How to Start a Creative Morning Ritual (Even If You’re Busy)
(with a free printable ritual checklist + tea-inspired journaling prompts)
Are your mornings beautiful—or chaotic?
It might sound cliché, but your morning ritual truly sets the tone for your day. And I imagine you wouldn’t mind infusing your mornings with more calm, clarity, and creative flow.
You’ve probably heard productivity gurus preach the importance of making your bed to start the day—but I want to go deeper. Let’s talk about mornings, and how to begin a creative morning ritual, even if you’re short on time.
Tea & Me
A lino print from my limited edition letterpress zine available here.
Why Mornings Matter for Creative People
You open your eyes. What you do next matters—especially if you’re a creative soul. The way you begin your day shapes your mindset, your momentum, and your energy.
When I wake up late and tumble straight into the whirlwind of family life, it feels like I’ve jumped onto a treadmill that’s already moving—I spend the rest of the day trying to catch up. But when I wake early and step into the quiet, I get to choose how I begin. I can move slowly. I can begin intentionally. And if I have a gentle ritual waiting for me, I don’t even have to think about what to do next.
If you, like me, love tuning into the rhythms of nature, it makes sense to respect the natural cycles of your mind, too.
According to neuroscientist Mithu Storoni, author of Hyperefficient: Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work, creative thinking tends to be sharper in the early hours of the day—from waking until about 9 or 10 a.m. (There’s also a second creative window late at night, but that’s a topic for another post.)
What Is a Creative Morning Ritual?
I’ll be honest—I have a love-hate relationship with routines. I get overwhelmed when I have to reinvent the wheel every day, but I also get bored when things feel too rigid. Sound familiar?
That’s why I like to think of a morning ritual not as a rigid routine, but as a repeatable invitation—a way to connect with myself and my creativity. One that allows space for both structure and freedom.
Trendy terms like mindfulness and self-care often get tossed around, but I invite you to pause and ask: What would a gentle, creative start to the day look like for me?
You might be familiar with Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way and her practice of Morning Pages—freewriting three pages first thing to clear your mind. She writes:
“Once those muddy, maddening, confusing thoughts [nebulous worries, jitters, and preoccupations] are on the page, we face our day with clearer eyes.”
Maybe that kind of journaling appeals to you—or maybe something simpler would feel more sustainable. Here are a few ideas:
• Sip your morning tea slowly and quietly
• Draw one thing you see in your nature journal
• Write a sentence in a one-line-a-day journal
• Light a candle
• Read a short poem or quote
• Do 3 minutes of breathwork
• Stretch or move with intention
• Choose a journaling or reflection prompt card
Start Small and Keep It Simple
If you’ve ever made a New Year’s resolution that didn’t stick, you know how easy it is to aim too high, too fast. But a creative ritual doesn’t need to be long or perfect.
A ritual is not about productivity. It’s about presence.
Here’s an example of a simple 5-minute ritual:
1. Make tea or coffee
2. Open a journal or sketchbook
3. Reflect on a prompt or draw something you see
4. Take three deep breaths and set a gentle intention for the day
My Favorite Creative Morning Rituals
Personally, I like to cycle through a few favorites depending on the season or how I’m feeling. Some days I sip tea on the living room floor while doing a few yoga stretches and listening to the birds. Other mornings, I paint while my tea steeps or do therapeutic journaling based on the JournalSpeak technique by Nicole J. Sachs (outlined in her book Mind Your Body). I don’t do it the same way every day, but I always start small and stay grounded in presence.
Make It Stick: Tips for Your Creative Morning Ritual
• Keep your tools visible and ready (sketchbook, candle, mug, etc.)
• Try the same time/place to build a habit
• Let your ritual evolve with the seasons
• Don’t skip it just because it’s short
• Make it beautiful—a favorite mug, a quiet nook, music you love
Free Printable: Start Your Ritual Today
To help you get started, I created a Morning Ritual Starter Kit—a printable checklist plus a tea-inspired journaling prompt page. When you sign up for my email list (below), I will send you the password to access my freebies and you’ll find this kit there, with more goodies to come! (You can unsubscribe at anytime!)
Print it out and keep it on your bedside table or by the kettle. Begin where you are. No pressure. Just presence.
You don’t need hours to weave creativity into your days—just a little space and intention. Starting a creative morning ritual is about choosing how you enter your day. It’s about remembering that your creativity matters, and so do you.
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I’d love to hear: What’s your favorite way to begin the day? Share in the comments below!
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And if you’d like more simple rituals and artful inspiration, I send out a short letter every couple of weeks—
