Stationery Freaks

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

In this episode Rob and Helen grab their notebooks and talk about what's inside. Helen talks about writing in Orange pen, being obsessed with post-it notes and how she splits her notebook 50/50 between work and life. Rob talks about a notebook that won't fold flat, how teachers are using sticky notes and why social media may not be good for his mental health. 

Helen talks about her:

• Process improvement notes
• Interview spiel and questions
• Team Lisowski notes 
• and more

Rob talks about his:

• Travel packing lists
• Keynote talks
• Editorial calendar drafts

We do hope you enjoy this episode - why not let us know what's in your notebooks.

Brands mentioned:

• Paperchase UK
• Filofax

Visit the blog - https://www.stationeryfreaks.com/episodes/whats-inside-our-notebooks

In Episode 10 Rob and Helen talk about how to build a personal knowledge management system using both digital and analogue methods. 

Helen introduces her drawer full of randomness whilst Rob talks about how this drawer is actually some sort of system. 

Rob then introduces how we use analogue and digital methods to create his PKMS as well as explaining how we offered the "Free Style Rap” over some loud drumming. 

He then explains the two styles of learning using learning to play the drums as an example, hence the rapping.

Rob introduces the two styles of learning

1. Information Acquisition
2. Task Acquisition

Before going on to introduce the 4 steps to his PKMS

1. Capture
2. Curate
3. Crunch
4. Contribute

Rob explains how notes can be digital and analogue, how he uses Evernote as his digital storage system but a fab Ted Baker notebook as his real learning journal.

But none of this is important unless you put that information into action and learn from it.

Rob and Helen then close out by talking about Bullet Journaling, Washi Tape and UPPERCASE magazine. 

Lots of deep learning and useful ideas in this episode - let us know if they resonate. 

Products Mentioned :

• Ted Baker notebooks
• Evernote
• UPPERCASE MAGAZINE

Please note we use affiliate links to products mentioned on this page. It helps us to feed our addiction to stationery - you pay nothing more, but we earn a slight commission if you purchase during an active session created by the link. Check out our privacy policy for more.

Note taking may seem quite simple but in reality few people take effective notes, whether during meetings, or in everyday life. 

Rob and Helen share reasons why note taking is so hard, how to make better notes and which stationery Rob and Helen use. 

They cover, amongst other things:

1. Why note taking is important
2. Why some people may avoid making notes such as not being able to find them or transcribing rather than listening because it’s deemed faster.
3. Why note taking by analogue methods works for Rob and Helen
4. Why note taking by hand helps to remember in the now
5. How Helen and Rob take notes in different contexts
6. The legend / key that Helen and Rob use
7. The stationery used (Bullet Journaling, Notepads, Learning note books)
8. How slowing down helps to understand, rather than simply transcribing what has been said
9. Why laptops in meetings and at conferences is annoying

Products Mentioned :

• Field Notes
• Paperchase
• Black and Red notebook
• Elements of Style book - Strunk and White
• Papermate ink joys
• Pentel Energel 0.7
• Montblanc Ink Pen 
• Schaeffer Fountain Pen
• 30x40 design workshop - great architecture YouTube channel. His instagram account is great too. 
• Sharpie Ultra Fine
• Papermate Flair
• UPPERCASE MAGAZINE

Please note we use affiliate links to products mentioned on this page. It helps us to feed our addiction to stationery - you pay nothing more, but we earn a slight commission if you purchase during an active session created by the link. Check out our privacy policy for more.

Visit us at stationeryfreaks.com

In this episode Rob and Helen share how they set goals, why they set them, how they track goals and how to build routines to deliver goals.

Rob talks about how we uses a Painted Picture to derive goals, and then uses goals to build routines and habits. 
Helen talks about how she sets goals using her values and then builds routines to deliver on them.

They discuss:

• How to use stationery during goal setting
• How to set goals
• How to find the right goals
• How to track goals
• How many goals make sense
• How to build routines and habits
• And how Helen goal of writing a book will eventually, at last, hopefully, maybe be a reality
• Rob also talks about his fridge of accountability and his trusty pencil of choice - the classic Staedtler School pencil

They mention or reference:

• James Clear - Atomic Habits
• David Goggins - You can’t hurt me
• Staedtler Pencils
• Google Calendar
• Todoist

Please note we use affiliate links to products mentioned on this page. It helps us to feed our addiction to stationery - you pay nothing more, but we earn a slight commission if you purchase during an active session created by the link. Check out our privacy policy for more. 

In this episode Helen quizzes Rob on how he developed the habit of journaling, why it's important to him and how we goes about doing it. 

