I stumbled upon a TikTok the other week that really struck me. It found me at the perfect time: on day 5 of an unexpected blip in the routine, a long weekend sandwiched in between inclement weather days. It’s two minutes, and worth watching.
When I saw it, I immediately knew I was going to stitch it myself, the second I washed my hair1. I also knew I needed my thoughts on it to live in my newsletter archive. So that’s the main reason why we’re gathered here today, dear readers.
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The rock climber parable this creator shared highlights how two friends approach a new hobby/interest (in this case, rock climbing, but I immediately saw how it could be applied to the journaling/planning community).
Friend #1 starts incorporating the new activity into their routine, using personal preference and experience to guide their choices, that they pick up while actually engaging in the activity. They don’t need to have all the best tools to get started. They want to see if the activity fits into their lifestyle first, before buying any higher-end, top-of-the-line items, or other fancy doo-dads.
Friend #2 spends time and energy on the front end, figuring out the best tools for the activity. May consult Reddit or other blogs. Wants to make sure they’re not only prepared, but utilizing high-quality materials. Takes experimentation out of the equation, so is arguably efficient in that sense. Will not start activity in earnest until all proper materials have been acquired.
While neither is superior to the other, a #1 approach seems to be what I lean towards most, personally.
There is value in jumping in. There is value in playing and practicing. The perfect pen doesn’t exist. The perfect journal doesn’t exist. Finding your favorites is something you may need to dedicate a little time and effort into. My favorites + what I use are always linked on my Amazon Storefront, but beyond that, you really just have to start picking combos to see what you prefer.
Personal preference really does go a long way here, I can promise you that. Gel pens, ballpoint pens, and felt pens all have a different feel. I used to love felt pens - I never thought I’d change! - and I haven’t picked one up in years. I have a Youtube video testing out my favorite pens on different paper weights, which may be helpful for you on your quest (and it’s on my list to make an updated one)!
I honestly think buying the $60 planner and spending just as much on pens & markers in the hopes that you will pick this hobby up, after years of only putting pen to paper for the occasional grocery list & thank you note is not the move, as much as I would recommend the items themselves. You may be setting yourself up for disappointment. Another couple hundred dollars down the drain, while the pretty shiny things you bought for your hyperfixation hobby are gathering dust. I’ve been there - many of us have - and it’s never a good feeling. Start with what you have or can scrounge up from friends or the clearance aisle of a craft store *first*. Or… don’t listen to me.
Of course, and as always, you can literally do whatever you want. Friend #1s, like myself, are more likely to test out ~dupes~, maybe only to end up with the ‘nice’ thing at the end of the day, anyway (I have, to be sure, done this many times). You may run the risk of wasting not only money, but time (due to all the poking around/playing). YOU ALREADY KNOW I’m going to say this isn’t really time wasted, but, you know. More than anything, this is just me sharing how I approach things.
Here’s CFO subscriber Kristen’s chat thread2 regarding the post, if you’d like to read some thoughtful musings & keep the conversation going:
Anyway, how are you doing? My mom hates open floor plans (she doesn’t want to see her bananas).
A newsletter subtitle I had last year was “in my lane, and honking” and I’m doing the opposite of that right now. I’m swerving around. I’m begging for attention at the attention store (posting on TikTok while engagement is trash) (“I Went To The Pick Me Store And Everyone Knew You” - a roast someone could roast me with right now).
I have been coming to the realization over the past few weeks just how much time and effort I’ve put into content over the past year. When I have a busy, social weekend, or a really demanding week at work, it’s glaringly obvious just how much of my off-time is usually dedicated to content creation, link fetching, responding to comments, writing, editing, voiceovers, prompts. It’s a lot. It’s a second job. Am I finally… burning out? No, no. I’m just in a season of re-evaluation. I have fun, am unserious by nature, and yet, I have been trying hard! I’m allowing myself to admit that! I publicly said that I was ready to, at the end of 2022! And I’m really proud of myself. I do so many things, and I share so many of these things for free. Matter of fact, let me do something -
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