Yearly Archives: 2019

5 Simple Strategies for Taking Better Notes at Work

Effective notetaking is often the unsung hero of the workplace. It can help you capture ideas, learn new concepts, organize your thoughts, share information, and much more—but in order for your notes to be effective, you first have to learn the right notetaking strategies. We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re in a one-on-one with your boss or in a large company meeting, these simple strategies will help you take better notes at work—and get more out of them.

Ditch the Laptop

Your brain reacts differently to passive versus active actions during notetaking. Recent research has proven that since writing by hand is an active action, it is often more effective then typing for notetaking. Plus, when you are having one-on-one meetings with clients or your boss, it is nice to not have a laptop “wall” between the two of you. Laptops can also be a distraction in larger meetings, due to email pop-up alerts and social media notifications. Using a notebook eliminates these distractions and keeps you open and engaged.

Use the Right Notetaking Tools

As research has proven, handwriting is better for retaining what you write, but first you need the right tools. Using a lined or dotted/gridded notebook (like for bullet journaling) will help keep your notes organized and make writing easier. Then, choose different and make a statement with the right pen. The STEEL F-701 Ballpoint Pen is all-metal and has a heavy-duty feel you’ll notice right away. Plus, it’s refillable so you’ll never have to worry about replacing your entire pen. For other professional but still stylish options that features gel ink, check out the Sarasa Grand.

Focus on the Right Things

Your notes should not be a straight transcript of an entire meeting. Afterall, we all know how meetings can tend to meander onto tangents before getting to the meat and potatoes. Make sure you take down the main bullet points and any additional comments or questions you may have. The key is to focus on capturing the basic facts, issues that need to be resolved, decisions that have been made, and action plans including who is responsible for completing these tasks.

Less is More

When it comes to notes, taking less is actually more. Take down keywords, skip unneeded words, or write down partial sentences. While this sounds strange, you will actually be able to capture more notes than trying to write down every single word that is said. Once you are finished with the meeting, write up a full summary while the information is still fresh in your mind. This gives you the opportunity to fill in all the blanks, so when you look back you have everything you need from the meeting.

Keep it Bold

While taking notes, make sure to highlight or bold the most important information. This allows you to more easily locate the important takeaways when skimming your notes later. If you are handwriting your notes, make sure to bring a highlighter with you to your meeting. If typing, use the highlighter, italicize, underline, and bold options to make your notes more effective.

No matter what profession you’re in, taking notes is part of the job. These tips and tricks will help you be more productive and effective no matter what career you’re in.

The Best Zebra Pen Illustration Tools

By Jerome of kulorbandit

It’s that time of year again when we put down our pencils and pick up our favorite ink pens in anticipation of Inktober®. My name is Jerome (aka kulorbandit), an artist based in Phoenix, AZ, and today I’ll be showing you which Zebra Pen tools I like to use for the Inktober® challenge and for illustrating in general, and how I like to use them. So, let’s get started!

Step 1: Sketching Your Design

For starters, I used the STEEL F-701 ALL METAL Ballpoint Retractable Pen from the STEEL series for all my initial sketching. With its fine point tip, gnarled grip, and easy glide, this pen gives me all the control I need. From general sketching, crosshatching, to shading, this is the workhorse of the group. The tip in conjunction with the ink allows me to build up nice gradations with the layering of lines. This is great for an artist like me whose work is primarily portraiture, and where shading is imperative.

Step 2: “Blocking In” With Color

Once I completed my base sketch, I moved immediately into “blocking in.” This is where the Mildliner Double Ended Brush Pens came in handy. For this drawing, I referenced a young lady who has been heavily body painted in multiple colors. With a range of 15 hues of Mildliner Double Ended Brush Pens, achieving multiple colors isn’t a problem. The durable, firm points allowed me to get in and around tight corners while keeping a consistent ink flow. It’s perfect for fills, or for changing line weights on the fly.

Step 3: Adding in Fine Details

Now to add some initial details. For this, I used Sarasa Fineliners. The fine tip on these pens is excellent for small details that can really make a difference with the overall finished composition. They dry quickly and are water-resistant, making them great for layering. I use them constantly for mixing and building up skin tones in my portrait work. Since the color spectrum in both the Mildliner Doubled Ended Brush Pen and Sarasa Fineliner sets are complimentary, transitioning from one type of pen to the next is seamless. In this drawing, I used the Sarasa Fineliner directly atop of the Mildliner Brush Pen to create unique lines that give the figure and shapes more flow.

