History is littered with examples of successful (and unsuccessful) people who kept daily journals. It ranges from Marcus Aurelius to Ben Franklin, and from Mark Twain to George Lucas.
But what on earth did they write about?
Or perhaps you’ve seen examples of their writing and thought to yourself, “Goddamn, that reads like the Gettysburg Address!” and become demoralized.
In this post, I’ll show you what my raw morning journal looks like.
Why?
Because it’s easy to imagine our heroes as unflappable juggernauts, who conquer insecurity with a majestic mental karate chop every morning. This is, of course, an illusion. Most people you see on magazine covers have plenty of mornings when they’d rather hide under the covers all day long.
A while back, I bared my soul in a post about “productivity” tips for neurotic and crazy people (like me). I was overwhelmed by the hundreds of heartfelt comments, letters, and more that I received.
Many of you have since asked about my “morning pages,” so I’m oversharing again…
The Daily Struggle
Nearly every morning, I sit down with a hot cocktail of turmeric, ginger, pu-erh tea, and green tea. Next, I crack open this large-format paperback (pic from my Instagram):
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To be honest, I never read the original Artist’s Way, which was recommended to me by many mega-bestselling authors.
More book consumption didn’t interest me, as I often use it to procrastinate. What I needed was a daily and meditative practice of production, like the tea ceremony. So, voila, I bought the journal. This “companion” provides plenty of context to be used by itself.
But why journal in the first place?
I don’t journal to “be productive.” I don’t do it to find great ideas, or to put down prose I can later publish. The pages aren’t intended for anyone but me.
Morning pages are, as author Julia Cameron puts it, “spiritual windshield wipers.” It’s the most cost-effective therapy I’ve ever found. To quote her further, from page viii:
“Once we get those muddy, maddening, confusing thoughts [nebulous worries, jitters, and preoccupations] on the page, we face our day with clearer eyes.”
Please reread the above quote. It may be the most important aspect of trapping thought on paper (i.e. writing) you’ll ever encounter. Even if you consider yourself a terrible writer, writing can be viewed as a tool that you can and should use. There are huge benefits to writing, even if no one — yourself included — ever reads what you write. In other words, the process matters more than the product.
Below is one of my real entries.
I’ve typed out the text below the image, as it’s easier to read.
SUNDAY, DEC. 28, NEW YORK
Woke up at 7:30am, before everyone else. Feels great.
It’s a Sunday, so I feel I can take it slow, which is probably the reason it feels great.
Why should Monday or Tuesday be any different? There are still people waiting regardless. Let them wait.
It’s funny how we work and aim and strive to get to a point where people wait for us, not the other way around. Cue Get Shorty!
And yet, when we arrive at this vaunted point, the masses of people (often rightly) incessantly knocking on the door, one after another, causes far more stress than when you were a mere peon (sp)! [I was unsure of spelling]
Is it because of the 100x more inbound, which decreases a feeling of self-directed free will? A feeling that you’re constantly choosing from someone else’s buffet instead of cooking your own food?
Or is it because you feel you must be defensive and protect what you have: time, money, relationships, space, etc.?
For someone who’s “won” through a lifetime of offense, of attacking, playing the defensive game conflicts with the core of who they are.
[END]
So… What’s The Point Again?
There are two ways to interpret the above journal entry, and they’re not mutually exclusive:
1) I’m trying to figure things out, and this might help.
For instance: I’ve realized conflicts between goals (become “successful”) and related side-effects one must manage (100x more inbound). I’ve also noted that my big wins in life have come from being aggressive, much like iconic coach Dan Gable, who’s epic rant here is one of my favorites of all time. But the fetters of even a modicum of professional success makes one feel like they have to play defense, or manage instead of conquer. This runs counter to my DNA, which leads to unhappiness. Therefore, I need to divest myself of assets that require “protecting,” or I need to better delegate this responsibility.
That all sounds pleasantly analytical. Aren’t we smart? But perhaps the real value is that…
2) I’m just caging my monkey mind on paper so I can get on with my fucking day.
#2 is key.
