Stationery Pulse: The Case for Owning Less
What's new in analog this week, from Planning Engineered.
July 06, 2026
New here? The Stationery Pulse is a short weekly letter for people who still think on paper. Every Monday I round up what's worth reading in the analog world, pens, notebooks, planners, and the folks using them well, then close with whatever's new from Planning Engineered. One letter, once a week. That's it.
Half of this week's roundup is people quietly admitting they own too much. Well-Appointed Desk is telling you to do less, Gare the Bear picked a top five instead of a top twenty, and AlexanderWrites named the five things he doesn't regret instead of the fifty he does. I like that shift. A stationery habit that keeps expanding isn't a system, it's just accumulation, and the writers worth reading this week are the ones editing down instead of buying more.
What's new in analog
Sunday Reading for July 5, 2026 (Gentleman Stationer): This is Gentleman Stationer's weekly roundup, and this edition points to Pen Addict's writeup on the 2026 St. Louis Pen Show. If you've never made it to a regional show, the recap gives you an honest sense of scale and crowd before you plan a trip to one yourself.
Turning my Esterbrook Estie box into a stamp journaling page (Mark Your Pages): Mark Your Pages turns an Esterbrook Estie pen box into a stamp journaling page instead of tossing it in the recycling bin. It's a small, practical idea if you keep a journal and hate seeing good packaging go to waste.
My Top 5 Pocket Notebook Covers! (Gare the Bear): Gare the Bear runs down her five favorite pocket notebook covers with links to where each one is sold. If your current cover is worn out, this saves you the guesswork of testing a handful yourself.
June 2026 Planner Update | Hobonichi, Reading, Commonplace, Sketchbook (The Coffee Monsterzco): The Coffee Monsterzco posts a June update covering a reading journal, a commonplace book, and a sketchbook. It's a useful look at how one person splits tracking across several books instead of forcing everything into a single planner. Shop (affiliate): Hobonichi Techo.
Happy 4th of July Weekend! Announcements, New Resources, and a Holiday Weekend Special! (Gentleman Stationer): Gentleman Stationer catches readers up on six months of news: upcoming in-person events, a new podcast, a trip to Japan, and shop growth. Worth a quick read if you follow their events or shop and want the update in one place instead of piecemeal.
journals getting me through the summer | mid-year techo kaigi (Tori on Paper): Tori on Paper shares a mid-year check-in on the journals getting her through summer, including Hobonichi Cousin, Hobonichi Weeks, and Paper Republic. If you're deciding between planner formats, watching how someone runs several side by side beats reading a spec sheet. Shop (affiliate): Hobonichi Techo, Hobonichi Cousin.
Happy Birthday (Field Notes): Field Notes marked the occasion by giving away The Founding Documents, a pocket edition of the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, with any order placed July 3rd or 4th. Worth knowing about if you order from them regularly and want to see what extras show up around their promotions.
Do Less. (Well-Appointed Desk): Well-Appointed Desk asks a plain question this week, prompted by a piece from Greta Johnsen's newsletter: what can you take off your plate? It's a fair check for anyone whose stationery habit has quietly turned into one more thing to manage.
I Ordered More Fountain Pens... and Have Zero Regrets (Mark Your Pages): Mark Your Pages shares a Vanness Pen Shop haul with two new pens, including a Kaweco Sport in a new icy yellow. If you're weighing a Vanness order or tracking new Kaweco colors, this gives you a real look before you spend the money.
Set up a Bullet Journal Monthly Spread with me (Chad Everyday): Chad Everyday walks through setting up a bullet journal monthly spread, including how he records daily highlights and habit tracking. Handy if your own monthly layout has gone stale and you want a fresh one to borrow.
The 5 Stationery Items I DON’T Regret Purchasing (AlexanderWrites): AlexanderWrites lists the five stationery purchases he doesn't regret, along with discount codes for Wancher, Lochby, Scriveiner, and others. Useful if you're about to buy and want a second opinion plus a code that actually saves you money.
Paper Republic Grand Voyageur One Year Review (Steven Foster): Steven Foster checks back in on the Paper Republic Grand Voyageur leather journal a year after buying it. If you're considering a long-term journal cover, this tells you how it held up under real use instead of just how it looked on day one. Shop (affiliate): Paper Republic Grand Voyageur (Pocket).
Links marked (affiliate) support Planning Engineered at no extra cost to you.
From the channel
New on the blog: - Analog Planning With ADHD: Why Paper Holds What My Brain Drops - How to Set Up a Ring Planner Without Overbuying - How to Print Planner Inserts at Home Without Wrecking the Margins - Fountain Pen Friendly Paper for Planners: What Actually Stops the Bleed - Planner Insert Sizes Explained: A5, Personal, Pocket, and the Rest
That's it for this week. See you back here next Monday.
Looking for more? Every tool and template I use and recommend lives on the Planning Engineered resources page.
Luis