Stationery Freaks

In today's episode we cover: * Why Helen is learning how to make Japanese food - and how this is a personal learning goal * Why Rob did a two year HR learning goal for his career - and how painful this was * How Rob uses Meso-cycles of learning and implementing * The difference between Task Acquisition and Information Acquisition * How Rob uses Domestika for personal learning * The "Two Whys" of l...

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 Sch...

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...

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) — Stationer...

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) Mornin...

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 Noteb...

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 s...

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 :) -...

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 thi...

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 list...

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: T...

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 improv...

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...

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: Why note taking is important Why some people may avoid making notes such as not being able to find them or transcri...

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...

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 Moleskine A6 notebook TKMax notebooks Paper...

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...

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 ver...

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 Bu...

In this episode we discuss what's kept us busy during lockdown.  We cover: Bullet Journaling Journaling Zine making The compulsion to re-organise unused notebooks Buying stationery from supermarkets Studying and more.  We mention or talk about : Todoist for getting things done Monthly date stickers on Etsie PAIPUR   notebooks - Helen's a BIG fan of these.  Chameleon whiteboards - looks good for al...

In this episode we walk through what it takes to create a conference talk and how stationery can be used during this process. We cover: Outlining the talk using a combination of digital and analogue tools such as Workflowy and Mindmeister Mapping out the talk using index cards or sticky notes.  Visualising the talk in arcs and flows Rehearsing and preparing using Powerpoint speaker notes, or, as R...

In this episode we walk you through how to run an appreciative inquiry meetings. So what is an appreciative inquiry? - a meeting focused on just the good, the awesome - not for negative problems - shouldn’t avoid these, but this meeting not place - it’s about understanding what is working - shine a light on it and keep doing it - it’s also about designing a brighter future - as a meeting run with...