Morning pages don’t need to solve your problems. They simply need to get them out of your head, where they’ll otherwise bounce around all day like a bullet ricocheting inside your skull.
Could bitching and moaning on paper for five minutes each morning change your life?
As crazy as it might seem, I believe the answer is yes.
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Would you like more posts like this? Or never again? Please let me know in the comments (click here), or I’ll never know. Thank you for reading!
The Tim Ferriss Show is one of the most popular podcasts in the world with more than one billion downloads. It has been selected for "Best of Apple Podcasts" three times, it is often the #1 interview podcast across all of Apple Podcasts, and it's been ranked #1 out of 400,000+ podcasts on many occasions. To listen to any of the past episodes for free, check out this page.
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Good post. I have that book, but it was too religious /spiritual based. However, I get lost in writing like others get lost in thought. I always resonated with a scene from Amadeus, where Mozart was writing in the billiards room. The music was gripping, and in the background you heard knocking, then pounding, then his wife beckoning. The music stopped abruptly and the viewer realizes that it wasn’t a movie score, but the music in Amadeus’s head.
Only problem for me is that time evaporates, and my wife doesn’t like being ignored. (;
Been into the “The Artist Way” for like 8 -9 years now-keep it up! Good material…
I like you sharing your very raw thoughts. Keep it up. Im literally a better person because of the way you share to how to THINK whether it be a more efficient time saving tasks or just to simply to think creatively.
Powerful!
I started morning pages a little over a year ago. Just scrawling in my cheap notebook every morning has yielded so many great results (I now have nearly 5 notebooks full), including clearing the crap out of my head, essay & book content, general great ideas, and so much more.
And I would add to those who are averse to actually writing by hand on actual paper, that yes (!) it does make a difference. There is some kind of magic alchemy that happens when you have to slow down enough to write by hand.
Tim, thank you for oversharing! Always appreciated.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on Morning Pages.
I’ve been writing Morning Pages over a year now, and it’s the one thing that has helped me in so many ways, and I couldn’t imagine not doing it everyday as part of my morning ritual.
Also, what’s funny is that I wrote and published on the same subject *a day before you did*. (-:
[Moderator: link removed]
Thank you for a timely and wonderful post. EXACTLY what I needed to get back to my morning pages. I agree–it’s way cheaper than therapy!!! So easily this practice slips away from some stupid distraction. It’s a great practice and I’m grateful for your post as I’m back at it first thing in the morning. Thank you and blessings to you.
Tim my name is Guilherme, and i’m from Brazil. I love your stuff. Please tell more about your day, routines and habits. I admire your work. It has helped me a lot reaching for success! Cheers, mate!
This is extremely helpful. What a fundamental concept of a written purge, one that had never occurred to me before. Muchas gracias
This is brilliant. Retweeting…
I really never thought on writting a journal, gotta give it a try! thanks for sharing all this ideas! saludos de un boliviano desde Argentina
Tim-
Two things:
1- Good post. I would definitely read more like this.
2- I’m stealing your tag at the end, rewriting it, and using it.That’s one of the more compelling invitations to leave a comment that I’ve EVER seen.
Daniel
Thanks Tim, really liked this post. It feels honest. I have written a blog everyday for the past 4 years and have benefited from the daily moment of reflection. It DOES help put life/monkey mind in perspective. More posts like this one please: thoughtful, real, helpful advice!
This is an excellent post, I loved it. Such a simple exercise, well explained. Thank you Tim!
Tim.. for me, the link in the email about “click here” didn’t work. Had to click on the link below: “10 comments on this item” to get here.
I’ll leave some feedback (Yes, please continue to share thoughts and writings like this, it helps give some patterns to help our thinking! Plus, I appreciate the courage it takes to share journal entries) and ask for your opinion on the following:
What are your thoughts on physically putting pen to paper vs. journaling electronically? In this age of Dropbox and Evernote.. I find I am more likely to have a device with me than the journal during the day. Or should this be a more “traditional” activity. (p.s I just saw the movie “Emperor” yesterday, so revisiting my rebellion against authority when I see the “ceremonial” activities of post-war Japan.
Thanks.
