The 10 Minute Morning Ritual That Saved My Mental Health

If anyone understands busy... it’s me.

Between two jobs, building a business from the ground up, going to school, carving out time for my loved ones, deepening my romantic relationship, and trying to keep up with my own mental health… finding time for me is one of the hardest things I do every day.

There are days when I’m up at 4am and don’t go to bed until close to midnight. I’m not saying that for pity. I’m not trying to win some imaginary award in hustle culture. I’m saying it because it’s my reality. and I know I’m not the only one living this way.

It’s not inherently good or bad. It just is.

But the real question is:
How do I stay sane through all of this?

The Answer I Found in a Book

One tool that has consistently helped me stay grounded is something I learned from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. She introduces a practice called Morning Pages, a simple, daily brain dump where you write whatever’s on your mind for at least 10 minutes.

No rules. No structure. Just your stream of consciousness onto the page.

It could be what you’re seeing. Something that’s been eating at you. A childhood memory. A random idea for a poem, a product, or a script. Whatever it is, you get it out so it stops living rent-free in your head.

And it works.

But Let’s Be Honest... Who Has Time?

For those of us with stacked schedules, even 10 minutes in the morning to sit and write can feel like a luxury we don’t have. That’s why I adapted the practice to fit the rhythm of my life.

I call it a Morning Clarity Ritual.

I use tools that can transcribe word to text like Otter and ChatGPT to record voice memos during my commute. Instead of writing, I speak for at least 10 minutes. My commutes can last anywhere from 35 minutes to 2.5 hours, so 10 or 15 minutes of speaking freely is only a fraction of that and then I can go back to listening to music or taking a spanish lesson or listening to a class recording. I let the thoughts flow freely and let the app transcribe everything for me.

I do this before consuming any outside content. No music. No podcasts. No scrolling. Just me, my thoughts, and a mic. Thats actually how I wrote this blog post, once I got past a minute of the awkward "what do I even say this morning", the theme of this blog post just flowed from my brain into the air.

Why It Works

Even if I only do it for 10–15 minutes, I walk away feeling lighter. My thoughts are clearer. I’m not overthinking everything. I’m not stuck replaying scenarios in my head. I feel present.

And sometimes, I talk for longer than I planned. I've even gone the entire commute talking before, because it feels that good to unload.

Then I’ll go back and read it. Or, if it’s interesting, I’ll ask ChatGPT to summarize it or analyze it for insights. But I’m specific with how I use the tool: I don’t want empty praise or false validation. I ask for both the positive and the areas of opportunity.

You Can Do It, Too

Even if you don’t drive, you can do this.

Taking a walk? Talk and record.
Taking the train? Use a notes app and type.
Lunch break? Steal five minutes.
No matter where you are: just start.

Even five minutes of brain dumping, voice or text, can help you feel more centered and a little more in control of your day.

It’s not about doing it perfectly. It’s about giving yourself a moment of peace when the rest of your life is demanding everything from you.

And trust me, your mind deserves that clarity. It will benefit you throughout the entire day.