Start a Morning Routine with Journaling

You might already know that journaling can help you cope with your eating disorder and 
figure out what is keeping you from full recovery. However, actually finding the time and 
situation for using the journal can be a little tricky. Here are some things to know about 
turning journaling into a morning routine.

Why Do You Need a Morning Routine?

A morning routine allows you to set yourself up for a healthy and productive day. With 
journaling for your eating disorder, it allows you to express yourself, while also providing 
a therapeutic tool that hopefully lasts you throughout the rest of your day. With a 
morning routine, you get into the practice of writing in the journal every day, and don’t 
need to worry about it for the rest of the day.

Decide What Else You Will Do in the Morning

You can also turn this into a full morning routine, not just with journaling, but other 
activities as well. It may be something you do after making a healthy breakfast or 
drinking a green smoothie, or you might want to add in yoga as part of this healthy 
morning routine.

Have Your Journal Ready to Go

Set up a nice area of your home for your journal writing where you feel comfortable and 
don’t have a lot of distractions. Perhaps you want to stay in bed to write in your journal 
before you get up and start getting ready for work. You might keep it at the bar or 
kitchen table while drinking morning coffee, or relax on the couch for some writing time. 
Just try to pick an area of the home where you will enjoy sitting and writing, and don’t 
have to worry about other people in your house bothering you during this time.

What You Can Write About in the Morning

While journaling allows you to write about anything you want, using it as part of a 
morning routine does have some unique advantages. You can plan out your day in the 
morning by writing down positive phrases or affirmations, starting a food log of what you 
plan to eat, and giving yourself a good pick-me-up. Journaling about your eating 
disorder before your day begins can also give you a healthy mindset to get through the 
day, even if cravings come up.

Remember that journaling for eating disorder recovery or any other purpose doesn’t 
have rules or guidelines. If writing in the morning doesn’t work for you, that’s okay! 
Figure out the time and situation that encourages you to get the most out of journaling.