Yes please. i enjoyed this post. On a side note, i’ve been journalling heavily for almost 3 years now. Being almost 19 now, I definitely feel its improved my general ability to think. Separating thoughts from your mind is powerful!!
Useful.
Monkey mind :). Goldberg and Cameron combine as a powerful elixir for writing of any kind! For some reason I despise journaling and always have – I feel too raw when I journal, but seeing your pages encourages me to stick with it. I started again in December and though I’ve missed several entries I haven’t given up. Color me newly-inspired to keep going.
I love this part of the post…… “Because it’s easy to imagine our heroes as unflappable juggernauts, who conquer insecurity with a majestic mental karate chop every morning. This is, of course, an illusion. Most people you see on magazine covers have plenty of mornings when they’d rather hide under the covers all day long.”
Thank you for keeping things transparent and honest. Things like this is what I need and like to hear.
I’ve just suffered trough a night of complete insomnia, and this made me feel better. Everyone has some sort of kryptonite. Thanks, superman.
From one over sharer to another, I appr your candor. Also, I think you have the best podcast out there, and it keeps getting better. I hope you’ll eventually do a podcast on Lyme disease. Sorry you got that, I had it too and even though it took a little while am back to 100%, you’ll get all better too!
Yes more of this! This was a great reminder for me to pick this back up. I used to “brain puke” before and definitely helped me clear my mind for the day. As you say, even if it doesn’t solve the problem, it feels like “the journal will take care of it” and you can release it from your brain and use it for doing valuable things instead of worrying and thinking about small problems unnecessarily.
I really appreciate how you are sharing more of yourself, Tim. Before, every time you shared something amazing that you did, it was both inspiring and intimidating. I always thought to myself, “there is no way I would be able to match that level of commitment, hard work, or smarts, etc.” So, it’s nice to see you open up.
I have done the Artist’s Way morning pages, too. They are so helpful in releasing any limiting thoughts and beliefs.
Thank you for all the amazing things that you do!
Love,
Xixi (Shi-Shi)
Hi Tim, what kind of turmeric doyou use for your tea? Powder like? or what else?
Thank you!
1. Keep them coming
2. A great, simple way to make it a disciplined routine:
When you start, number your page #1. Then, number on each consecutive day. If you miss a day: start over from #1.
Best,
Martijn
Hey Tim – I was inspired to start writing daily after your interview with Brian Koppelman when he referenced The Artists Way. I didn’t know about this journal though, so my friend and I created a tool called Daily Page.
We provide a daily prompt and a place to respond. After you’ve written, you can choose to keep your response private or make it public for others to read. Might be another way (outside of the journal) to maintain that daily writing routine.
Yes I would like to read more posts like this. I was just at B&N about to purchase another journal. My wife asked why, the ones you have a empty. Well, I pull all the pages out and start over like its a new day or new year. This is right on point with what I was looking for. Thank you. Not sure why it helped but it did and im good with that.
Tim, what are the measurements for your morning cocktail please?
Tim, it would take a long time to put in to words how grateful I am for everything you’ve done for me through your writing and podcasts.
That said, I was convinced that this post was going to be a kimono opening too far.
Glad to say I was wrong, of course 🙂
Whenever I’ve written a morning journal it’s looked very similar, so it’s great to be reassured/ reminded it’s a brain dump, and like a regular dump the fact it doesn’t look pretty is likely a good thing, means it needed to come out 😉
Thank you thank you thank you.
I hope you’re feeling better with the whole LD. (The level of output you’ve maintained while that’s been going on is incredible.)
Take care
Wayne
Tim,
this is one of the best posts I’ve ever read at your blog. Nothing long and scientific, just pure you (yourself?). It reminds me you’re not a superhero but a normal guy like everyone else with issues of his own.
Thank you for this.
Martin
I tried so many times to keep a life journal but failed, failed and yet failed (sigh). I am going to try again but this time in a different way, will take some from you.