Step 4: Adding Depth and Shading

Now it’s time to start adding more depth. I went back to my “workhorse tool,” the STEEL F-701 ALL METAL Ballpoint Retractable Pen, and used it to start shading. To get even deeper, bolder black lines I used the Zensations Technical Pens. Available in varying points, the quick drying, smudge-free, rich black ink is fantastic. I use the combination of these pens alongside my trusty F-701 all of the time when I’m trying to achieve depth and detail.

Step 5: Achieving the Final Portrait Details with Zensations Brush Pens

For the final portrait details, I used the STEEL F-701 Retractable Ballpoint Pen and Zensations Technical Pens sparingly. Not wanting to overpower my drawing, I saved the heavier black line work until the very end. This allows me to be more deliberate about where I want to add volume to the figure. I used the Zensations Brush Pens specifically for this, covering everything from hair to gestural strokes. Easily to control, the thin to broad tapered strokes you can create is awesome, making these pens indispensable!

Step 6: The Final Artwork

All in all, I’m very pleased with the outcome of the final image. The tools used in this example are quite versatile. I’m sure with a little bit more experimentation, I or any of you, could really create some unique artwork for this year’s Inktober® Challenge!

During October, Zebra Pen will be hosting its own contest in partnership with Inktober®, called the Zensations Challenge. To enter, participants must create a daily ink drawing and tag it using the Inktober® hashtags, #inktober and #inktober2019, in addition to the hashtag #ZensationsChallenge. Zebra will be awarding two random winners in the U.S. with a prize pack of Zebra Pen product, retailed at $250.

To learn more about the Zensations Challenge contest, visit zebrapen.com/ZensationsChallenge/

Thanks for following along with me, and happy creating!

Cheers,
Kulorbandit

3 Ways to Use A Bullet Journal to Stay Active

By Shannon Hakala of @wellellabujo

Hey there, it’s Shannon from wellella.com. Did you know that bullet journaling can help you get excited about exercising? It’s true! Read on to see how I’m sticking to my fitness goals using my BUJO.

Fitness Goals Bullet Journal Spread

First, I started by writing down some reasons for why I want to exercise. Having them written down makes it easy for me to remember why it’s important—to me—to stay active on a regular basis.

I also decided to create some exercise goals for extra motivation. When thinking of fitness goals, it helps to choose goals that are S.M.A.R.T., also known as specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. To make this page even more fun, I added some reward ideas I can give myself if I stick to my exercise plans.

I used my trusty Zebra M-301 Mechanical Pencil to plan out these BUJO layouts before adding ink and markers. It’s been my go-to mechanical pencil since long before I started bullet journaling! The steel construction gives it a solid feel which makes it a pleasure to use, whether for writing or sketching.

For normal writing in my bullet journal, I used my black Z-Grip Ballpoint Retractable Pen. The thick barrel width and the grip make it a comfortable pen to use for any kind of journaling.

Activity Tracker BUJO Spread

Next, I created a page to keep track of how I’m exercising for the month of September. The activity tracker I made tracks the total minutes of exercise, as well as what kinds of activities I’m doing each day.

I decided to use my favorite highlighters, the Zebra Mildliner Double Ended Highlighter & Creative Tool, to make this tracker more colorful and fun. The broad chisel-tip creates thick lines of even color perfectly in this tracker.

Fitness YouTube Channel Bullet Journal Design

I love following YouTube exercise videos at home, so I created another BUJO page of my favorite fitness channels for quick reference. I categorized them into groups according to the type of activities I can do from each channel, using the same colors for each group as I did in my activity tracker page.

By thinking about my why, creating S.M.A.R.T. goals, and using a tracker to hold myself accountable, I feel mentally ready to hit the gym!

I hope you’ll try some of these ideas in your bullet journal if you’ve been wanting to get more active, too. Remember—without a plan, a goal is just a wish! For more bullet journaling inspiration, check out Mandy’s back-to-school bullet journal ideas for students.

7 Must-Have Items to Keep in Your Work Bag

From traffic congestion on your commute, meetings that run over schedule, last minute (and stressful) deadlines—sometimes it just feels like the workday is conquering you. Those days can get worse by your cellphone dying or coffee spilling on your shirt. Despite how small these things are, they can cause a busy day to become a stressful day. We’ve all been there, which is why we came up with a list of work bag essentials that will help keep your workdays moving smoothly.

