{"id":30404,"date":"2026-03-31T03:00:26","date_gmt":"2026-03-31T10:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=30404"},"modified":"2026-03-31T05:26:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T12:26:53","slug":"habit-of-mind-metacognition-by-bailey-lang","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2026\/03\/31\/habit-of-mind-metacognition-by-bailey-lang\/","title":{"rendered":"Habit of Mind: Metacognition by Bailey Lang"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"HabitLet’s welcome back Bailey Lang<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cHabit of Mind: Metacognition.\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

As we wrap up this article series<\/a>\u00a0on the eight habits of mind writers can use to strengthen their creative practices, we\u2019re going to focus on one of my favorite habits.<\/p>\n

This habit acts like a golden thread<\/strong> that ties all the others together.<\/p>\n

You can practice it on its own and pair it with the other mindset shifts we\u2019ve explored to turbocharge their effectiveness.<\/p>\n

The final habit on our list is metacognition.<\/p>\n

What is Metacognition?<\/h2>\n

Many of the mental habits we\u2019ve talked about are pretty obvious-sounding: creativity.<\/p>\n

Curiosity.<\/p>\n

Persistence.<\/p>\n

All important tools to have in your writer\u2019s toolbox<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

Fewer people are familiar with the idea of metacognition.<\/p>\n

It refers to the ability to think about your own thinking.<\/p>\n

That might not clear things up all that much, but you might be surprised by how often you\u2019re already practicing this skill!<\/p>\n

Do you practice mindfulness meditation?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do you write Morning Pages?<\/p>\n

Do you keep a journal?<\/p>\n

Those are all forms of metacognition, because they allow you to reflect on what you think, how you think, and why you think that way.<\/p>\n

The Framework for Success<\/a> on which this article series is based further defines metacognition as a practice of reflecting on \u201cthe individual and cultural processes used to structure knowledge.\u201d<\/p>\n

This type of metacognition might look<\/strong> like gathering several books in your genre and analyzing them, or assessing your own writing practices — what works?<\/p>\n

What doesn\u2019t?<\/p>\n

Metacognition enables us, as writers, to be intentional about our thoughts and actions.<\/p>\n

It helps us recognize patterns, adjust our mindset, and improve our writing more quickly.<\/p>\n

How Do Writers Practice Metacognition?<\/h2>\n

Working on metacognition is essential for writers.<\/p>\n

As mentioned above, metacognition is something<\/strong> you can practice on its own or in conjunction with another one of the habits we\u2019ve already talked about.<\/p>\n

Keeping a daily journal or writing Morning Pages is a great way to start working on metacognition by itself.<\/p>\n

Focus on writing about your thoughts.<\/p>\n

What do you notice about how you think?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

What patterns show up after you\u2019ve been tracking and reflecting on your thinking for a few days?<\/p>\n

The more familiar you get with your thoughts, the quicker you will catch mindset gremlins like impostor syndrome, procrastination, and distraction.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll start to recognize the thought patterns that derail your writing before the train is completely off the tracks, and take back the power to direct your thoughts where you\u2019d like them to go (ideally, to your writing!).<\/p>\n

Pairing metacognition with another habit<\/strong> of mind is a way to turbocharge both of them.<\/p>\n

In the previous article in this series, we explored flexibility as a habit of mind.<\/p>\n

Flexibility is about responding to changing circumstances, seeking alternate paths to your goals, and adjusting your perspective when you need to.<\/p>\n

How do you know if you\u2019re doing those things?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Metacognition!<\/p>\n

The next time a situation arises that requires some flexibility, you can also practice metacognition.<\/p>\n

Notice what you\u2019re thinking during that situation — are you feeling frustrated and reactive, or open and adaptable?<\/p>\n

What thought patterns are keeping you stuck<\/strong>, and which mindset shifts help you move toward flexibility?<\/p>\n

Metacognition combined with other habits of mind can help you build new mental skills and recognize the progress you\u2019re making.<\/p>\n

Metacognitive Activities for Writers<\/h2>\n

Cultivating your ability to think about your own thinking and to assess your writing practices can help you level up your skills and confidence.<\/p>\n

The goal of metacognitive work isn\u2019t<\/strong> to navel-gaze, but to get intentional about your thoughts.<\/p>\n

A limited or self-defeating mindset won\u2019t change unless you recognize what\u2019s going on and take steps toward shifting it.<\/p>\n

Metacognition is your power tool for making that change.<\/p>\n

As you gain insights into your habitual ways of thinking, you can make conscious decisions about what you want to adjust and how you want to pair metacognition with the other habits of mind.<\/p>\n

You can start simply.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reflection questions are a great way to prompt metacognition, especially as part of a journaling practice.<\/p>\n