When we set out to make our very own product line from the ground up (i.e. stationery), we thought about not only how the product looked, but how we could create an overall product line that fulfilled the mission of W&D, to make things that help people live a little better. After all, we apply this thought process to each article we publish – How does this help our readers? Why would they care?

Internally, we have all been chatting about the best software programs and apps to manage our mountainous to-do lists. We all seemed to have different favorites, yet we all at some point were found with our nose in our notebooks, mapping out how our days, weeks, or months were panning out. We weren’t jotting down that lipstick recommendation in our fancy app, we were whipping open a fresh page in our notebook and recording the details for later review.

Leaning into my obsession with the blank page gave way to the physical products themselves, all designed and inspired by the benefit we receive when we make the time to turn off our phones, shut down the laptops, and reach for a notebook.

In fact, the reasons why writing is good for your health is baked into our products themselves:

Write It Down: Putting pen to paper is good for your brain. It helps clear your mind for bigger tasks you need to accomplish. If you’re busy juggling your to-do list in your head, how are you going to find the space and stamina to work through more important problems?

Thoughts and Things: Putting pen to paper helps give you context to your emotions and helps you work through them. Psychologists say writing down what you are feeling is as beneficial as saying your feelings out loud. Fears seem so much smaller once they don’t occupy your mind. (This is especially true at 3AM, in case one wakes up in a panicky swirl.)

Don’t Quit Your Day Dream: Putting pen to paper helps give you a sense of achievement. Looking at the list of things you conquered can be a way to keep yourself motivated, particularly when you’re working towards a large goal, like launching a product or releasing a new website. Writing down all the tasks you must complete, even if they are small, is like a tiny pat on the back every time you check something off the list. Making a list is the first thing I do when I feel like the weight of my responsibilities is too much.

Note To Self: Putting pen to paper gives us accurate records of what has happened and what needs to happen. We forget things. Sometimes, we remember the past differently than it transpired. Whether you need to recall events from yesterday or last month, writing down what happened or what needs to happen can take subjectivity and mental lapses out of the equation.

Just as writing down what is in our heads is like hitting the restart button on our computer, having the tools and the structure to make the most of writing things down can help make this daily habit a key tool in your productivity arsenal. These items were designed for the way that I (and the larger team) wanted to use them. If it wasn’t functional, it was out. For instance, we designed the Desktop Calendar Notepad because I hated having to open my phone or computer to get a quick view of the calendar. We made the Desktop Notepad Set big because I like to map out my week using a flexible grid that I can refer back to no matter how sidetracked I got the day before. And we made them pretty because if you are going to have a big notepad parked at your desk, shouldn’t it be nice to look at?

Just as these details are a reflection of my own work habits, the blank pages are our intentional way of asking you—our readers—how do you make the most of your blank pages? How many apps do you have on your phone? How many tabs do you have open on your browser RIGHT NOW? How many to-do lists or managers or journaling apps do you have open? Because so many of our lives are digital-based, notebooks and notepads have become my favorite way to start and end each day.

As we finish designing our fall product and look toward introducing new and improved functions and features for next year, we want to give you the opportunity to tell us what you love most about working on paper, and prompt the question—what type of products would you love to see from us? We’ll be giving away W&D stationery packs* to five (5) readers selected at random who sign up for our Shop Wit & Delight Newsletter and answer a quick 3 question survey.

To Enter: Sign up for the Shop Wit & Delight Newsletter by clicking this link and answering three questions about our product line here.

We can’t wait to hear how you make the most out of your paper products and what you’d like to see from Wit & Delight!!!

*W&D Stationery packs include one (1) Write it Down notebook, one (1) desktop notepad, and one (1) set of Just Because card set. 

W&D Stationery Pack Giveaway details: to be considered to receive a W&D Stationery pack, complete our three (3) question survey  between May 29th – June 13th at 12noon CST. Five (5) entrants that complete the survey will be selected to receive a Wit & Delight Stationery pack. Recipients will be notified via email by Wit & Delight by June 20th if selected. 

While we welcome feedback from all of our readers, to be considered to receive the Wit & Delight Stationery pack, you must be a resident of the continental United States. At this time, Wit & Delight does not have the capabilities to sell products outside of the continental U.S. 

All information collected in this survey is confidential and will not be shared outside of Wit & Delight, LLC. We never share reader information with third-parties, brands or sponsors. No purchase necessary to qualify. 

Kate Arends

Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.