Hand Sanitizer

Germs—they’re basically everywhere. During the workday, you may not always have access to a sink to wash your hands. Keep hand sanitizer in your work bag to keep you and your hands germ-free. While it’s not an end-all, be-all replacement for washing your hands, it’s great to have when you’re trying to fend off the cold circulating around the office.

Pens to Make A Statement

No matter what type of environment you work in, you can never have enough pens. Keeping a few extra in your bag will save you in a pinch if it runs out of ink, you misplace it, or a coworker borrows it and doesn’t give it back right away. The Sarasa Grand Retractable Pen is one you’ll definitely want to keep backups of tucked away. With its sleek design, quick-drying gel, and 6 fashion colors, you’ll be better off not letting coworkers borrow this one. The STEEL F-701 ALL METAL Ballpoint Retractable Pen is another solid choice if you’re looking to make a statement. All-metal from clip to tip, this pen does not sacrifice on style or performance.

Phone Charger

Need we say more? We all know there’s nothing worse than being at 12 percent by noon. Keeping a portable phone charger on-hand will literally save your phone’s life—and yours. Make sure your phone isn’t ready to clock out before you are.

Mints

Coffee is a must for early morning meetings—or early mornings in general. But even though we all love this caffeinated wonder, coffee breath leaves something to be desired. For this reason, mints are a work bag essential. They’ll save you from awkward, stinky breath encounters with coworkers—and your boss.

Aspirin

Headaches happen even to the best of us. Keeping a bottle of OTC aspirin in your bag will ensure that you’ll get through it (relatively) pain-free and let you get back to what you need to do.

Travel-size Tissues

Between seasonal allergies, the common cold, and even accidental spills or messes, there’s always a good reason to keep tissues on-hand. Keep a travel-sized pack in your bag, regardless of the time of year, for the moments your nose decides to throw a wrench into your day.

Stain Removal Pen

Coffee spills and lunch-time stains are evitable from time to time. While you could always keep a sweater or extra shirt in your bag, a smaller and easier solution is a stain removal pen. In just a few minutes, the stain is gone and no one will know you had a clumsy moment.

Every workday isn’t going to be perfect, but some situations have quick fixes or are avoidable with the right tool. Be sure to have these handy items in your work bag for when days don’t go quite as planned so you’re prepared for anything that comes your way.

3 Back-to-School Bullet Journal Ideas for Students

By Mandy Mair of @productivedoodling

Hey everyone! It’s Mandy here, better known as @productivedoodling! I have been bullet journaling for a little over two and a half years. Every year when the new school year rolls around, I use my bullet journal to plan and stay organized.

Continue reading →

6 Essential Tools for Starting a New Job

Is there anything more exciting, yet nerve-racking, than starting a new job? Beginning a new position exposes you to new people, tools, and exciting challenges. But being new can also be a little daunting. One way to relieve the new job jitters is to know you are walking into your first day fully prepared for whatever’s ahead. Here are the essential tools you’ll need to start off your first day on the job right.

Personal Identification

Unless you completed all your paperwork prior to starting the position, you’ll need to meet with HR on your first day to set up payroll, benefits enrollment, and fill out other company-specific paperwork. Some of this will require a form of personal identification such as a driver’s license, passport, or social security card. Bringing one or multiple forms of ID on your first day will not only show your preparedness, but also let you concentrate on your new duties and responsibilities earlier.

Notebook

On the first day of a new job, it’s best not to rely just on your memory. Bringing a notebook will ensure that you have a place to store critical information such as office procedures, login credentials, security codes, and even your colleague’s names. Choose a notebook or notepad that is easily portable, so you’re able to take—and retrieve—notes while you’re on the go.

A Reliable Pen

A notebook doesn’t do any good without a proper writing instrument in hand. You need a pen that is reliable, smudge-free, and stylish. For a pen that makes a statement, choose the Sarasa Grand gel pen. Its sleek design and quick drying ink is perfect for taking notes on a busy first day on the job. For other great professional but stylish options, turn to the STEEL line.

Briefcase/Bag

You’ll want to make a good first impression when you first walk into the door. Carrying a briefcase or purse not only looks professional, but also frees yourself from carrying belongings in your arms, so you’ll be ready for a handshake without any awkward stumbles. A briefcase or bag also provides a safe and organized place to put important papers or items you’re given throughout your day.

