How I Work

My Favourite Tip: Brian Koppelman - Morning pages and other ways to kickstart your workday

Oct 3, 2022

Brian Koppelman shares his transformative morning routines that include meditation and the practice of 'Morning Pages.' He emphasizes how these rituals help clear mental clutter and unlock creativity. Balancing a career in the entertainment industry with the challenges of ADHD, he discusses the importance of accountability in creative collaborations. Koppelman's approach blends hard work with artistic exploration, proving that effective mornings can set the tone for successful days.

04:51

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Quick takeaways

Brian Koppelman's practice of 'Morning Pages' facilitates creative flow by decluttering the mind and enhancing productivity for daily tasks.

Incorporating meditation into his routine helps Koppelman manage ADHD and underscores the importance of accountability through collaborative partnerships.

Deep dives

The Power of Morning Pages

Morning routines can significantly enhance focus and creativity, as illustrated by Brian Koppelman's practice of morning pages. He writes three long-hand pages every morning without pausing or editing, allowing his subconscious thoughts to flow freely onto the page. This technique serves as a means to declutter the mind, akin to rehydrating after a night's sleep. Koppelman emphasizes that this ritual not only sparks creativity but also helps him feel better prepared for the day's work.

Unlocking Creativity: The Power of Morning Pages and Meditation

5min

You’ve heard it a million times by now: you need to start meditating. Maybe you’ve tried, like I have, but it just won’t stick. Maybe you can’t sit still for longer than five minutes, or maybe the whole thing feels a bit too woo-woo. If the latter is true, “Morning Pages” might sound like more of the same.

But listening to Brian Koppelman break down his morning rituals, “woo-woo” definitely doesn’t come to mind. After beginning his career in the music industry before becoming an enormously successful screenwriter, director, producer and now show-runner, Brian’s nailed the delicate art of balancing hard-nosed professionalism and open-minded artistic creation.

How? Well, like anything, it starts with his mornings. Brian’s an absolute devotee of Julia Cameron’s “Morning Pages,” which he believes clears the “detritus” of the mind that can hold an artist back. And I say he’s a devotee, because he follows Cameron’s rules to the T.

Except for one thing: meditation comes first.

Connect with Brian on Twitter

You can find the full interview here: Learning on the job - how Brian Koppelman turned his first movie into a DIY film school

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Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au

CREDITS

Produced by Inventium

Host: Amantha Imber

Sound Engineer: Martin Imber

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