Thanks 🙂
This is so so true. I have been doing “morning papers” for more than 15 years and there truly is something magical about just putting words on paper. The days I miss (for whatever reason ie. I woke up late and have to be somewhere in thirty minutes) I notice the difference I can’t quite put words to, but something doesn’t quite shift in me. I rarely go back and read my entries. Sometimes I think when I am ninety or so, I might or not!
Thanks for this post, your timing couldn’t be better!
I’ve been looking at various journaling options and have been doing something along the lines of the five-minute journal for about three weeks — man what a positive change that has made. I’m particularly excited about this idea because it seems like a good way to get all that crap out of the way (along with the potential nugget or two of gold ore) so that I can get to productive, focused mindfulness.
Keep this stuff coming!
Enjoyed this.
Hi Timothy.
This may seem like mere splitting hairs, but I assure you the implications are global: I suggest that you mean Master rather than Conquer, as that which you conquer you, inherently, must defend. This defense mindset is at the root of all our societal problem, originating with a coercive means of human interaction: taxation.
A king, an army, must always be on the lookout for enemies and those who would seek their bounty. You speak of how it works against your DNA; mine too, and everyone else’s as well.
Thank you so much for this personal post. This is exactly what I needed.
I would like to read more posts like this one Tim. I think you captured the essence of how most people feel with this point you made:
“Because it’s easy to imagine our heroes as unflappable juggernauts, who conquer insecurity with a majestic mental karate chop every morning. This is, of course, an illusion. Most people you see on magazine covers have plenty of mornings when they’d rather hide under the covers all day long.”
I think that a daily journal and meditation is a path to clear clutter and reveal your own path, to increase your sensitivity to knowing what you really want for yourself. Without it, we become lost and compare ourselves and our progress to the so called “illusion” of what others have achieved and in looking up to those we negatively impact our own subconscious as we feel a tremendous gap between where they are (because we want to be there too) and where we are at this given moment in time.
Morning pages are powerful. I had forgotten about the “spiritual windshield wipers” metaphor. I might be wrong, but I don’t think you’d like the actual book, but you seem to get a lot of use out of the Morning Pages. I like how it clears out my head before I get on with the day.
Tim,
Fascinating, as always, to read your experiences.
We are both on the same path of “journaling” via The Artists Way.
When I began writing my morning pages a few months ago, I was concerned the “3 page per day” requirement was it taking me 30 minutes each morning…. If I was to really be efficient with my time, I didn’t know if this was a valuable use of it.
However, I kept to it as is suggested in the book. Yet, at the 1 1/2 page mark, there was a strange consistency of an “A-HA” mind-blowing breakthrough that I don’t think I could have reached without this process.
The purpose is exactly as you describe in your blog, but I love how you succinctly call it “caging the monkey mind on paper”.
So now, I think 5 minutes is better than none at all. But if you really are messed up in the head, so to speak, and need a good mind clearing… 3 full pages of writing “Morning Pages” will do wonders.
As an aside, I applaud your efforts to get back into drawing and art! There is nothing better to improving your drawing ability than taking a good figure drawing class and strengthening your analytical skills of drawing the complex human figure. I look forward to seeing your artwork! Onward to Mastery! Do you think you can hack the time it takes to master drawing the human figure??? Hmmm. I don’t think you could. But as a figurative artist and educator, I would like to see you try! Best to you!
Does anybody know the recipe for the “hot cocktail of turmeric, ginger, pu-erh tea, and green tea”?
Wow this is a great idea, I some times write my feelings down when I’m going though my to do list but have found when I do this, its increasingly difficult to make purely productive decision. Just leaving the random chatter for another place could help, thanks
This is great Tim, thank you!
Yes, more like this please. Thanks for sharing from your personal life.
To answer the question: I’d like more posts like this, yes! But more specifically…written posts. There have been a bunch of links and ‘supplemental posts’ to podcasts lately. I get the usefulness of podcasts, but they’re a major time-suck unless you’re stuck transporting your carcass from one spot to another on a regular basis. I can digest in 2 minutes what would take a 1/2 hr of podcast listening to disseminate. I simply don’t have time for podcasts. So please don’t forget the core strength of this blog, which is original content. Thanks!
