For me a morning writing routine is like ripping off a band-aid, it’s quick, easy, and fairly painless. That is compared to attempts to write later in the day, otherwise, I’d spend most of the day stressing about when or if I’ll get to write. 

Here are five reasons why you should start a morning writing routine:

1. It’s quiet 

How quiet your morning is will likely vary depending on where you live, who you live with and how early you get up. But generally, it’s going to be quieter in the morning compared to the middle of the afternoon or evening. You may be able to write with noise and think it won’t be much of a distraction. However, anything can become an excuse not to write. Why take the chance? 

Besides, I’m not just talking about outside noise. For me, this applies to the noise inside my head too. 

When I first wake up, I tend to have a much clearer mind. It hasn’t been bombarded with the millions of messages we receive daily through email, social media, television, etc. If you’re good about not checking your phone as soon as you wake up, you’ll be more likely to access whatever creative work has been bouncing around in your head. 

2. Inner critics sleep late 

Speaking of a quiet mind, I find myself being much less critical of my writing in the morning. 

One of the major issues writers often face is their inner critic. That voice in their head that tells them everything they write is just awful and there’s no point in continuing if it’s not perfect. That voice sadly keeps many people from really committing themselves to their writing. Or they become stuck rewriting the same thing waiting for it to be perfect. 

You have to be willing to write badly sometimes just to move forward. 

Personally, I start writing while drinking my morning coffee and I need at least one cup in me before I’m fully functional. So maybe I’m just not awake enough to recognize how bad my writing is. Bad writing is still better than no writing. You can’t edit a blank page. 

3. Avoid Decision Fatigue 

Decision fatigue is the psychological term for the deterioration of our decision-making skills. It happens when we have too many choices and after having made many decisions. 

The further into the day we get the more decisions we’ve had to make. The later in the day you wait to write the less likely you are to choose wisely. Even if you’ve scheduled your writing time, you still have to decide to follow through. 

You may also face the decision of what to write. Later in the day, it will be harder to decide what to work on. Faced with that difficult decision, it becomes easier to just skip the writing session altogether. 

4. Less likely to procrastinate

Writers like to joke about how the minute they sit down to write they suddenly see all the chores that need to be done. It’s not likely that first thing in the morning you’re going to do laundry, sweep and mop or clean out your refrigerator. 

The most tempting form of procrastination will be your phone. 

But, relating back to the concept of decision fatigue, it’s easier in the morning to choose wisely. 

Most likely if you have a day job, you’re going to have a limited amount of time in the morning. Besides writing, you’re going to have to shower, eat breakfast, and all everything else to prepare for your workday. A limited amount of time might be just what you need to get yourself in gear. Think of how deadlines are often the most motivating force a writer can have. 

5. It’s motivating

You know that satisfying feeling when you check something off your to-do list? Well, imagine being able to start your day by accomplishing something as important as writing. 

I first started my morning writing routine doing morning pages, while reading Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. I found myself going into my day job happier and less full of the usual dread. I also managed to squeeze in work on creative projects during lunch breaks and after work more often.

Eventually, with an established journaling practice as a part of my morning routine, it was easy to add time for creative work. When I started working on creative projects in the morning, I found it hard not to go back to my writing later in the day. I’d find myself continually thinking of a specific project or new ideas throughout the day. I started building the momentum to really get going and push past all the excuses. 

Tell us in the comments: Do you have a morning writing routine?

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Alexis M. Collazo writes in a wide variety of styles, forms, and genres. She’s worked as a freelance writer, copywriter, and content marketing blogger. She is currently working on a memoir written in prose and poetry. After moving to Pennsylvania in 2016, she worked at the local public library where she led monthly writing workshops. In 2021, she was certified as an Amherst Writers and Artists workshop facilitator. She now leads online workshops and hosts write-in sessions, to see current or upcoming events visit www.alexismcollazo.com.

The post #5onFri: Five Reasons to Start a Morning Writing Routine appeared first on DIY MFA.

I left the office with that line in my head: They say 2020 is the year of reflection. It rang true to me. In a major, impactful way, the twin pandemics in America (the coronavirus and our George Floyd-prompted racial reckoning) forced us all to start from scratch on long-held beliefs and values.  

