Can a Good Pen Make You More Productive?

Get My Pen! – Read below for a FREE chance to WIN my favorite pen.  I will give one away next Monday!

All of us need a pen.  Even if most of your time management is done via electronics, you probably still need one to take notes.

I have yet to meet anyone who is 100% paperless.

You need a pen, if for nothing else, to sign things.  It always seems to impress people when you use your own pen to sign forms or receipts.

So, what is your favorite pen?

A Good Pen Can Lead to Productivity

How can a pen make you more productive?

Just like keeping your todo list visible, having a pen handy also leads to action.  Having it ready when you need to write something down or just having it in your hand can lead to creativity.

Here are just a few ways that “A Good Pen Can Make You More Productive”

  • You Use Tools You Enjoy – I often say, “Use tools you’ll use.”  In other words, the more you enjoy the tools, the more likely you are to use them on a regular basis.
  • More Likely To Take Notes – When you have a pen at hand, you are more likely to write things down.  Try it in your next meeting.  By having my favorite pen ready, I find I take almost double the amount of notes.
  • You Are More Likely to Brainstorm/Doodle – I am not talking about drawing pictures during meetings!  But, I am referring to the fact, that with a good pen, you will be more likely to scribble down ideas, even passing thoughts.  Some of the best ideas are developed through random jottings or drawings.  Let your pen become a source of new ideas and solutions.
  • Good Pens Write Well – Good pens just write… better!  If you have ever had a favorite pen, you know the difference between a good and bad pen.  This again makes it more likely that you will want to capture that great idea!

What is Your Pen?

Pens are wonderful because it all comes down to personal preference.

Some people like expensive pens.  Others prefer cheap pens.

Some like gel ink.  Some like felt tips.

My current pen of choice is by Caran D’Ache.  (See picture above.)  It is not an expensive pen, probably about $20.

The one I have now is an obnoxious bright green.  To me, it signifies “Go!” or “Action!”  The color also makes it very hard for one of my colleagues to make off with it, since it stands out.

Caran D’Ache pens come with a wonderful ink cartridge.  However, I prefer gel ink, so I swap it out with a blue Parker Gel refill.  Just my preference.

Get My Pen!

I want to hear what your favorite pen is!

Some like fountain pens.  Some like Pilot Gel pens.  Whatever your favorite, please share below.

I am also giving you a chance to WIN my pen.  Well, not my green pen.  But, the exact same Caran D’Ache pen in a nice professional gray color.  I will even include a Parker Gel refill, so you can get the same experience that I like.

All you have to do is share your favorite pen type in the comments.  Or if you don’t have one, simply leave a comment below asking to be entered in the contest.

Next Monday, I will draw at random.  Best wishes and happy writing!

What is your favorite pen?  Does it make you more productive?

Share below to be entered in the drawing to WIN my pen!

Related Posts:

Where Do You Take Your Notes?

Why You Should Try a Moleskine Notebook

83 thoughts on “Can a Good Pen Make You More Productive?

  1. I wish I could find a favorite pen. I love the Pentel Wow pen. I like the flat 3 sided feel of the Pentel Wow, very comfortable to hold. As for flow and ink. The Paper Mate Profile is astounding, but it doesn’t come in anything less than a 1.4mm line, way to big for some of the detailed writing I have to do. It’s great for a tablet, but beyond that…. It’s hard for me to pick one wonderful pen and not lose it in a week. I like to have multiple pens everywhere that all work the same. Then whenever I pick up one of my dozen or so writing tablets, I’m not running around wondering where my perfect pen went.

    1. @chywriter Ah… yes… that is why I don’t get expensive pens. 🙂 Who knows where they will end up…!

      I have several favorites. Pretty much anything that I can stuff a Parker Gel refill into.

  2. @chywriter Ah… yes… that is why I don’t get expensive pens. 🙂 Who knows where they will end up…!

    I have several favorites. Pretty much anything that I can stuff a Parker Gel refill into.

  3. I love pens, all pens. I must have close to 100 of them in my apartment. I like different pens for different things. If I’m journalling then I like a fountain pen or gel pen but if I’m studying or working then I like ballpoints because they make the paper all crinkly and I feel like I’ve achieved something. I love the Papermate Erasermate because I can hide my mistakes 🙂 I also love the Pilot BPS because they write so smoothly and come in a range of colours. Oh, and I love the Pilot Hi-tecpoints too. Yeah, I’m a nerd….. 🙂

  4. I love pens, all pens. I must have close to 100 of them in my apartment. I like different pens for different things. If I’m journalling then I like a fountain pen or gel pen but if I’m studying or working then I like ballpoints because they make the paper all crinkly and I feel like I’ve achieved something. I love the Papermate Erasermate because I can hide my mistakes 🙂 I also love the Pilot BPS because they write so smoothly and come in a range of colours. Oh, and I love the Pilot Hi-tecpoints too. Yeah, I’m a nerd….. 🙂