I’m very glad I caught this from the email river. Eons ago this was my college textbook for Drawing 1, long forgotten. On Sunday, I started for 4am (yeah) with a double espresso and breakfast tray, and did it again later in the evening. Perhaps I was a bit congested, though I’m getting more out of it now than before. I used to do this all of the time when I was a kid, then have a day of tossing out all of the old books after paging through the stack thinking, “Oh God, I hope no one reads all of this.”
I think now I can live with it more, and my three pages of decongesting have been fairly positive so far, with a dash of musing. When something I write sticks as an image or an idea I might explore, I give it a highlight and pass those words on a notecard into the idea scratching box. So much that I do is self directed, or I know where I’m aiming when it starts. It’s nice to follow the moment with no particular path simply for the sake of discovery. I even went out today I picked of some my favorite ole fine point pens. Who knows, my lovely handwriting might come back to where it was. — Thank you for publishing 🙂
I once followed the suggestion in The Artist’s Way to journal each morning–three pages in longhand. The rules are that you start the instant you rolled out of bed. I was able to keep it up for a little over two weeks. At the end of those two weeks, I had the most amazingly crystal clear mind I’ve ever had. I knew what I wanted, and I knew what the next step was to get it. Everything was so simple and obvious. I believe that the subconscious mind spends sleep hours organizing information and developing insights, and that this is why the journaling worked as it did. Doing it the first thing in the morning gives all of that subconscious mental work a chance to be recognized and absorbed consciously. That’s just my theory based on how it felt. The tough part was staying with the practice, which wasn’t easy for me because I am definitely NOT a morning person. Ultimately it fell victim to my morning lethargy. I desperately want to do it again, and I would recommend it to anyone.
By the way, Tim, you really should read “The Artist’s Way” in its entirety. It’s as great a book as you’ve been told.
Loved this post! I like both interpretations of why writing is so therapeutic, particularly two – certainly makes me feel more ‘normal’ and human to see others have all those sort of disparate thoughts, worries, ideas bouncing around in their head. More like this please.
Great post! It inspired me to start writing again. I was told by a mentor to write three pages by hand every morning before I get started with the day. 3 handwritten pages is a lot, takes quite a bit of time and can be tiring on the hand! I usually don’t have enough to fill up all 3 pages but by the end my mind is definitely cleared of junk thoughts!
I had never thought of this journaling as therapy but I love looking at it that way! I love the Artists Way journal, tried to buy it now on Amazon but its temporarily sold out. Your fault Tim!
Yes, I love these posts! I love getting the real life, “here is what I do and how I work” type of posts rather than the theoretical, “try to do it this way and you’ll be more efficient/effective…” type of posts. Not that I don’t enjoy the latter but I feel like I get more out of the former.
Thanks again for all your insights. I love coming here for new ideas on how to improve my life, whether it be working better or appreciating life more. Wish I could do what you do.
I’ve seen morning writing practice as something very close to meditation for a long time. I use it as a way to keep my mind clear. I sit down in the morning and just write whatever the hell I’m thinking about. I’ve been doing it for most of the last ten years now and it’s probably been the single most helpful habit I’ve developed in my life. I’ve often described it in this way: imagine that your conscious mind is a stretch of beach. Deep in the waters is your subconscious mind. The surface of the water is the outside world. All the time, things float in on the waves and come up from the depths. It all accumulates on the sand and gets pretty cluttered pretty quickly and can get overwhelming if we don’t find a way to keep that sand clear. To me, writing is something like a rake we can use for clean-up. We keep the mental sands clear and when something important comes floating in, we are all the better prepared for it. If you google “aleatorist writing meditation” you’ll find a blog post where I explore this more in depth. It’s a simple act that can have immense payoff in everyday life.
Meant to note, too, that when I finish a notebook of writing, it gets torn in half and tossed in the garbage. The point for me is getting it out. There’s something extra cathartic about getting out and leaving it behind.
Tim,
Love the posts like this. It’s incredibly helpful.
thanks
Thanks for this post, Tim!
The photo especially made it sink in that you’re “still human” after all your accomplishments. 🙂 I’d love to see more of these type of “what does Tim do day to day” posts. They’re great and much appreciated. Keep it up!
