Tools & Guides
Resources for intentional planners
Study guides, analog tool recommendations, and books that have shaped the way I think about planning, engineering, and building a deliberate life.
Morning Ritual
Ríos de Oro Coffee
Before the pen touches paper, the coffee is in the cup. Colombian beans from my family's farms in Caldas, two farms, over 50 years, roasted fresh and shipped to the US within a week. No warehouse, no middlemen.
farming
shipment
farms
Stationery & Tools
Analog Tools I Recommend
The physical tools that have become part of my daily planning practice. Each one chosen for a reason, not nostalgia, but precision.
*These are Amazon affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Start Here
If you buy just one thing
New to analog planning? Skip the rabbit hole. This is the three-piece core I'd hand a friend to get started: a binder, the inserts that go in it, and a pen that makes writing feel good. Everything below builds on it.
MeePlus Binder
A ring binder you build into a planner that flexes with you. Add, remove, and reorder pages anytime.
MeePlusKaweco Sport*
Pocket-sized fountain pen that makes you actually want to write.
AmazonPlanning Engineered Planner Templates
The planner pages I designed to drop straight into the binder. Printable PDFs, built for focus.
ShopNotebooks & Planners
Lochby Mini Field Journal*
A waxed canvas notebook carrier that holds up to 4 pocket-sized notebooks. Elastic bands, bookmarks, and a pen slot keep everything in one compact system.
AmazonLochby Voyageur*
A waxed canvas journal system that holds up to 4 TN-sized notebooks with an elastic pen loop and inner and outer pockets.
AmazonLochby Venture Pouch*
Keeps pens, cards, and inserts together. The analog version of a desktop dock.
Amazon In my bagLochby Quattro*
A waxed canvas pen pouch with soft velvet interior lining. Offset pockets hold 4–8 pens without crowding, with a centre slot for cartridges and small accessories.
AmazonLochby Tomoe River Notebook*
Thin, fountain-pen-friendly Tomoe River paper in a Lochby format. Ink shading looks exceptional on this.
Amazon In my bagField Notes*
Always in the back pocket. For anything that needs to leave my head before it disappears.
Amazon In my bagPaper Republic Grand Voyageur
A leather cover system that holds inserts, cards, and a pen. The most tactile part of my daily carry.
Paper RepublicSterling Ink Planners
A beautifully designed planner for intentional living. Thoughtful layout built for focus and reflection.
Sterling Ink In my bagMeePlus Binder
A ring binder system I use to build a planner that flexes with me. Add, remove, and reorder pages so the setup never locks you in.
Shop In my bagBira Craft 6-Hole Punch
The exact 6-hole punch I use to turn printed templates and cut-down paper into ring-ready inserts. Adjustable for personal, A5, A6, and pocket sizes.
AmazonPens & Writing
Kaweco Sport*
Pocket-sized, capped, and reliable. Clips into any cover without adding bulk.
Amazon In my bagTWSBI Eco & Go*
Demonstrator body, smooth writer, great ink capacity. The pen that converted many skeptics.
AmazonTraveler's Company FP*
Made to pair with the Traveler's Notebook system. Slim, elegant, and writes beautifully out of the box.
AmazonTraveler's Company BP*
When a fountain pen isn't the right tool. Smooth, confident line for quick notes and signatures.
AmazonTraveler's Company Pencil*
For sketches, calculations, and anything that needs to be erasable. Pairs perfectly with the notebook system.
Amazon In my bagZebra Sarasa Grand Vintage*
The gel pen that writes like butter. Vintage ink tones that look refined on any paper.
AmazonZebra Sarasa Vintage Set*
A curated set of muted, vintage-tone colors. Great for color-coding a planner without it looking like a highlighter explosion.
Amazon In my bagBig Idea Design Baseline*
Satisfying bolt-action mechanism, machined precision. The pen for when you want writing to feel like an event.
Amazon In my bagTombow Fudenosuke*
Firm tip, excellent control. My go-to for headers and titles in notebooks and planners.
AmazonTombow Dual Brush Pen*
Two tips, endless color options. For lettering, color-coding, and adding visual structure to a spread.
Amazon In my bagZebra Mildliners*
Muted, ink-friendly highlighters that don't bleed or overwhelm a page. The only highlighters worth using with fountain pens.
Amazon In my bagPilot Vanishing Point*
A retractable fountain pen with a click deploy. One-handed like a ballpoint, writes like a real nib. The one I reach for at the desk.
Amazon In my bagTraveler's Company Brass Ruler*
A solid brass ruler that builds a patina with use. Heavy enough to stay put, short enough to live in a notebook pocket.
Amazon In my bagPentel Multi 8*
A 2mm lead holder that carries eight colored and graphite leads in one barrel. Color-codes a spread without a fistful of pencils.
Amazon In my bagTraveler's Company Brass Pencil*
A compact brass pencil that extends to full length in hand and ages with a patina. Pairs with the notebook system.
AmazonFocus Tools
Time Timer*
A shrinking red arc shows exactly how much time remains. No noise, no distraction, just visual focus. Transformed how I work through deep tasks.
AmazonDesk Cube Timer*
A flip-cube timer for Pomodoro sprints. Set it, flip it, and the countdown starts. No screen and no notifications to pull you off the page.
AmazonAirPods Pro*
Active noise cancellation that erases the room when I need to drop into deep work. The fastest way I have to tell my brain it is time to focus.
AmazonReading List
Recommended Books
Books that have shaped how I think about planning, engineering, career, and living deliberately.
*Amazon affiliate links. I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Free Downloads
Free Printables
Low-ink A5 sheets that fit a six-ring binder. Print them at home, no email required. If they earn a spot on your desk, the weekly newsletter below has more.