#NationalStationeryWeek- A Stationery Lustlist + How The Right Stationery Can Boost Your Creativity

Notebook available here

It's the final day of National Stationery Week, and I am both thrilled that it is nationally recognised and embarrassed that I have only just heard about it. Stationery was my first love, before art, even, so I have fond memories of saving up my pocket money to visit WHSmith for a notebook or five. Though university has forced me to streamline my vast collection, I stand by my belief that your stationery should be an extension of your personality; supplies which inspire you again and again. In celebration of this event, I've produced a list of my ultimate stationery picks- some I already own, other I've been lusting over. So whether you're looking to treat yourself, gift a friend, or need persuasion to indulge, prepare yourself to click add to basket...several times!

For the girly girls:

The girls after my own heart. A range of beautiful pieces that will also decorate your desk...if you can bear to put them down. All of the lists below range from affordable (left) to luxe (right.)

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For the minimalists:

We get it, less is more. No need to compromise on design though!

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For the planner addicts:

These make great gifts...we tell ourselves, adding sixteen near identical planners to our online baskets with no intention of giving them away. It's always good to have a backup, right?

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If you've reached this far without entering your overdraft, congratulations! If I were you, I'd go back and buy something to reward my willpower.

As for stationery boosting your creativity- there's a reason why so much effort is put into designing pieces nowadays. Perhaps it results from stationers being terrified of losing assets to something with a screen; a hardback notebook may be less portable than a phone, but the achievement of filling a journal will never be matched by digital memos. I can personally vouch for this, today I finished a notebook for the first time in as long as I can remember (for a purpose other than school.) I've been doing a daily writing exercise for nearly two months, essentially a brain dump, a stream of consciousness to clear my head. Writing four A5 sides a day was sometimes challenging to schedule, but I used the most beautiful notebook I owned; this journal by Ted Baker. It was a pleasure just to look at, let alone use everyday, hence I finished it with minimal fuss. It's such simple logic and I encourage everyone to let it work for you. Tempting as it is if you're a stationery *hoarder* collector, like me, to save pretty books for "something special," don't delay. Pour yourself a cup of good coffee and take the plunge.