Practical Stationaries To Make Life A Bit More Simple
Since I was an elementary school student, I already had this interest in stationaries. I have collected quite some stationaries since then. But tbh I don’t collect specific unique or cute stationery that much, it was more like collecting some for enough supply. When I was in school my classmates and friends liked to call me “walking stationary'' or "walking gramedia (a big chain of bookstore in Indonesia)” because I almost had everything ready and brought a big stationery pouch, hahaha..
But after my stationary journey all this year (as if I’ve been a professional stationary reviewer hahaha) I bring less stationary and keep all my colored pens at home. Because sinceI work at the office I feel that bringing a big pouch of stationary is no longer convenient since I don’t handwrite as much as I did before. Generally we type on the computer more at the office, right? Those times when we made colorful and aesthetique notes at school and college were almost forgotten, hahaha.. I was kind of influenced by less waste movement too and try to reduce my stationary waste, but FYI this is not easy to do, I’m still learning tho (hehehe, please don’t judge me).
That doesn’t mean I discover less about new or unique stationary. In this post I want to share with you some of my stationary tips for a more practical (in Indonesia we’d like to say nggak ribet or biar ringkes hahaha) but still functional stationary collection for daily use or special circumstances. Hopefully this information will be useful and you can find something similar wherever you are. So let’s go!
1. Multicolors Pen
When I was full on energy about trying to join the less waste movement, I kept thinking about how can I reduce stuffs by using multifunction or multicolor products. As a person who needs to have various color for writing, I definitely have many pens, which of course each of them wrap in a plastic outer case. And then I find that this kind of multicolor pen will become a good shift from single pens which resulting in many plastic cases waste to multifunction or multicolors pens like these which at least reduce four or even eight singular plastic pen cases into one pen case (or maybe one big pen case that's similar to two pen cases for that eight colors pen). In addition other than an effort to minimize the plastic waste from the pen cases, it's convenient to bring just one pen that already has various colors in it. It takes less space in our pencil case or bag compare to bringing more than one pen with single color.
2. Multicolors Highlighter
The same reason with the multicolors pen, it saves space and less plastic cases. Maybe not everyone needs to have a highlighter ready in their bag or pencil case, but it does means a lot for everyone who do need the helps from highlighters to emphasize the importance of something or to memorize stuff better (which is me, I need those neon bright colors to "force" my brain, hahaha). Here I have two kind of multicolors highlighters, the one case with multiple colors and the one with separate cases based on the color. I like that the joint case always have the yellow one in it, because I need that bright yellow, that's my main highlighter color. Green is my limit for highlighter color, I can't process it well with darker color like blue and purple or a deeper shade for certain color like red and brown, it doesn't accentuate the word or sencente well (for me). For the separable cases one, it's really convenient because it's smaller in size and we can make it shorter if we only want to bring two color for example. The minus is that it's has less ink because it's so small.
3. Tiny Pen
I don't think I should explain why this item is convenient to bring, hahaha.. This can be really handy when we are going to for example wedding party, because usually we don't bring big purse or bag and we're not going to do a lot of writing. But in Indonesia we sometimes need to write something for the wedding gift envelope or the guest list so this pen has in it's time to shine, hahaha.. But for me, I sometimes bring this to the church, so I can take note on what's important from the sunday service whether the preach or interesting song title. This tiny pen can at least "hide" the fact that I'm writing something because I just feel uncomfortable to be visible when taking notes in church. I personally don't want people to expect that I'm that religious just because I write the preach. As an overthink person, it's also hard for me to concentrate during the preach session, so I try to fixed my attention by drawing everything I saw inside the church while listening to the priest and I don't want people to see
me doing that with visible normal pen, hahaha..
4. Eraser "Pen" and Tiny Eraser
Erasers are often in the shape of a rubber block which are pretty thick and consume a lot of space in a pouch. But worry not there are some more convenient eraser like these eraser pen and smaller eraser block. For just daily purpose this will be enough, I guess, hahaha.. Unless you're an active artist or art enthusiasts, who regularly draw, or maybe an architect or any profession who frequently use pencil, I don't think large eraser are needed.