Miriam
You just made my day better. I’m gonna adopt this habit. THANKS!!
I love morning rituals but I will definitely add this I seem to have a millions ideas at the beginning of the day and slowly forget or really get sidetracked with other tasks. I have a million ideas most probably not worth pursuing but I like the fact that I have them and they keep coming I think one day there might be something golden and writing them down I will have something to track them back down.
Thanks Tim… Oh and the tea all in one mixture could you possibly share the recipe in the future.
Simon
Great post! It’s interesting how the act of constructing your thoughts in the physical world extracts them from your mental. I do this every morning to avoid enduring a day of mental befuddlement.
This was great tim. Thanks for sharing. Would love to see more
Do I want to read more post’s that are ,” Insightful, truth rare and cutting, with a side of humor?” Why , Yes, Yes I do. Thank you Tim.
Tim, I enjoyed this post. It is helpful to see how you conscientiously create space each morning, take time to quiet the monkey mind, and clarify values, visions and goals (I just happened to pick up a sketch book for this same purpose, its pages will be blank no more!).
Yes, please post more like this. I am trying to get into the habit of regular journaling in the hopes that it will help me to come up with writing ideas. I love reading about others’ ideas & suggestions. Thanks again for the post. 🙂
Yes, morning routine post a definite must!
Hi Tim,
These personal entries are a lot like the questions you ask to your guests on your podcast… “What does your morning routine look like…” “What self talk did you do to pull yourself out of a depression…” “How do you chose your friends…” So in a way you’re asking yourself similar questions here.
Very interesting for me, because I’m searching for similarities & patterns… For example, through podcasts, I discovered that many of the problems I’m facing in business and in life are not unique to me at all. So the morning journal, fears and motivators are very interesting to look at because they help to a get a second and different opinion (yours.)
Thanks for having the guts to share with so many people.
Finally something to back up my morning ritual. Felt uncertain about it for a while, having nowhere to ask about whether I’m doing it right. I simply write down how I feel, usually finding a way around the “blah, blah talk”. I don’t write to form conclusions, but as you’ve said get rid of thoughts, and especially problems. I just write down the things that bother me, and as in meditation, try to feel comfortable about them being in my head. The more objectively I put them down on paper, the less influence they have on my thoughts and feelings respectfully.
This just gave me the idea to write in the morning. I don’t practice it but I think this is a good way to get the mind started. Like a warm up for the brain before you get the day started. And I guess it’s nice to write about something early in the morning when you’re mind is still clear; No emotions of any sort to interfere with the function of the mind. Wonderful idea! Thank you!
Great page Tim! Forgive me as I regress abit from your main focus. I read how you drink green tea almost every morning and just wanted to point out how important it is to consume organic green tea. Green tea has great benefits- antioxidant, DNA repairing, etc- but non-organic contains pesticides and other toxins that simply cancel out the benefits and may even do more harm to our health. It is often overlooked because the health benefits of green tea are being so hyped these days but something to consider deeply. Here is a great discussion post on organic vs. non-organic teas.
http://steepster.com/discuss/2381-organic-vs-non-organic-tea
I am very happy that I found what is in my opinion the best organic green tea in the world as it is all handpicked, the farm is meticulous about not allowing any vehicles onto the farm and it is one of the first green tea farms in Asia to receive USDA certification.
Take good care Tim!
“At the still point, there the dance is.” —T. S. Eliot, “Four Quartets”
This made me think of you, Tim, mainly because one of the first things I read from you was about meditation which I’ve since started to try. Seemed an apt quote for the purpose and simplicity of it 🙂 I’m hoping it’ll help me in the start up of my first ever business, training charities in persuasive writing. I know you normally reserve your shout outs for the first few commenters, but if this resonates with you and you’d like to check out my brand new teeny tiny business, feel free to let me know (oh the cheek of it 🙂 ).
Thanks for the inspiration 🙂
Thanks for sharing.
I’ve also had the chance to see the benefits of writing down what’s on your mind – it’s a therapy, a way to get things out of your head, to kickstart your day, come up with new ideas and even get to know yourself on a deeper level.