  5. I love pens, all pens. I must have close to 100 of them in my apartment. I like different pens for different things. If I’m journalling then I like a fountain pen or gel pen but if I’m studying or working then I like ballpoints because they make the paper all crinkly and I feel like I’ve achieved something. I love the Papermate Erasermate because I can hide my mistakes 🙂 I also love the Pilot BPS because they write so smoothly and come in a range of colours. Oh, and I love the Pilot Hi-tecpoints too. Yeah, I’m a nerd….. 🙂

  6. I love pens, all pens. I must have close to 100 of them in my apartment. I like different pens for different things. If I’m journalling then I like a fountain pen or gel pen but if I’m studying or working then I like ballpoints because they make the paper all crinkly and I feel like I’ve achieved something. I love the Papermate Erasermate because I can hide my mistakes 🙂 I also love the Pilot BPS because they write so smoothly and come in a range of colours. Oh, and I love the Pilot Hi-tecpoints too. Yeah, I’m a nerd….. 🙂

  7. I love pens, all pens. I must have close to 100 of them in my apartment. I like different pens for different things. If I’m journalling then I like a fountain pen or gel pen but if I’m studying or working then I like ballpoints because they make the paper all crinkly and I feel like I’ve achieved something. I love the Papermate Erasermate because I can hide my mistakes 🙂 I also love the Pilot BPS because they write so smoothly and come in a range of colours. Oh, and I love the Pilot Hi-tecpoints too. Yeah, I’m a nerd….. 🙂

  8. Right now, my favorite everyday pen is the BIC 537RT gel pen. Not expensive, but writes really well, with cushioned grip. Also, just discovered Pilot Frixion pens that are erasable with friction – great for my planner. But my favorite pen of all time is one that was hand-carved out of Brazilian cherry wood for me by a friend over 10 years ago. That is my journaling favorite and keep it filled with rollerball or gel ink refills.

  9. Right now, my favorite everyday pen is the BIC 537RT gel pen. Not expensive, but writes really well, with cushioned grip. Also, just discovered Pilot Frixion pens that are erasable with friction – great for my planner. But my favorite pen of all time is one that was hand-carved out of Brazilian cherry wood for me by a friend over 10 years ago. That is my journaling favorite and keep it filled with rollerball or gel ink refills.

  10. Right now, my favorite everyday pen is the BIC 537RT gel pen. Not expensive, but writes really well, with cushioned grip. Also, just discovered Pilot Frixion pens that are erasable with friction – great for my planner. But my favorite pen of all time is one that was hand-carved out of Brazilian cherry wood for me by a friend over 10 years ago. That is my journaling favorite and keep it filled with rollerball or gel ink refills.

  11. I find myself using a Sanford Uni-Ball Onyx Micro quite a bit. Blue ink. As for pencils, I still use a Pentel P205 .5mm that I bought in high school, and I won’t reveal how long ago that was!

  12. I find myself using a Sanford Uni-Ball Onyx Micro quite a bit. Blue ink. As for pencils, I still use a Pentel P205 .5mm that I bought in high school, and I won’t reveal how long ago that was!

  13. Another big benefit for me of using a good pen is that my writing is more legible – definitely has a great impact on productivity! As to doodling: this is essential for a good pen at work: need something to keep my mind going during long meetings, though I am not sure if this really helps with my productivity.

    It is for that reason that this seasons top pen is a propelling pencil: always sharp, allowing good clear writing, but importantly is also good for doodling and shading things in.

  14. Another big benefit for me of using a good pen is that my writing is more legible – definitely has a great impact on productivity! As to doodling: this is essential for a good pen at work: need something to keep my mind going during long meetings, though I am not sure if this really helps with my productivity.

    It is for that reason that this seasons top pen is a propelling pencil: always sharp, allowing good clear writing, but importantly is also good for doodling and shading things in.

  15. I love to write and my pen makes all the difference in the world! My #1 fave is a Pilot Precise Rolling Ball V5 extra fine, and #2 is a Foray rolle Rollerball 0.5mm. And not just any color ink, my “go to” ink color is turquoise, and deep purple comes in a close second. I’ve used pens in various price ranges and these two just seem to fit me perfectly. Give me one of these pens and I will write notes and doodles for days…

  16. I love to write and my pen makes all the difference in the world! My #1 fave is a Pilot Precise Rolling Ball V5 extra fine, and #2 is a Foray rolle Rollerball 0.5mm. And not just any color ink, my “go to” ink color is turquoise, and deep purple comes in a close second. I’ve used pens in various price ranges and these two just seem to fit me perfectly. Give me one of these pens and I will write notes and doodles for days…

  17. I rotate fountain pens every few days. I have over a dozen. They a4 loaded with blue/black ink. I love the old school look of the writing. My other goto is an emerald green Retro 51 Tornado. I have had it for about 20 years. I bring my Rotring 600 pencil to meetings. The B, 0.7mm line is perfect for charts.

  18. I like how you mentioned that having tools that you enjoy is good because it means that you will actually use them. Having a pen that is really nice and that you enjoy using certainly would be one of those tools that would be handy to have. That way you will be excited and willing to use it as much as possible.

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