Lunch Bag

The first day is critical for meeting your coworkers and starting to build a working relationship. While it can be tempting to leave your workplace for lunch to take a deep breath and digest everything, bringing your lunch allows you to connect with your coworkers and show you are interested in being part of the workplace culture. Bring your lunch in an insulated lunch bag that will keep everything fresh and look stylish. It will also save you money in the long run!

Confidence

The most important tool you need to bring with you is confidence and a positive attitude. Remember to be true to yourself—after all, it’s how you landed the job in the first place! Show up on your first day with the confidence to learn and grow, and a positive attitude that’ll show everyone you are the real deal.

There is a lot of new job advice out there, but what you bring with you is just as important as what you do. Whether you are preparing for your first job or you are a seasoned pro, these items are vital for a successful first day on the job. You’ll be prepared for anything that comes your way. Learn more about how you can Choose Different.

How to Draw a Fennec Fox with Zebra Metallic Brush Pens

By: Artist Ambassador Sandra Strait

Hello! I’m Sandra from lifeimitatesdoodles. Today, I’m going to show you how to create a realistic illustration that pops on black paper with Zebra Pen products. We’ll be drawing a Fennec fox. It’s about the size of a chihuahua and is a nocturnal desert animal. Let’s get started!

Tools:

Zebra Metallic Brush Pens
Sarasa Clip Gel Retractable Milk Colors
Sarasa Clip Gel Retractable Shiny Colors
Sarasa Clip Gel Retractable Assorted Colors
Zensations Drafix Technical Pencil 0.5 mm
Black Paper

Shapes

The Fennec fox in this drawing is curled up, so the shapes are mostly circles. Start by creating a circle for the head and another for the body. Once you have these two circles in place, you can begin adding more detailed shapes, such as the almond eyes, pointed ears, and so on.

Step 1

Now that you’ve had some practice, sketch out the fox using the same techniques we reviewed earlier, only this time on black paper with the Zensations Drafix Technical Pencil. I like this pencil because it shows up on black paper, but the brush and gel pens we’ll be using later easily cover it up once the artwork is complete.

Step 2

Use the Zebra Metallic Brush Pen in bronze to begin creating the fur. Your strokes should show the direction and length of the fur. I used shorter strokes around the face and ears to indicate short hair and used longer strokes on the bushy tail.

This color creates a beautiful base that will be blended into other colors, but will leave the impression of fur glinting in the moonlight. Make sure to leave lots of black space. We’ll be filling in this space later with more precise detail.

Step 3

Create highlights for the eyes with the Sarasa Clip Gel Retractable Pen in the Milk White color. Then, color in the surrounding area around the eyes with the Shiny Gold shade. Add highlight on the nose with the Milk Blue Green color.

The Milk White and Milk Blue Green colors of the Sarasa Clip gel pens create a soft cool glow on the black paper. I used these colors to then create the lightest fur. Begin by filling in the black area we left open earlier, and overlap the edges over some of the metallic bronze strokes we made with the Zebra Metallic Brush Pen.

Be sure to leave some the black paper showing. That black adds drama.

Step 4

Now, let’s add some additional detail. Use the Sarasa Clip Retractable Gel Pen in Brown to deepen the color in the eyes and add shading along the left of the face, in the area between the nose, leg and hip and all along the bottom of the fox.

Overlap the metallic bronze color with strokes of the Sarasa Clip in Shiny Orange. Use it to brighten the areas along the back, the top of the hip, and the center of the face and tail.

If you feel some lines need to be blacker, especially around the eyes, nose and face, use the Sarasa Clip Retractable Gel Pen in Black to darken the area back to the color of the paper.

Assess your drawing and add more of the colors as you feel they are needed.

Step 5

Make additional strokes and dots with the Zebra Metallic Brush Pen in Gold to draw sand around the fox. Blend it with strokes of the Milk White and Milk Blue Sarasa Clip Gel Pens. Use these pens to draw abstract shapes in the background.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! I love the way the Zebra Metallic Brush Pens and Sarasa Clips stand out on black paper. If you want learn how to hand letter with the same Metallic Brush pens, check out Erin’s tutorial.

7 Ways to Achieve Better Work-Life Balance

When it feels like there aren’t enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you want, what do you do? How do you handle work and personal life? Work-life balance is something everyone struggles with at one point or another, but it is achievable. Just like anything else, it takes skill and practice. Check out our 7 tips to help achieve a better balance, and to start feeling happier both in and outside of work.