I posted a short article on that right after I read yours: http://letsreachsuccess.com/2015/01/22/how-can-writing-for-10-minutes-each-morning-change-your-life/
And yes. Do continue to share stuff like that. It’s extremely helpful.
More posts like is a must. Tips and resources on easing into meditation would be great as well. Thank you!
Hi Tim,
Thanks for sharing your morning pages from your journal. I love reading your ordinary posts and have really benefited from tapping into some of your ideas. I think the hand writing is essential for journaling- it shifts you into the right brain and stops you from filtering, in a way that the keyboard cannot accomplish.
I’m all the way down here in Australia. I have been spending my summer months practising your swimming stroke that you explain din one of your lectures. Fantastic! I’m swimming much further and with more power! Thanks for the tips!
Bets wishes,
Meg
How to allow onself to be this volunerable? I think I couldn’t…
Thanks for sharing! This was great.
Interesting [and enjoyable] post and concept, Tim. I think it’s the small things like this that facilitate the big things we’re chasing. Swabbing the deck, clearing the cobwebs, whatever name you use, the starting the day with a clean slate is a superb idea with dividends paid in productive, satisfying days. I usually end my day with a letter to a friend, but I’d not considered starting my day like this. Just another take on the upside-down fire. Thanks. Keep it up. =James
Tim, thanks for the post. I’m trying to get my own “miracle morning” in order. It’s good to see somebody else’s: guess I’m not doing it wrong!
Yes, more posts like this please….I wanna know how Tim Ferriss works through his shit daily!!!
Great article, Tim! Any chance you can share the specifics from your morning tea recipe?
I feel like when I wake up in the morning I’ve got a pretty good head on my shoulders. It’s through the day when these negative thoughts come in that may need to be written down. Would you say it’s still effective when written at night?
Thanks, Tim, I enjoyed this very much and would love to read more of the like. I just read it and look forward to checking out the suggested sites you provide. I’m a regular listener of your podcast and the shopworn phrase, “it’s really influencing my life”, is simply fact. Thank you.
Loved this, Tim. Thanks and keep up the good work!
loved this post, feels so real, feels like you are struggling the same as we all are.
Very nice
Great post, thanks Tim.
I admire how much of yourself you give away in your blog posts and podcasts. I recently watched ‘a day in the life of Tim Ferriss’ which I found interesting and inspiring. What I enjoyed is it came across that the pace of your day is not rushed, but steady and enjoying each moment. Productive but not frantic. I have recently started doing the 5 minute journal to get my focus right at the start of each day. I have found it helpful already. It feels too easy to find happiness in gratitude, but it works! Enjoying what you have far outweighs the joy you think you’ll have for something ‘out there’.
PS loving the podcasts, great content and interesting guests – Tony Robbins was my favourite so far. Would be great to hear you interview Jack Canfield and Richard Branson.
Joel
Fantastic post Tim! It is very refreshing and insightful when you peel back the curtain of your brilliant and mystical mind on a personal level.
What is your specific breakdown/measurements of each tea? When you stated: “Nearly every morning, I sit down with a hot cocktail of turmeric, ginger, pu-erh tea, and green tea.” I’m new to teas and just ordered teas from Red Blossom Tea Company (by way of your suggestion & the 4H Chef) and could really use some guidance.
Thanks a million for the work that you do, for helping show the way to thinking differently & better to achieve goals and live a more enriching/fulfilled life.
I really enjoyed this. Thanks Tim : )
Hi Tim, I’ve just come across your website and read a few posts. This one really inspired me. I have been a great proponent of “writing a morning list” for most of my working life. It helps me get my act together for the rest of the day. I had never thought to write down everything to just get it off my mind and therefore clear my mind – Excellent!
Green tea, coconut oil, lemon, and a turmeric/ginger pill is my new morning drink. Gotta open the pill first, and put the contents in the cup before the hot water goes in. Amazing energy and absolutely kills my appetite all morning. Thanks Tim.
Brother should not be showing (or reading) his morning pages! Bad juju!