They cover:

How to get started
What to write about
Morning Pages, Prompts and Stoic Thinking
When to journal
The benefits of journaling
Then they ramble on for a little....

Products, supplies and inspiration we mention

1. Moleskine A6 notebook
2. TKMax notebooks
3. Papermate Flair
4. Morning Pages
5. The Daily Stoic book - it's on a bargain basement price on Kindle. 
6. Pentel Energel pens
7. Chase Jarvis - super inspiring

In this episode we discuss what annual stationery we buy each year and why.  

We cover:

• Basic stationery stuff like journals, yellow legal pads and the humble paperclip.
• Training your brain for brainstorming
• Fountain pens and how they slow your brain down to think clearer
• Mechanical pencils and how Rob's forbidden from using them
• The legacy of old journals or maybe it's just fire fodder for Rob's kids
• And more

We mention or talk about :

• The 1980's called and they want Helen back - she's into these Filofax clipbooks
• Paipur notebooks- and how Helen LOVES these, but alas, they don't seem to be trading anymore.
• Zen Art Supplies - Our new favourite place for stationery.
• Rob's journal of choice is a Moleskine A6
• Rob loves Field Notes, but they are damn expensive here in the UK.
• Moleskine cahiers are Rob's preferred choice of little jotters for ideas, notes and tasks.
• Retractable pencils - be careful as pressing on hard like Rob does could take someone's eye out. These are the less dangerous of them all.
• Paperchase Products Ltd - the shop we often can't walk past.
• We mention how Jerry Seinfeld uses Yellow Legal pads to write jokes.
• Robs Yellow Legal Pads of choice.
• Cheap and cheerful fountain pens and how they slow you down.
• James Clear's article Rob references.
• Uniball Jet Stream Pens.
• Papermate Inkjoy pens that Helen loves.
• Papermate Flair Pens that Helen doodles with.
• Tombow Brush pens that Helen uses.
• Rob typically buys an annual wall planner.

Enjoy

Rob and Helen

In this episode we share our own systems for tracking workouts, fitness and nutrition - using stationery and digital tools.

We cover Helen's fitness goals and how she uses a "nice little notebook" to track her progress.
We cover Rob's fitness goals and how he uses a simple Paper Chase notebook - but spices it up for Instagram by adding silly comments. And how he's trying not to become a robust version of Ryder from Paw Patrol.

We cover Personal Trainers, plant based diets, Jerry Seinfeld's "don't break the chain", Kettlebells, Concept2 Ski Ergs, making good food choices, habit tracking, scheduling fitness and how tracking progress is a useful technique.

We mention:

* Wyldsson Protein Shakes - https://wyldsson.com/product/nutritional-vegan-protein-powder/
* Paperchase notebooks - The one's Rob uses are here - https://www.paperchase.com/en_gb/a6-kraft-cream-plain-notebook.html
* Strong App - https://www.strong.app/
* Mike Matthews and Legion Athletic (https://www.instagram.com/muscleforlifefitness) and https://legionathletics.com/michael-matthews/
* Concept 2 SkiErg - https://www.concept2.co.uk/skierg/concept2-skierg

Hope you enjoy the show. 

Rob and Helen

In this episode Helen and I talk about Bullet Journaling and Time Blocking.

I'm not a fan of Bullet Journaling, but Helen is.

I explain why I'm not a fan, and Helen explains why it works so well for her.

We chat about Calendar / Time Blocking, my chosen productivity management, and why that works for me.

Note: There is a tiny bit of bad language in this episode.

We cover:

* Why Rob couldn't get Bullet Journaling to work
* How Helen uses Bullet Journaling
* Why all productivity systems are simply Containers with Rules
* Why Rob uses Time / Calendar Blocking and how it works - mostly because it forces prioritisation
* And why all approaches actually solve the same problem
* We talk about pondering, reflecting and how Bullet Journaling helps with this
* Why Rob separates out "productivity" and "reflection" into two separate systems
* Zoom fatigue - and saying no by filling in your calendar with your work
* How Rob journals - and what steers that journaling
* SAD lamps and journaling
* How to measure productivity using behaviours - rather than just tasks done

We mention:

* Zen Art Supplies - Our new favourite place for stationery - https://www.zenartsupplies.co/
* Todoist - https://todoist.com/
* Leuchtturm notebooks and how Helen found the pages to bleed - https://www.leuchtturm1917.us/notebooks/
* Paipur notebooks- and how Helen LOVES these, but alas, they don't seem to be trading anymore - https://www.paipur.com/welcome
* Google Calendar

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Enjoy.
Rob & Helen