There’s something about mornings that feel tender. They carry the weight of what yesterday held and the quiet possibility of what today might bring. For me, mornings can also feel heavy – my mind rushing ahead to appointments, questions and uncertainties that come with infertility and the in-between.
But one practice has become an anchor in all of it: morning pages.
🌿 What Are Morning Pages?
Morning pages are a simple journaling practice – three pages of writing, first thing in the morning, without worrying about grammar, structure or perfection. They’re not about creating something beautiful; they’re about letting the thoughts spill out before the day has a chance to carry them away.
Some days, my words look like prayers. Other days, they’re lists of things I’m worried about, or scattered fragments that don’t make much sense. But no matter what lands on the page, the act of writing clears space in my heart and mind.
☕ Why Morning Pages Matter
Life has a way of filling our heads before we even step out of bed. Notifications, to-do lists, fears about the future – they all stack up quickly. Writing first thing in the morning creates a pause. It gives me a place to lay down the clutter before I carry it with me all day.
For me, journaling has become more than a practice; it’s a lifeline. Especially while navigating infertility, where emotions are unpredictable and often overwhelming. Morning pages remind me that my thoughts are valid. They give me permission to feel without judgment.
🌸 What My Morning Pages Look Like
I like to keep the process simple:
- A notebook I love (linen covers, soft pages).
- A favorite pen
- A warm cup of coffee beside me.
- Quiet music playing, or sometimes just silence.
I sit by a window if I can, because watching the morning light shift as I write makes me feel connected to the world outside my head. I usually fill three pages, but sometimes it’s less – and that’s okay.
The point isn’t to do it perfectly. The point is to show up.
🌙 How Morning Pages Help Me
Morning pages have become a gentle anchor in several ways:
- They release emotion. Instead of bottling up my fears, I put them on paper. Somehow, they feel lighter once they’re outside of me.
- They spark clarity. Writing helps me notice patterns I might not have seen otherwise – the same fears resurfacing, or small joys that keep appearing.
- They hold memory. Flipping back through old entries shows me how far I’ve come, even when it doesn’t feel like it.
- They invite creativity. Some of my favorite reflections for Her Quiet Morning have come from scribbles in my morning pages.
🌱 Tips If You’re Just Beginning
If you’d like to try morning pages yourself, here are a few gently tips:
- Don’t overthink. Just write whatever comes to mind, even if it’s “I don’t know what to write.”
- Keep it private. Knowing no one will read it frees you to be honest.
- Be consistent. Try to write a little every morning, even if it’s only a few sentences.
- Make it cozy. Light a candle, us a favorite mug or sit somewhere that feels comforting.
Morning pages don’t have to look like ming. They just have to serve you.
✨ Closing Reflection
Morning pages remind me that every day begins with a choice: the choice to pause, to notice, to be present with myself before the world asks anything of me.
If you’re looking for a way to feel more grounded, to quiet the noise in your mind or to process the emotions that come with waiting, grief or simply living. Maybe this practice can be your anchor too.
There’s nothing magical about the pages themselves. The magic is in showing up. In giving yourself permission to breathe before the day begins.
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” – William Wordsworth