Specifically, the ones by Ticonderoga. Because there’s nothing quite as good as a freshly sharpened, yellow-coated pencil with a full eraser, a blank page, and a head full of ideas.

I like the elementary inspiration of it- it takes me back to a place where I wasn’t bound by self-inflicted rules, by silly self-created boundaries that do nothing but hold me back. And I like that if I make a mistake, I can erase it and start over, without leaving a big black smudge all over the page. (Unless you mistakenly bought the Rose Art pencils, which DID leave smudges because the erasers were awful. Amiright?)

I know that mechanical pencils are more practical, and that you don’t have to waste time sharpening, sharpening, sharpening.

Writing it cathartic to me; whether it’s writing a list, filling in my planner, or just brain dumping onto a piece of paper, writing helps me de-stress and de-compress when it feels like my mind is crammed too full. Something about it helps me center my thoughts and clarify, so that I’m more prepared to take on my next task!

(The camera pencil sharpener above is from Paper Source, but you can grab one here!)