But spaces between paragraphs = really helpful to see. I have so much Morning Pages anxiety – like if I put spaces or don’t do it exactly exactly as a stream of consciousness, it won’t work (hence bad juju). Which is the antithesis of morning pages (having anxiety/trying to be perfect).
ALSO: PLEASE ELABORATE ON YOUR THOUGHTS REGARDING THE ARTIST’S WAY! Are you doing it? Have you done it? I think that would be very helpful for the artist followers. I’ve often wondered about the compatibility between the two. I’m an artist and I follow 4HWW principles as much as possible, but I’m trained via artist’s way kind of thinking. Interessant
Great post! What do you do with your writings after you’ve finished your notebook? I’ve journaled on and off and I know the process is more important than capturing the content, but I still get hung up on where I should be writing, and how/if I should be storing.
Jens
Amazing stuff Tim.
I have been a fan of yours for some time but hearing that you have this practice is very inspiring for me.
I’ve tried it a few times and found it extremely useful but have dipped in and out rather than keeping it regular.
I think the journal will be a great inspiration to keep it up so I think I will make that investment!
Thanks for sharing!
It is one habit I still would like to start to have a quiet time every morning with my coffee and write all my thoughts,my goals for the day. I would also like to make a gratitude journal in which I can look back and read every year for all the things I am thankful for. Thanks for the read!!
I was a fan of journal hand-writing but the problem is due to technology, now I’m lazy on writing my daily issues using my bare hands. Back when I was in High-school, I got no morning page or something but I got small diary I wrote some issues every night just to express or to be aware of thing because every time I wrote something my brain works, plenty of thoughts will appear even the nonsense thing. Well, Seeing your journal inspires me to use my pen and my small diary again.
Tim – this is very inspirational for people like me. I always have this fascination about writing and reading for it calms my mind. I tend to over think most of the time and this hobbies makes me feel at peace and calm. Some people when they see me write at public places finds it weird and makes them think I’m nerd. Tea and writing for me works the best partners since I’ve never been a fan of coffee. Jotting down the things that has happened during my day is a relief for me, my journal serves as my best friend for it is in writing where I can express myself truly and without somebody judging me.
Can’t believe I initially skipped this post. So good, and really in line with a lot of advice I’ve gotten from other trusted sources. Thanks Tim.
I have a journal too, It has this engraved on it “GOOD things come to those who WAIT but the BEST things come to those who DO”
Hey Tim, love the posts as always. Two questions:
1) I recall you mentioning somewhere previously that you use “The 5-Minute Journal.” Did this give you better results than that? Do you use both?
2) Does the format of this journal actually add something to the process? It looks like it’s pretty much a book of blank lines with some pull quotes sprinkled throughout. Not clear what it adds over a plain old blank journal / Moleskine.
Tim is so inspirational and motivating. I love reading his post and listening to his podcast. Thank you.
There’s nothing a successful, productive person I admire can write or say that isn’t valuable in some way. Now it’s my turn to “make it my own.”
I love your writing and podcast. Tell it like it is. Life is too short to sugar coat it.
Tim – does this conflict with the goal of “complaint-free” living? that’s my biggest fear with venting (pages included above aren’t a rant btw). trying to reprogram my brain to think higher thoughts. concerned that will do the opposite
Thanks!
Nicole
Loved the write-up, Tim! It’s a good reminder that those who are successful still go through the same challenges they did before they achieved success, and that you still put your pants on one leg at a time. Thanks for the transparency and honesty.
It is becoming abundantly clear that (most) successful people have a morning ritual/routine of some sort. I really appreciate you sharing part of yours. I recently started reading your blog and listening to your podcasts, so maybe you have covered more on this topic already (if so, can you provide the links?) – but I am intrigued by the idea of sharpening my morning routine and would love more detail on anything related to the topic. Thanks so much!!!
I love the concept of writing daily. I recently have made it a point to write every morning for fifteen minutes. Early wake daily write is what I like to call it.
The biggest advantage I see in writing is that it increases my psychic bandwidth and I have less things to think about and more focus on things I want to think about.
other then that, I feel like it helps me find my own voice.