First Pink Pig Sketchbooks, and then Ohh Deer. We have been very very fortunate to work in partnership with such wonderful and well-respected companies. Stationary N’ Stationery is very excited to be able to add a NEW partner to our record, Vertellis.
What are they about? Simple; they encourage taking yourself offline, putting time aside to think, be and make connections with those around you in meaningful ways.
“Our products are designed to encourage time offline, make space for self-reflection, and spark honest conversations with people you care about.”
You can now order our own special edition ‘Super Sly’ bundle, which comes with a random-designed artist’s fineliner pen (black ink) as well as an beautiful, geometric tote bag.
THE REVIEW
You should know by now how much I love journals, and believe in the importance and practice of journaling. Which means you should ALSO know that I am not a fan of shmushy mushy, non-critical, non-realistic and non-evidence-based faux mindfulness and self-realisation. Which is why I’m going to write the description for the Vertellis Chapters Diary myself.
In short, it is absolutely great. It’s hardback black, faux-leather cover makes it sleek enough to be appropriately visible in your ‘important person bag’ (work bag/briefcase) meaning you can take the time to go offline and do some thinking with you anywhere. There are many beautiful diaries that have self-questioning prompts out there, but not all of us would feel comfortable sat at a meeting or in an interview with a bright blue “YOU’RE AMAZING UNICORN EVERYONE ELSE IS HATER UR GREAT: HOW TO REMAIN MINDFUL” notebook poking out of our bag.
The inside pages are mono-tonal, on thick and high-quality paper that has somehow retained the aesthetic feel of newspaper pages.
The questions are direct and simple, with simple response options. However, as you work through the diary, however often that is, there are small tasks suggested for you which aim to put into practice some of the restfulness and mindfulness that you’ve been working with throughout the book.
What is my favourite thing about planners? No dates!
The Vertellis Chapters Diary is not dated and has no day/month/seasonal names in its pages, meaning that you can sit and write on any day, wherever you are and about whatever you are feeling in that moment.
It doesn’t rush you, and fits in with you and wherever you are right now.
I’m a psychology academic alongside the owner of this bonkers little shop, and am often critical of the governmental tendency to recommend Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for all mental health issues, essentially because it is cheap & quick to deliver, and offers short term improvements without addressing any deeper issues or providing ongoing support, like longer term psychotherapy. This is a personal view that I am expressing for a reason; CBT is such an important and powerful concept to be able to work through with yourself. With practice, one can develop coping strategies that can really change for the better how negative emotions and experiences are dealt with. I strongly believe that journals and worksheets are wonderful for this, and one of the great things about the recent prominence of mindfulness and ‘self-care’ is that people are getting into the habit of learning about, using and habituating truly helpful coping mechanisms from the realms of CBT and other practices.
