Kat McAdaragh

There’s something sacred about the hours before the world wakes up. In that space between sleep and the day’s demands, I’ve discovered a ritual that doesn’t just start my morning—it resets my entire creative being.

As creatives, we’re constantly pouring ourselves out. We give our ideas, our energy, our very essence to our work, often until we’re running on empty. I used to roll straight out of bed into emails, scrolling through social media before my feet even hit the floor. But I realized I was beginning each day already depleted, already scattered.

That’s when I created what I now call my Soul Reset Morning—a practice that fills my creative well-being before I’m asked to draw from it.

The Mindful Morning

My mindful morning begins at 6 AM, an hour I once considered ungodly, but now I treasure as my most productive creative time. I don’t reach for my phone. Instead, I reach for my journal and a cup of coffee that I prepare with the same reverence a monk might approach morning prayers.

The first fifteen minutes belong to my Morning Pages—Julia Cameron’s practice of writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts. No editing, no judgment, just raw thoughts flowing onto paper. This isn’t about creating beautiful prose; it’s about clearing the mental clutter that accumulates overnight. It’s amazing how many creative breakthroughs emerge from this chaos.

Next comes my Creative Visualization—five minutes of sitting quietly, breathing deeply, and visualizing my day unfolding exactly as I want it to. I see myself at my desk, words flowing effortlessly, ideas connecting in surprising ways. This isn’t wishful thinking; it’s creative programming. I’m setting my intention and priming my subconscious for creative flow.

The Power of Presence

The final element is what I call Mindful Making—twenty minutes of creating something small with my hands. Sometimes it’s sketching in my notebook, other times it’s arranging flowers, or even making breakfast with complete attention to each action. The medium doesn’t matter; what matters is the quality of presence I bring to it.

This isn’t about producing anything profound or Instagram-worthy. It’s about reconnecting with the pure joy of creation, the meditative state that happens when your hands are busy and your mind is quiet. It reminds me why I fell in love with making things in the first place.

The Ripple Effect

What amazes me is how this one-hour investment transforms my entire day. Projects that felt overwhelming the night before suddenly seem manageable. Solutions to creative problems appear out of nowhere. Most importantly, I approach my work from a place of fullness rather than emptiness.

The ritual has taught me that creativity isn’t just about inspiration striking—it’s about creating the conditions for inspiration to find you. It’s about showing up consistently, with presence and intention, even when you don’t feel like it.

Start Your Own Practice

If you’re feeling called to create your own mindful morning ritual, start small. Maybe it’s just five minutes of deep breathing or writing a single page in a journal. The key is consistency over perfection. Your soul doesn’t need a grand gesture; it needs gentle, regular tending.

Consider what activities make you feel most connected to your creative essence. Is it movement? Music? Meditation? There’s no right way to do this—only your way.

The Creative Dawn

In our productivity-obsessed culture, taking an hour each morning for soul-tending might seem indulgent. But I’ve learned that this isn’t selfish—it’s essential. When we fill our own creative wells first, we have so much more to offer the world.

The sunrise has become my creative partner, and the quiet morning hours my most trusted friend. In choosing to meet each day with intention rather than reaction, I’ve discovered that the most creative transformations happen not in the gestures, but in the consistent practice of beginning again, each morning, with presence and purpose.

Your creativity deserves this kind of devotion. Your soul deserves this daily reset.