In today's episode we cover:

How to use your journal to reflect on goals, life and behaviours
Rob butchers Seneca's journal questions (accidentally)
We talk about Benjamin Franklin's two questions to book-end the day
And whether Helen really will continue this habit into 2022

The challenge -> Continue journaling - and maybe use the "what good did I do today" prompt

Benjamin Franklin's Daily Schedule For Success (addicted2success.com)

How to start journaling — Stationery Freaks

In today's episode we cover:

• How Helen uses one notebook and typically has 3 - 6 goals
• Why too many can be overwhelming
• Why Helen works to a 9 month goal setting period
• Why breaking the rules of goal setting can be good
• Why scratching off goals that don’t resonate anymore is good
• But also why sometimes persevering is the right thing to do
• How Rob sets goals by breaking the 10 year painted picture down to 5 years - and then yearly goal within
• Why Rob has around 15 - 20 goals each year, but some are big and some are small

The challenge -> Whatever your method for goal setting, try setting a single goal and writing it in your notebook. And don’t forget to keep trying the gratitude journal

We have a cast on goal setting --> How to set goals (using stationery of course) — Stationery Freaks

Welcome to Day 3 of our 12 days of Christmas advent calendar.

In today's episode we cover:

• The basics of goal setting
• How Helen uses values to test her yearly goals.
• Why Helen only sets yearly goals
• How Rob paints a bright picture of the future 10 years out, then sets 5 year goals and then yearly goals

We have a cast on goal setting --> How to set goals (using stationery of course) — Stationery Freaks

In today's episode we cover:

Journaling and how to get started

Why it is therapy. 

Seneca’s daily reflections, a brief science of journaling, tracking goals, working through problem and the difference between a journal and a diary

The challenge -> Write down three things you are grateful for

The Art of Journaling: How To Start Journaling, Benefits of Journaling, and More (dailystoic.com)

Morning Pages | Julia Cameron Live

How to start journaling — Stationery Freaks

Welcome to the first of 12 mini episodes. In today's episode we cover:

The first challenge -> Find yourself some stationery for the next week or so (notebook, pens etc). Write the date on a page and consider journaling. Or leave it blank :)
The basics of journaling and an introduction to our prize.

If you want to be in with a chance of winning one of Helen's very own Dan Ariely's "Perfect Notebook" then simply use the hashtag #stationeryfreaksadvent on Instagram. Feel free to connect with us over there also @stationeryfreaksuk

A new episode every day from 13th December 2021 - 24th December 2021

How to start journaling — Stationery Freaks

In this episode Helen introduces her little notebook of stoic phrases and ideas that she created for her daughter. 

Helen explains what the notebook looks like, how she made it, why she made it and what it contains. 

Rob and Helen explore a little more about stoicism and how translating some of the key ideas for kids is a good idea.

Rob and Helen ramble chat about a variety of ideas such as:

• Why saying No is important
• How to control how you respond
• Book recommendations for those interested in stoicism
• Why analogue notebooks can be passed down through generations
• And why we feel compelled to create notebooks full of wisdom for our kids. 

Episode 16 - The little book of stoicism (for kids) — Stationery Freaks

In this episode Rob and Helen talk their favourite stationery heroes. Each of us present three of our top heroes from this last year. 

Our heroes are those people and companies making useful, beautiful or unique stationery. From big manufacturers created amazing pens that work, to artisan craftspeople making one-off notebooks. We’ve got them covered. 

• Helen talks about Zen Art Supplies. Again :) - https://www.zenartsupplies.co
  
  
• Rob talks about Lescargot Papier - https://lescargot-papier.com
  
  
• Helen talks about Papermate Inkjoy pens - https://inkjoy.papermate.com
  
  
• Rob talks about Mark and Fold - https://markandfold.com
  
  
• Helen talks about ETSY. Yes - the whole of Etsy :) But more specifically:
  • Gretel Creates - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/GretelCreates
    
    
  • Unhappy Planner - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/UnhappyplannerStore
    
    
  • Bones and Blankets - https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BonesAndBlankets
    
    
• Rob talks about Escape to the Chateau - and their notebooks - https://thechateau.tv/shop/personalised-gifts/stationery/personalised-notebooks.html
  
  

We also nod to Sainsburys (yes, the supermarket), moleskine and field notes.

Join us as we ramble chat through our favourite heroes and why we like to champion small business, why switching off from screens is important and why our stationery buys have shifted towards little moments of joy.

In this episode Rob and Helen talk about derailment, overwhelm, overwork and how they try to get a grip on life when it all becomes a bit too much. 

Regular listeners will know it’s been over two months since the last podcast - and that’s because life (and our emotional reaction to it) has got in the way.

In this episode we share how we’re trying to get a grip on life, and cover, amongst other things:

• The difference between overwork and overwhelm
• To Do lists that look like world domination (too much to do)
• Bullet journaling, bucketing by themes and organising the chaos
• Moving to analogue to slow down, disconnect and deal with the constant video calls
• Rob talks about defaulting to learning new skills, crafts and hobbies
• Helen talks about capturing ideas, notes and tasks in the moment
• They ramble on about nature, gardening and finding time for YOU
• Rob talks about buying yet more new notebooks
• Helen talks about the joy of stationery gift boxes
• And both of them share ideas on how they are getting a grip on life

In this episode Rob and Helen talk about lists and why they are so powerful. 

They share what lists they use and how they create and store them.

Lists such as:

• Moving House and House Extension lists
• To Do lis
• Editorial Calendar lists
• Travel lists
• Work induction checklists
• Stoic wisdom lists
• And more

They ramble chat about recurring lists in ToDoist, bullet journal, old Filofax systems and how lists can save lives.

Brands and tools mentioned in this post

ToDoist
Paperchase
Moleskine
Filofax
Oxford - Red and Black Notebooks
Trello
Really Moving house move checklist
CJ Hole House extension checklist
Rob’s induction and onboarding checklist in Trello

In this episode Rob and Helen talk about why they started this podcast; because of the potential that stationery offers us. 

Whether that is a new brand, a book, an idea or simply the potential to organise the chaos that can be our lives - stationery offers potential. 

That new notebook - what magic may it release?

That new organisation system - what order can it bring?

Rob and Helen talk about:

• The potential of new notebooks
• Why squandering those first few pages can ruin a new notebook
• Fountain pens and why you shouldn’t let your kids use them
• The dangers of ink bottles and clumsy people
• Why we shouldn’t merely copy other people’s habits and routines and expect to achieve great results
• Why some notebooks just call for Fountian Pens

We mention or talk about:

• Stationery Island
• Mark and Fold
• Paperchase
• Moleskine notebooks