CSP 012 - Unleashing Potential: My Analogue Stationery Essentials

Plus a video to bring it to life.

Jun 12, 2025

Hey Creative Souls,

I hope you are safe and well.

This week I’m sharing my top essential stationery - and how I use them. Plus a video!

Essential stationery

In a world dominated by screens, I find immense value in the tangible nature of analogue tools for sparking creativity, capturing ideas, fuelling my curiosity, enhancing learning, and maximising my productivity.

There's something super cool about a blank page of a notebook, there’s so much potential. I’m a geek in this respect; the satisfying glide of the right pen, and the focused intention that comes with dedicating a physical space for a specific purpose.

Yes, I'll admit it – I'm a stationery freak! So much so that I even co-host a podcast celebrating the potential of stationery called Stationery Freaks.

For me, this isn't just about a fondness for pens and paper. It's a deliberate way of working that helps me achieve my goals, fully immerse myself in creative pursuits, and find a welcome relief from the constant pull of the digital world – something I know many of you in corporate roles can appreciate.

Today, I'm sharing my top 9 essential stationery items and how they contribute to my creative flow and focus.

There’s a video, text and a gallery at the end.

(Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking – this comes at no extra cost to you. See privacy policy here.)

Please also note that as I transition my YouTube channel over from my management business to CSP, some of the links in the video are still to Cultivated Management!

My top 9 stationery essentials

1 - Notebooks: The Foundation

Notebooks are the bedrock of my analogue system. They provide the physical space where ideas take shape and connect. They are central to my learning process, journaling reflections, and note-taking strategies. There’s just SO much potential within a notebook, potential for me to explore and unleash.

Well, that is until I ruin the first page with bad handwriting or awful drawings.

Yellow Legal Pads & the Cornell Method:

Yellow Legal Pads are my go-to workhorses. I use the Cornell Note Taking method to structure my thoughts and capture key takeaways.

I section off the page, about two-thirds, for main ideas and then for actions, insights, and conclusions I use the remaining third of the page.

I rely on Concept A4 Yellow Legal Pads, and my current stash is around 20!

These are invaluable for drafting everything from books and scripts to podcast and video outlines. As I discuss in my book Zero To Keynote, I also handwrite all my presentation drafts – a powerful technique for deeper learning and retention.

Little Red Notebook: Nurturing Dreams:

This special notebook, a gift from my son, is dedicated to my "Dreams to Reality" – a space to articulate aspirations and goals, with the intention of bringing them to life.

Journal (NIMIRO): Exploring Inner Landscapes:

My journal, a simple and spacious A5 notebook from Amazon (a non-dated NIMIRO journal), provides a judgment-free zone for thoughts and emotions.

The undated format means no wasted pages, and the quality paper makes writing a pleasure.

Collins Ledger: Capturing the Everyday:

This new and enjoyable habit involves using a Collins Ledger – traditionally for finances – to log notable events of my day.

While I do track income and expenses in it, this ledger serves primarily as a neutral record of interesting occurrences, distinct from the more introspective nature of my journal. It's like a "commonplace book" for daily life.

Ottergami Notebook: Visualizing Ideas:

My Ottergami notebook is my dedicated space for sketching and doodling, allowing for visual exploration of concepts.

These notebooks are fantastic for drawing, though be mindful of bleed-through with very saturated markers (as explained in the video).

2 - Pen Holders: Keeping Tools Within Reach

For notebooks without built-in loops, these stick-on pen holders from Amazon are incredibly convenient.

A simple peel-and-stick solution to ensure my writing tools are always at hand.

3 - Pencils: The Tactile First Draft

For the majority (around 97%) of my writing, I prefer the tactile feel of pencils. My go-to options are:

rOtring Tikky 0.7 Mechanical Pencil: A well-balanced and comfortable pencil that accepts various lead types and includes a handy eraser.

Staedtler Noris School Pencils: These classic yellow pencils are excellent for fast drafting and are readily available. Despite my sons' best efforts to "borrow" them, I always keep a few for myself.

4 - Fountain (Ink) Pens: For Intentional Writing

While my Stationery Freaks co-host has an extensive fountain pen collection, I rely on just two:

Waterman Fountain Pen: A cherished gift used for writing thank you notes for Zero To Keynote book purchases and for any special correspondence. This pen is refilled with bottled ink.

Parker Fountain Pen : A surprisingly smooth and reliable, fuss-free option using standard ink cartridges. Its comfortable weight and consistent ink flow make it a pleasure to use.

5 - RapEsco Pencil Sharpener: A Touch of Analogue Delight

Given my pencil usage, a good sharpener is essential.

My RapEsco "windy thing" sharpener might be a bit over-the-top and not very portable, but its tactile nature and effectiveness make it satisfying cool.

6 - Tape and Dispenser: The Unassuming Helper

The humble sellotape is an often-overlooked but crucial item for tasks ranging from wrapping gifts and books to securing fairy lights and even fixing a temperamental writing bureau door.

7 - Colouring Pens and Pencils: Adding Visual Dimension

I enjoy incorporating colour into my sketches and learning notes.

I use dual-tip ink-based pens (marker and fine liner), being mindful of potential bleed-through (as demonstrated in the video!).

However, my primary choice for colour are Art and Fly oil-based colouring pencils, which have a wonderfully smooth application and feel great to use.

8 - Canvas Bags: Organising the Analogue Tools

To keep my stationery organised and portable, these small canvas bags have been a game-changer.

Each bag has a hand drawn label indicating its contents, making it easy to find what I need. They are durable, practical, and a great value.

9 - Ruler: The Precise Companion

A seemingly simple but essential tool, especially a metal ruler for durability and precision when cutting (like when preparing Zero To Keynote books for shipping or sectioning my legal pads).

For me, this collection of stationery is more than just a hobby. It's a deliberate choice to engage with the world in a tangible, tactile way, fostering focus, creativity, and a welcome disconnection from the digital distractions. It's about harnessing the potential within these analogue tools to enhance my work and creative pursuits.

What are your essential analogue tools that help you in your creative endeavours and provide a break from the digital world?

Thanks for reading this article. If you enjoyed this edition of CSP, feel free to share it with others.

Until next time, where I’ll be sharing more the Soul Food newsletter with the Dear Manager poem series and behind the scenes artwork, t-shirts and other creative soul projects.

Cheers

Rob..

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