5. Multicolor and Multistyle Marker
Here comes another multi-something stationary, hahaha.. There are multicolors and multishape markers here. I don't know if many people really need to regularly have red pen or marker, but I'm the one who feel the need to have this specific bright color to mark something, hence I choose this kind of marker. Even if for me, red pen is more of the main thing, not necessarily has to be marker. However having a dual marker like this is pretty convenient as well. The other one is in the same color but with different kind of marker tips which are the marker tip and a fine tip. With this kind of marker-pen, it's convenient because the fine tip can be used for regular writing (if that makes sense, hahaha.. but you guys know what I mean) an then in times you need to write something bigger for example to mark something, the marker kind of tip is also already in hand.
6. Portable Scissor, Mini Cutter and "Pen" Cutter
I always find it bothersome when I want to cut paper, packaging, messy thread, tape and even stick out skin from my nail (you guys know that annoying thing on the side of the nail, right?) but I bring no cutting equipment. Therefore I always have to bring it. I also regularly bring a portable sewing kit and that's also the reason why cutting equipment is needed. On the side note it's also potential as a self defense preparation. Sounds too much, but hell yeah, that's somehow necessary. I was excited when I found these portable fold scissors and pen cutter. They're in a practical size of pen or marker which fits easily in a pencil case! Actually I used to have another folded scissor but it comes with another design and somehow still pretty wide in size, and also easier to get rusty (I think some of you guys will know which one I meant). These pen size one feels better and more convenient.
7. Tape with Portable Cutting Dispenser
This is a love at first sight kind of moment. I've been looking for a portable tape cutter dispenser but it costs a lot because it's only available in certain imported Japanese stationary brands here. And then I found this one! The tape dispenser is not sold separately. I think the main product in the packaging is actually the tape, because there are two tapes with one dispenser inside the packaging. Portable tape dispenser is no stranger in the tape section, but they often exists only for the bigger tapes, rarely for the regular size like this. I was so excited when I found it from Deli. It's really convenient when the tape could be cut directly without the need to use scissor or cutter (even if I always bring one, hahaha), right? The dispenser is made from a flexible material so it's still possible for another tape brand with the similar size. Tbh, the tape is not that perfect, because if I don't pull it right, it leaves the typical white stripes mark in the tape. But I get used to it at some point and somehow it's still tolerable, better to have one than none.
8. Mini Stapler
There are moment for the need to use tape and there are moment when it's the time for the stapler to shine, hahaha.. I just need to have both, pardon my stationary greediness ladies and gentlemen, hahaha.. But just look at this mini stapler, it's useful and cute and actually has chain that makes it able to become a keychain as well, what a mutitasking thing, hahaha.. There are a lot of smaller staplers, but this size is perfect for light convenient daily use.
9. Mini Punchole
I still have another mini stationary, don't worry, hahaha.. To find this mini paper punchole is out of my expectation. Who knows?! But it does exists. So why not?! Stationary enthusiasts, I'm calling you, this is a "why not moment" right? Hahaha... Okay, to be fair.. due to it's size, this one only able to optimaly punch about 5 papers at most (weighed ca. 70-80gr/paper) so yeah that's not a large ammount of papers. But hey, it makes sense with the size and again.. better to have one than none because a normal size of paper punchole is damn thick and pretty heavy while a single hole punchole is not that convenient for preparing to store paper in ordner.
10. Small and Multishape Pencil Sharpener
With the more common use of mechanical pencil, the use of pencil sharpener is not as "trending" as back then when people was still in elementary school (calling fellow 90s kids and older generations, hahaha..) However, for people who like to draw or color, wood pencils are still on the list. I myself prefer wood pencil to draw even if I prefer to use the mechanical one to write. To color drawings I also use coloring pencils. So yeah, pencil sharpener is still on my list. Why don't I use the smaller one? There are definitely smaller option than these, right? Yes I'm aware with that, but I do need sharpener which has a container. So these types are the right size I could find, especialy for the double size one.
11. Stylus Pen with Real Pen
Nowadays phones, gadgets are mostly in touchscreen mode, so drawing on the gadget can be challenging without a helping equipment. Stylus pen is the solution for this problem. But it can cause another problem with the price, right? Hahaha.. This one from Faber Castell is not only more wallet friendly (less than Rp. 50.000/ US$4) but also multifunction because it has real pen in it. Another convenient stationary to be considered.
12. Small Sticky Notes
Some people need to have sticky notes ready for them whether it's for working or study purpose. But regular sticky notes can be pretty wide, so small size sticky notes like this will be convenient to bring.
