Boost Your Productivity in 2023 with Top-Notch Office Supplies
Gone are the days of relying solely on legal pads and Bic pens for office supplies.
Your choice of office supplies and decor reflects your personality and offers a chance to showcase your style.
Whether you work in a bustling corporate office, a cozy home workspace, or a café corner, the tools you use daily significantly impact your productivity and the ambiance of your workspace.
This carefully selected collection of office supplies balances practicality with visual appeal, boosting productivity and adding a touch of elegance to your workspace.
If you want to revamp your office supply collection, you will find something worth buying on this list!
The Best Notebooks and Journals
Notebooks are a great tool to always have on hand and are one of my favorite multi-purpose office supplies.
Using separate journals for different purposes is recommended rather than keeping all your notes in one notebook. This way, you can efficiently record and categorize your information based on the type of content you want to document by assigning it to the appropriate notebook.
Different styles of notebooks can be used for:
Journaling
Note-taking
Reminders
Habit tracking and bullet journaling
I recommend having at least three different types of notebooks:
Reflection Journal: Journaling is an excellent tool for refining your thinking, processing difficult emotions, and improving your communication skills. Your reflection journal is excellent for keeping your morning pages, reflections, and private emotions in one place.
Idea-Capture or Note-taking Notebook: This notebook is designed to assist you in recording new ideas, upcoming projects, or brainstorming sessions to tackle a particular issue. Additionally, it can be a tool for taking notes that you may need to refer to in the future.
Quick reminders notebook: This is used for quickly jotting down reminders and to-dos that pop up as you go through life. For example, you may need to write down important phone numbers, information from a phone call, or to-do list items that come to mind while you’re out and about.
You can add or replace notebooks in this list with:
Scrapbooks
Bullet Journal
Habit Tracker
Artistry Journal
Your notebook must be appropriate for your planned purpose. This includes having top-of-the-line paper, sturdiness, and adequate pages to sustain long-term use.
Best Notebook: TUL
The best notebook for students and professionals is the TUL Notebook System. Hands down!
Even though it’s not the most affordable option, it is the best option for those looking for a notebook that is sturdy, stylish, and includes high-quality paper.
The paper is one of the best parts of this Notebook System. If you like to use pens that put down a lot of ink, like gel pens or PaperMate Flairs, this paper is for you. Even though it is not advertised as having no bleed-through, this paper does not bleed, and ghosting is so minimal it’s nearly non-existent.
The disc-bound notebooks come in letter and junior sizes and are expandable, customizable, and made with high-quality materials like leather or polypropylene, so you can customize yours to fit your exact needs and style!
Starting at $38.99, this notebook has 60 narrow-ruled pages and 1” discs. However, you can expand this notebook by adding refills or upgrading your disc size up to 3”!
The TUL Notebook System allows you to customize the perfect notebooks with:
Daily/Weekly/Monthly Planner Refill Pages (Academic and Teacher Planners also available)
There is also a TUL Notebook System Hole Punch, so you can put any punchable piece of paper into your TUL Notebook.
This is one of my FAVORITE brands, and it’s sold exclusively at Office Depot, in-store, and online. Start your own TUL Notebook system today!
Best Journal: RETTACY
The RETTACY leather journal is essential for novice and seasoned journal writers. Moreover, it is available in a set of two!
Each journal is leather-bound with 204 numbered pages, for a total of 408 pages!
It also has a few pages for a Table of Contents and a space for the Date on each page.
Even though I recommend this as a personal reflection journal, it is also a great option for those needing a high-quality Scientific Notebook.
Best Affordable Notebook: Five Star
Five Star has been around forever and is a great option for those looking for a good quality yet affordable notebook.
Especially if you need to buy more than one.
They make notebooks in many different sizes, so you will surely find one that fits your needs perfectly.
And now they have markers on each page so you can scan and digitize your notes, whether it’s the whole page or just a few lines.
The paper quality is better than most at this price point, but if you use felt tip pens, like Paper Mate Flair, you will definitely get bleed-through.
No matter what the sticker on the front says.
But if you want to buy multiple notebooks and are not worried about bleed-through, Five Star notebooks are a great choice!
The Best Pens
A good pen can change your entire writing experience.
A great pen will make you look for any excuse to write something down.
If you want to take your productivity to the next level, you need the perfect pen to go with your perfect notebook.
The following is a list of my top recommended pens in order from best to most affordable:
TUL Gel Needle Point 0.5mm in Black or Blue is one of the best needle-point pens I have ever used. Both the blue and black ink are dark and rich, don’t skip, and offer a smooth writing experience. These are the priciest on the list, at $8.00 for a 4-pack, but they are so worth it!
TUL Gel Medium Point 0.7 mm in Black or Blue This TUL pen is my second favorite. It provides a rich and smooth writing experience like a needle-point pen. Whether you're taking notes, signing documents, or making a shopping list, it writes perfectly every time.
Paper Mate Flair 32pk - The Paper Mate Flair Felt-Tip pens are highly recommended if you want to switch things up from the standard black and blue ink. These pens are incredibly versatile, with a 32-pack that offers more colors than you'll ever need. Whether you're color-coding your notes or creating eye-catching sticky notes, they're an essential addition to your stationery collection.
Muji Retractable 0.5mm in Black - These pens used to be popular, but not anymore since they changed the body. They write well and are cheaper than TUL GEL Fine Needle Point pens. The black ink is bold and dries fast, preventing smudging. If you can, go for the older plastic body and grip version. Great for everyday use!
Pentel EnerGel Needle Point 0.5 mm in Black or Purple - These pens are a great affordable alternative to TUL Needle Point pens. They are priced at just $6.85 for a pack of 5 and provide a smooth and durable writing experience.
The right pen can make or break your entire writing experience.
Whether you’re journaling, signing documents, or brainstorming ideas, a good pen is worth having.
Final Thoughts
Your choice of office supplies can greatly impact your productivity and workspace ambiance.
From the versatile TUL Notebook System to the affordable yet quality options like Five Star, there's a perfect notebook for everyone.
Pair these notebooks with the recommended pens, like the TUL Gel Needle Point or Paper Mate Flair, to elevate your writing experience.
Whether you're a professional, student, or a dedicated journal writer, these carefully selected office supplies offer both practicality and style.
Don't hesitate to explore these options and find the perfect tools to enhance your workspace and boost your productivity in 2023.
Your next great idea or creative endeavor might just be waiting to be penned down in one of these exceptional notebooks!
