigue. Everyone says anyone can do it, but no one can explain how to do it if the person can't already do it. Which is bizarre. And points to that missing step.

[@sketchley]

@@esidarasun8151 I would say perhaps in a case like this it would be an attempt to open the doors. Don't try too hard. Don't try at all. Ask yourself a questions such as "what do I want?"

[@esidarasun8151]

@@sketchley I want to be able to do this free writing thing everyone talks about, rofl

[@sketchley]

@@esidarasun8151 are you trying too hard? Overthinking?