Cracking Open a New Notebook
Designed by BearmoreBecause your mornings don’t have to start with emails first.
Start the day deliberately, not reactively. A long walk, some journaling, read a passage from your chosen philosopher, then you get into some writing, all before your inbox gets a look-in.
The runsheet
Walking before anything else
Being in natureOpen with a long walk before you sit down to anything. It clears the head for anything that follows. Any unhurried walk outdoors does the same job; the point is to enjoy the walk, not to clock distance.
30 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing being in nature before journaling
This is a strong combination because nature gives journaling fresh sensory detail and reflective material that's harder to summon at a desk.
Three notebooks and inspiration to journal
JournalingKeep three: a one-line diary of the day before, a reflective page on gratitude and what you want to improve, and a morning prompt. Use one notebook or all three; the habit matters more than the format.
18 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing journaling before reading (mindful)
This can be a good pairing because the reflective state from writing can carry into mindful reading and a patient engagement.
A passage from Marcus Aurelius
Reading (mindful)Treat it as a daily touchstone rather than a book to finish. Read a passage of whatever grounds you; the aim is a sturdy idea inspires you or helps you.
15 min activityBearmore’s thoughts on doing reading (mindful) before creative writing
This is an excellent pairing because reading primes the rhythms and patterns of language, which writing then draws on without needing much warming up.
Your own writing
Creative writingThis is the part the whole morning leads up to: your own creative writing. We've capped it at the menu's forty-six minutes. Pen and paper is the way to go, keeps you off screens and other distractions.
46 min activityTime well spent.
2h 5m spent doing something good for yourself.
The breakdown
Burst evaluation
Wellbeing focus
About this Burst
Ryan Holiday (who this Burst was inspired by) builds the morning around one rule: do the work that matters most to you before checking email. Over time it grew into a fuller Stoic practice. A long walk, then three notebooks (a one-line diary, a reflective page on gratitude and what to improve, and a daily journal prompt), a passage of Marcus Aurelius, and time for your own writing. We've capped the writing at the menu's forty-six minutes; the original sessions run one to two hours. This is for anyone whose mornings get hijacked before they've even had a chance to think. Pen and paper is the vehicle: it keeps you off the screen.