13. Small "Iron" Ruler
Ruler is important, at least for me, hahaha.. There are moment when I have to set a certain measurement, underline texts tidily or cut something precisely, therefore a ruler will be very needed. For me "iron" (Idk if it's really iron, because mine never rust no matter how careless I use it) ruler is the best because it's more longlasting since the edges is not easily chipped. This size is good because it fits well in most pencil cases.
14. Eraser Pensil
When I was so unhealthily obsessing on trying to become less waste, go green and environment friendly, I found this eraser pencil as an option. Don't get me wrong, what's wrong is the way I was trying to hard without learning properly not the intention or the product. I still find this product is convenient and somehow can be more less waste even if I'm not sure if this is 100% eco-friendly. The size of this eraser pencil is definitely great compare to the eraser pen or regular size eraser, but the downside is that it has to be accompanied by a sharpener which some people can find inconvenient. From the less waste point of view, it really depends on what kind of eraser we used to have, so it's still relative.
16. Dual Color Pencil
For art enthusiasts who like to draw or color or both, this is an option for a travel friendly coloring supply, specificaly in terms of color pencil. I never really thought about it until I like to also bring coloring books while I'm out as a part of entertainment or coping mechanism. This dual color pencils are undoubtly very convenient to bring, especially to travel lighter. There will be no need for a big pencil case/pouch to bring the coloring suppliy (here: color pencils) because it will be only the half of what it normally is.
17. Multicolors Coloring Supply
Here are another option for multicolor coloring supply to lightly bring and save spaces. But I have to put a disclaimer, the coloring supplies here are tbh not the best in terms of quality but for a simple drawing or coloring it still works. These are color pencil (the one with multiple round shapes, various color) and crayons (the one with sliding, purple).
Here are some of the example on how to arrange those stationary items in a small pencil case so you can have some previews on how much we can bring in a smaller pencil case:
I have these small pencil cases, but for example I'm going to use the blue one because it's smaller. However I still show both pensil cases here just as references of which pencil case size I consider as pretty convenient.
But.. I do have to apologize in advance, because... I just realized that I forgot to include one important stationary item, which is white sticker label or correction pen that are common to use in covering pen any writing error. For white sticker label it is foldable so I guess it won't be a problem. On the other side with the correction pen, I guess another stationary must be substituted, for example if there are two pens then the other pen could be substituted with the correction pen.
Also I didn't include stationary items which I feel like a more secondary needs for people in general, like the paper punchhole and the small sticky notes. I myself have another small pouches which keep power banks or stuffs like portable sewing kit and USB stick, so sometimes I just fit them there when I need them. These things I "displayed" in the list below are those things I consider as basic needs in the issue of stationary, hahaha..
Example 1:
- Flexible cases material is also an important factor here, so we can manage to arrange these stationaries to fit well in a smaller space by strecthing the fabric.
- Arrange the items not in the same directions (more or less just like how I displayed them on the photo). Pen's cap tends to bulk and have a "pointing out" part, so it takes up space if the items are not arranged upside down towards each other.
- Always put the longest or thickest item first because they take the most space, the rest can follow the available space later.
Additional Info:
These are some stationary stuffs that might be useful when we want to learn something but don't want to bring too much or read heavier printed references while commuting in public transportation or being in public places. First I want to write a disclaimer, I know there are things such as kindle or gadgets which can brings softcopy stuff to make things lighter and convenient, but here I wan't to focus on people who are like me, who still need to make non digital notes or bring physical references because that's just our method in learning. I hope this can be another alternative to complement the other options.
1. Card Album
To put some of my vocabulary cards, I use this card holder which people usually use to keep name cards or certain colleection cards. Turns out this can be convenient for vocabulary cards too. With this card album, I can bring it organizedly and I can read it easily inside public transportation just flipping the pages like reading a book.
2. Ring Note
The other alternative is this ring note. I guess this method is already better known, Certain store like Muji and many cute stationaries online store have been selling this kind of notes. The rings are also sold separately so we can DIY this note (I bought it separately, the paper I used are linen and concord papers). It's not bigger than our palm, and we can can hang the ring in our finger so it's pretty handy.
That's one of my stationary journey, hahaha.. I hope this stationary story would be useful! :D
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