Our lives and routines were shaken up as well. Many of us had more time on our hands, or at least different kinds of time. We got out into nature more. We intentionally stepped away from our screens. We got more sleep. We indulged in more individual leisure time. These new habits allowed us to enter a reflective mental space more often than we did when our lives were heavily scheduled, and resulted in some of the big life decisions that many, like my doctor, are now making.

Reflection is a vital part of feeling at peace with oneself. It’s also necessary for growth. Without reflection, we cannot know where we’ve been or where we’re headed. We cannot live with intention or set ourselves on a better path. While 2020 will eventually end, it benefits us all to keep reflection as part of our daily, weekly and seasonal routine into 2021 and beyond. 

So how do we make reflection a lifestyle fixture?

Facilitate a Reflective State

I recently found myself on an unexpectedly long line. (Okay, yes, this was an early-voting line.) My phone battery, never reliable, chose to die with about an hour left to wait. I thought I’d go crazy; instead, I found myself in a pleasantly restful mental space. I wasn’t being productive, but it didn’t seem to matter, because I was where I needed to be. Time passed in a lazy way. As I waited, my mind drifted naturally to self-reflection. I thought about how many times I’d voted in the past, how much the right to vote mattered to me, and how my vote was upholding my values. By the time I reached my destination, I felt as though I had traveled farther in my mind, and the experience of voting itself seemed much more meaningful.

To facilitate this reflective state, intentionally create the circumstances involved during that long wait. First, disconnect from screens and other distractions more often. This takes a bit of effort. Consider a full-day tech sabbath, where you don’t check work email or social media. You can also eliminate or dial back on social media together. My strategy is to keep Facebook off my phone and use Facebook Feed Eradicator on my laptop browser. That way I can still access the groups I like, make posts of my own, and see my notifications, without succumbing to mindless scrolling. 

Second, practice mindfulness. When you’re disconnected from screens and work, try to stay completely present. Use your senses to explore the sights, sounds and smells around you. Focus completely on the person you’re with or activity you’re doing. If you’re having trouble, take ten slow breaths. You can also play a fun game that connects you to your senses: tell yourself to name five things you see; four things you hear; three things you feel; two things you smell; and one thing you taste. 

Take steps to encourage your reflective mindset, and you’ll find yourself slipping into it more often. 

Make Reflection Part of Your Routine

How often is reflection beneficial? The answer will vary depending on your personality and temperament. In my case, I find a brief daily reflection, a longer weekly reflection, and an intensive seasonal reflection helpful. 

For my daily reflection, I answer a few questions in my journal each day. These mostly pertain to my state of mind and are intended to help me focus on my mental health. But I also have a few that are more practical, such as “What have you created today?” and “How did you connect to your family today?”

My weekly reflection takes place both in my journal and in my bullet-journal style planner. In my journal, I answer a series of questions about my health, family, work life, and writing life. Those answers help me see whether I’m on track with my goals and prioritizing my personal values. In my planner, I think about what I’ve achieved in the past week, and what projects I’d like to take on in the coming week.

Every season, I sit down for a few hours and consider what I’d like the next few months to look like, based on my efforts in the previous season. Sometimes I set a word or intention for my time. Sometimes I prioritize work; other times, family or holidays. I use the why/what/how process to set goals for myself. I always feel proud of my growth and excited about more to come. 

It takes effort to make reflection part of your routine, but its benefits are clear: a life lived intentionally, and with deeply-held values, that will bring you greater joy and peace. 

Leanne Sowul is an award-winning writer and music teacher whose work has appeared in such places as Juxtaprose, Rappahannock Review, Hippocampus, Mothers Always Write and Confrontation; her live readings include Read 650’s “Gratitude” show at Lincoln Center. As an elementary band director, Leanne can play every woodwind, brass and percussion instrument (just don’t give her a cello!) and has directed over two hundred student performances. She also coaches adults in the art of creative practice through her newsletter, The Joyful Creative. In 2017, Leanne won both the Scott Meyer Award for personal essay and the All-American Dream Champion Award for music teaching. Leanne lives with her husband and two children in the Hudson Valley. Connect with her at www.leannesowul.com.

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