Morning Pages: Three Pages Back to Yourself

Morning Pages: Three Pages Back to Yourself

Three pages.
No polish.
No purpose other than presence.

Just me, my pen, and whatever needs to be emptied out before the day begins.

Morning Pages have become a gentle ritual of nourishment for me.  A way of clearing mental clutter, softening my nervous system, and coming home to myself before the world has a say. It’s not about writing well. It’s not even really about writing at all. It’s about listening.

Before productivity.
Before performance.
Before the noise.

A Practice of Presence, Not Perfection

Morning Pages are exactly what they sound like: three handwritten pages, written first thing in the morning, without editing, censoring, or trying to make sense. No grammar checks. No reading back. No intention beyond allowing whatever is there to land on the page.

Some days it’s mundane…..shopping lists, complaints, half-formed thoughts. Other days it’s emotional, surprising, or deeply insightful.  Often it’s all of that at once.

What I notice, again and again, is this: when I create space to write without expectation, clarity follows. Decisions feel cleaner. Emotions move instead of getting stuck. There’s a sense of being with myself rather than battling my own mind.

I see this with my clients too. When the inner noise has somewhere safe to go, the nervous system settles. What remains is quieter, steadier, and far more truthful.

The Quiet Anchor That Starts My Day

The journal I write in carries a quote on the front that feels like a daily anchor:

You are safe, you are safe, you are safe.
This is the sound of the universe breathing.
Get quiet enough and you will hear it, too.
It’s the only thing we are ever being told.

— Elizabeth Gilbert

Those words remind me that this practice isn’t about fixing myself. It’s about remembering safety. About letting the body and mind know that, for these few minutes, nothing is being asked of them.

Morning Pages and the AuDHD Mind

As someone who is AuDHD, my inner world is rarely quiet. There’s a constant dialogue in my head.  A narrator running commentary, analysing, looping, revisiting. Apparently, many neurotypical people don’t experience this in the same way.

For me, Morning Pages are a way of downloading that internal noise.

By putting pen to paper, I get to see the cold reality of my thinking rather than carrying it all internally. On a deeper level, I start to notice what my subconscious programming is up to; the patterns, assumptions, and stories that are quietly shaping how I feel before the day has even begun.

This is where one of my favourite principles comes in, and one I often share with clients:

A.B.C. - Awareness Brings Change.

Once something is seen, it no longer has the same grip. A belief written down loses some of its power. A feeling named can begin to move.

Sometimes I wake up feeling inexplicably grumpy. Through writing, I might realise I had a night full of strange dreams, my system processing something I thought I’d already parked. The pages don’t judge that. They simply reveal it. And in doing so, they wipe the slate clean for the day ahead.

How to Do Morning Pages (If You’d Like to Try)

If this is new to you, here’s how to begin……remember gently, imperfectly, and in your own way.

1. Write by hand
Morning Pages are traditionally handwritten. The slower pace matters. It creates a different relationship between thought and awareness.

2. Three pages, every morning
Aim for three pages, written first thing after waking. Before emails. Before news. Before conversation, if possible.

3. Don’t edit or re-read
This is not journalling for reflection or record-keeping. It’s a clearing practice. Let the words come out messy, repetitive, even boring.

4. Write anything
Complaints, fears, plans, dreams, irritation, gratitude.  It all belongs. If you don’t know what to write, write that.

5. Keep it private
These pages are not for sharing. Their power lies in their safety. Knowing no one else will read them allows honesty to surface.

There is no “good” Morning Pages session. Showing up is the only requirement.

What This Practice Really Gives You

Over time, Morning Pages become less about the pages themselves and more about what they create after.

A quieter mind.
Cleaner decisions.
Emotional movement rather than emotional backlog.
A sense of internal companionship.

Not because life becomes easier but because you’re no longer carrying it alone inside your head.

For me, they are a daily act of self-trust. A reminder that whatever is present can be met. That I am safe enough to listen.

An Invitation, Not an Instruction

If you’re curious, I invite you to try Morning Pages for a week. No pressure to keep going. No expectation of revelation. Just notice what changes when you give your inner world somewhere to land.

And if writing feels uncomfortable or unfamiliar, that’s often a sign it might be exactly the right place to begin.

This practice is woven into how I live and how I work. It underpins the conversations I have with clients about awareness, clarity, and coming back to yourself.  Not as a project, but as a relationship.

If you’d like to explore practices like this more deeply, or you’re curious about how gentle structure can support your nervous system, clarity, and decision-making, you’re always welcome to reach out.

Three pages.
No polish.
Just presence.

Sometimes, that’s enough to change the whole day. Let me know how you get on.