The Joys of Journaling

---

A couple of weeks into lockdown, drained from the online grind of my work-from-home life, I realised I needed some form of quiet offline focus to organise my thoughts first thing in the morning. I exhumed a proper fountain pen from a drawer, ordered ink cartridges and, oh joy, found a gorgeous pink Smythson book I had been given for my birthday, initials emblazoned across the front. Since then, my morning writing routine has become a luxurious moment that clears my mind through the mental exercise of hand-writing.






Smythson has always been my go to brand when it comes to diaries. Each November, I visit the Smythson store on Bond Street, agonising over the colour and texture of the diary that would end up in my bag for the next year. My favourite was the Soho, where I could write to-do lists on the right and appointments on the left. Through the year, it would fill up with notes, cards, scribbles, drawings and more. It was a treasure and a trusty companion that I would take with me everywhere. Then, surreptitiously, the cold efficiency of my iCal took over, along with digital appointment reminders and auto correct.


Lockdown made me realise how much I missed my Smythson diary, with its luxurious feel and crisp blue pages. Perhaps it’s the ability to scribble and cross out, perhaps it’s about keeping track of time. For me, it’s about going back to my own thoughts and taking a moment for myself.





If Smythson epitomises British Luxury in its timeless elegance, it is good to know that the brand is committed to sustainability. Its stationery, books and diaries are all manufactured using paper milled in Great Britain and printed in England, with its leather sourced in Italy.





When stores open in December, I will go to Bond Street and treat myself to a 2021 Soho Diary. I will buy it in the brightest colour and make sure it is a one-a-day pager so that I can keep in writing my daily thoughts and to do lists. It will be my perfect 2021 work from home companion.