“Thoughts are like an open ocean, they can either move you forward within its waves or sink you under deep into its abyss.”

— Anthony Liccione

July marks four months since I started a new digital journaling practice that’s been a game-changer for me in the mornings. I still do pen-to-paper journaling, but this digital component began while recovering from tendon repair surgery on my right, dominant hand. I needed something to hold me over until I could start writing again.

Here’s a little backstory…

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One of my favorite YouTubers is Andrea Gonzalez (Plan for Productivity). She shares mindful productivity tips on her channel using various methods, such as bullet journaling, Notion, and other task management platforms.

In December 2022, she released a video titled “The Morning Habit That Changed My Life,” in which she talks about her daily check-in routine. She explains how she drew inspiration from Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages” to create this practice and how it’s helped her better prepare and plan for the day ahead.

You can watch the video below if you’re interested:

It’s rare to find a person, let alone a creative one, who hasn’t heard of Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. In the book, the concept of “Morning Pages” was born, which involves writing three handwritten pages every day (ideally in the morning). This helps to clear the clutter from your mind to make room for the thoughts that matter.

Now, I tried reading The Artist’s Way, but I couldn’t get into it. The main reason–and I want to say this as gently as possible–was that it was a little too “God” heavy for me. I’m not a religious person, and while I’ve read books (both fiction and nonfiction) with spiritual undertones, it’s simply not my cup of tea.

I also never felt like I needed it since I always found ways to get unstuck. Meditation has recently become a staple in my creative practice. I do a five or ten-minute meditation (often writing-focused) before writing, and I get into the flow much faster. Again, our writing rituals are as unique as the writer practicing them. The Artist’s Way is not a tool I need, and that’s fine.

Back to that YouTube video…

In this daily check-in practice that Andrea talks about, she does her morning pages digitally, using a Notion template she created. As she states in the video, she may not write three pages' worth of digital notes, but that’s not the point. What matters is getting the muck out of your head so you can approach your plans more clearly first thing in the morning.

Flash forward to March 2025…

Though I could type and text with my arm in the cast and then brace, handwriting was next to impossible. I attempted to write with my left hand, but it was sloppy, often illegible, and uncomfortable. I realized I needed a way to dump out my thoughts because you have a lot when you’re in the thick of recovery.

I also have way more thoughts in the morning than at night, so Andrea’s Notion template seemed the perfect solution. I downloaded a copy, changed a few things, and started the next day on April 7th.

July marks four months since I’ve consistently done this. Each day, I choose a weather icon and a cover image that coincides with the day’s forecast. Andrea recommends choosing a picture that might represent where you’re writing from (e.g., a cafe, the beach, etc.). But since I write most of mine at home or work, I prefer the weather settings. Returning to the yearly overview and seeing the weather during that time frame is fun.

Why does this work for me?

I started this new routine while on medical leave, but knew that it would still seamlessly fit into my schedule when I returned to work.

I’m not the kind of person to jump right into tasks when I arrive at the office. I need time to figure out what’s going on and what’s on the docket and review my priorities. But to do that, I need to clear my head.

Once settled at my desk, I open the Notion template and dump my thoughts into my digital journal. It doesn’t take me long—five to ten minutes at most. This process removes the gunk from my mind so I can look at my to-do list and plan my day without other stuff getting in the way.

Even when I was home recovering, it amazed me how much stuff I had on my mind each morning. Some days, I wrote a paragraph or two. Others, I wrote close to three pages. And some days, I simply wrote, “Everything is good. I got nothing.”

But even on days when I don’t feel like I have much to write, I still put in the time. This is how you build a consistent habit: showing up every day as promised, even if you have nothing new to add.

Since starting this on April 7th, I haven’t missed a day. Will I eventually miss one? Probably. But I love this system because even if I’m traveling, I can access it on my Notion phone app and keep the streak going.

Yes, I still use a physical journal

While I appreciate the ease digital journaling gives me for the morning, I am at heart a pen-to-paper girlie and still maintain a regular journal. These entries end up in one of two places: my bullet journal or another notebook dedicated as my journal.

My bullet journal is where I keep my monthly logs and reviews, habit tracker, tasks, project plans, and the occasional thought dumping session. If I need to brainstorm a project, I’ll write it in my bullet journal. If I want to write about my day or share some introspection, I write it in my journal.

Does having three places where I keep track of thoughts, tasks, dreams, memories, and ideas seem a little much? It could be. But this is why I say it works for me. I know exactly what’s where and which notebook (digital or physical) I need to review certain things.

Some people prefer everything digitized, which is fine. I use a combination of Notion and a pocket-sized daily log to keep track of projects and tasks. My journals are often the initial birthplace of these ideas. Once I brainstorm a plan, those steps are put into Notion, and then those tasks are scheduled into my daily log.

Notion is also where I keep all my work projects/tasks. Though my job is mostly the same, emergency communications can occur without warning, and because of the fast-paced nature of these tasks, I don’t always have time to figure it out on paper. So, digital planning is better for my job.

But for personal projects, I prefer the slower pace of paper.

Journaling has always been a part of my life. I’ve kept diaries as a kid, switched to a more mature-sounding journal in my twenties, and started bullet journaling in 2017. Now, in my late thirties, I’m training to get a certification in journal therapy because of the benefits I’ve seen, not just for my creative practice, but also for my life in general.

No journaling method is the best or only way to clear your mind. If you prefer digital journaling over physical journaling, that’s fine. If you do a mix of both (like me), that’s fine too. I believe there’s no right or wrong way to journal, so long as you journal in some capacity, because it’s essential to rid your mind of the gunk to make space for stronger dreaming.

Do you have a daily journaling practice? Do you journal digitally or in a notebook?

If this post resonated with you in any way, please consider buying me a coffee. A little caffeine goes a long way for a writer, and I will be forever grateful for the fuel. ☕️