When it comes to planning a project,
you shouldn’t overlook physical tools
and only opt for digital solutions.
Analog tools can encourage creativity
and foster focus.
In this video,
we’ll share our favorite stationery
for project planning,
from brainstorming to implementation.
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Let’s get started.
Why Use Stationery to Project Plan?
Unlike dedicated digital writing or art programs,
a pen on paper switches seamlessly
between writing, drawing, or scribbling.
The boundaries of a page
will also help you pinpoint
your most important goals,
so you won’t end up
with a never-ending document.
Finally,
analog tools can help eliminate distractions:
no pop-up notifications or tempting apps!
How Do You Project Plan?
Project planning covers all the stages
of turning an idea into reality.
Before you begin,
you’ll want to break down
the problem you’re solving.
This involves researching possibilities
and brainstorming solutions.
Once you’re done brainstorming,
you’ll choose a solution
and determine steps to get there.
We suggest creating a timeline
to help you see the whole scope
of your project at once.
Instead of setting
one looming deadline at the end,
set multiple mini-deadlines.
As you plan,
keep your intentions clear
and know why you’re doing what you’re doing.
Now that we’ve explained how to plan,
here are our stationery recommendations!
Tools for Brainstorming
Sticky Notes
The informality of a sticky note
lets ideas bubble up quickly.
With Kokuyo Tack Memo Sticky Notes,
you can write out every thought on each sheet,
put them up on a wall,
then remove unfavorable ideas.
Their strong adhesive helps them lay flat
even after being removed and repositioned,
something likely to happen during brainstorming.
Try pairing the sticky notes
with a Pilot Oil-Based Twin Marker!
Its bold ink is easy to read from a distance
and doesn’t skip.
If you’d rather squeeze in fine details,
just use the extra fine tip on the other end.
Ballpoint pens work as well,
since they won’t smudge or bleed.
Once you’re done brainstorming,
you can reuse the sticky notes
and make a kanban board,
a planning system that’s essentially
a super-visible to-do list.
Kanban boards consist of cards
placed in columns.
Cards represent tasks,
and columns are stages of workflow,
for example “To Do”,
“In Progress”,
or “Done”.
As you complete each task,
move cards from column to column.
Kanban boards immediately show you
what parts of a project are moving forward
and where tasks are piling up.
Whiteboard Markers
Unlike sticky notes,
whiteboards make it easy
to draw lines between concepts
and create flow charts or concept webs.
Our favorite whiteboard marker
is the Pilot Board Master:
the ink is dark and bold, yet easy to wipe away.
The tips and ink cartridges are replaceable,
so you never need to toss out a dry marker again!
If you prefer finer lines, try the
Staedtler Lumocolor Correctable Dry Erase Pen.
Its 0.6 mm lines are crisp and clear.
However,
marks made by this pen are a little more stubborn,
and may need water or rubbing alcohol to fully remove.
Large Notebook
A larger canvas like the
Maruman Mnemosyne Creative Style Notebook
gives you room to spread out
and doesn’t encourage perfectionism.
The Mnemosyne
is more spacious than most notebooks,
but still portable when necessary.
Its wire binding lays flat and stays open,
and it comes in graph and unruled page styles.
With a notebook of this size,
use markers like
Zebra Clickart Knock Sign Pens
to keep your thoughts flowing quickly.
Their wide color selection
can help you sort concepts
or just provide an extra jolt of inspiration.
If you prefer planning on dot grid paper,
try the Rhodia DotPad!
It features a cover that folds back
cleanly and easily,
and a stiff cardboard binding
to help you jot down ideas on the go.
Tools for Implementing a Project
Notebook
Stay on track during meetings with the
Rhodia Meeting Book!
As its name suggests,
it’s specially designed to be
an all-in-one record of meeting discussions,
decisions,
and action items.
Each page has dedicated sections
for notes organization and review:
you can jot down objectives on the left,
and add steps to accomplish them on the right.
Use highlighters to further organize
by emphasizing important text
or circling especially critical action items.
If you plan to highlight directly over ink,
be sure to use a Zebra Sarasa Mark On Gel Pen
to prevent smearing.
The Mark On is specially made
to stand up to highlighting once fully dried.
To-Do List
The Midori Stand Memo Pad comes in handy
as a visual reminder of your tasks.
Because it props up on your desk,
you can keep track of all your goals
while you work with just a simple glance.
It features five columns
that you can group by date,
topic,
or even project stage.
When you’re not using it,
you can fold down the stand
so it’s easy to carry to your next meeting!
Planner
The detailed hourly layout in a Jibun Techo
is great for visually blocking out time
to spend on your goals.
The planner also includes
several pages of dated templates
for Gantt charts,
which can be used to organize
complex workflows and dependencies.
A Gantt chart is a visual scheduling system
that breaks up a project into stages,
and assigns those stages blocks of time.
Constructing a physical Gantt chart
is a great way to see all the moving pieces
of a long-term project at once.
To create a chart,
label the rows with project stages,
then shade in blocks
to indicate the planned duration
of your project stages.
Try using narrow washi tape,
which can be removed
and repositioned as plans change,
and Pilot FriXion Gel Pens,
which are “erasable” thanks to their thermosensitive ink.
Which of these tools and tips did you find helpful?
You can find all these supplies and more at JetPens.com.
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Thanks for watching.