Set Realistic Goals

Everyone has goals they want to achieve in both their professional and personal lives. But sometimes we reach too far or make our goals too big and as a result, they become overwhelming and feel unachievable. Start by setting realistic, SMART goals; ones that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely. These types of goals can be tackled by breaking them up into smaller steps and goals. You’ll feel satisfied achieving small wins along the way and stay motivated to move towards the next step.

Learn to Say No

When you’re feeling overwhelmed and work starts to spill into personal time, it’s often a sign that you might have too much on your plate. Learning how to say no is critical in achieving better work-life balance, but it will first take some practice. Get comfortable with your assertiveness by practicing during situations where the stakes are lower. This can help you build courage to say no in more difficult situations—after all, confidence is a muscle we all need to exercise. You’ll find that you’ll feel happier and more balanced when you prioritize what you really want and say no to things you don’t.

Be a Planner

Still feeling like there’s never enough time for everything? If so, you might not be scheduling your time effectively. Putting your to-do’s on paper in a planner can help you become better at time management, and more easily keep track of events, appointments, errands, and tasks. The smooth flowing ink of the STEEL G-402 Gel Retractable Pen makes creating lists easy, while the STEEL PM-701 Permanent Marker is perfect for drawing attention to your most pressing tasks.

Concentrate on One Thing

Take every day and every task one step at a time. Oftentimes when we think we’re multitasking, we aren’t really doing two things at once—but instead, doing individual actions in rapid succession. Take a task, whether it be professional or personal, and give it your full attention. Finish the task, and then move on to the next one. Being “where your feet are” allows you to be present in the moment and focus more clearly.

Have the Right Tools

Whether it’s needing a specific piece of software to better perform a function in your work role or having the right pen in hand to help you stand out in your office meeting, having the right tools matter. When you’re equipped with products that are reliable and high quality, you perform better, too. The Sarasa Grand Retractable Pen combines quality performance and style, making it the perfect tool for crossing off your to-do list and making a great impression. If you’re looking for durability and reliability without compromising on sleekness, look no further than the STEEL F-701 ALL METAL Ballpoint Retractable Pen.

Disconnect from Time to Time

It’s easy to get sucked into tasks and feel like you have to be available 24/7 for both life and work. Taking time to disconnect from the outside world can be difficult, but it is necessary. Put down the phone, put away the computer, and take a deep breath. Giving yourself time to disconnect can help you refocus and go back into work refreshed and ready to take on anything that comes your way!

Practice Self Care

Being burnt out can affect not just your mental wellbeing, but also your physical health. In order to destress and restore, we recommend intentionally setting aside time to practice selfcare—otherwise, it may never be a priority. Do the simple things that will make you feel better; Drink lots of water, take a walk, unplug, and take quiet time when it’s necessary. Taking care of yourself will positively effect both your work life and your personal life.

Attempting to find work-life balance can be tricky but if you start with small steps, you will see how they lead to big changes. There are many benefits of work-life balance but the biggest is being able to enjoy both separately. You can love your job and love your downtime without sacrificing either.

3 Summer-Themed Bullet Journal Layouts to Simplify Your Life

By: Fatimah of @studychaii

Hi! It’s Fatimah from @studychaii and I’m here to introduce you to different ways you can use your creativity to effectively bullet journal over the summer. Summer can always become a bit hectic, so creating organized monthly spreads can help keep you grounded and ready for summer productivity. Here are some ideas you can implement into your own bullet journal!

*The specific Sarasa Clip design pictured on right only available in the Japanese market.

July Bullet Journal Design

For the July bullet journal design, I created a simple calendar in my journal. Keeping a calendar will allow you to view your summer days collectively. It will also help you to plan your days and responsibilities accordingly. If your summer month is going to be very busy, I also recommend using the color-coding system to make sure you can distinguish different events throughout the month!

For this design, I used the Zebra Pen Zensations Brush Pen and the Zebra Pen Mildliner Double Ended Highlighter & Creative Tool. I used the brush pen to draw out my doodles all around the page and am in awe of how it turned out! I love how the brush pen is flexible yet stable, allowing me to outline my illustrations with control and produce doodles with variability in line width. This effect helped make it appear more comical. In addition, the use of the Mildliners helped my summer events to stand out with its colorful pigmentation.

August BUJO Design

For the next bullet journal design, I created a weekly timetable for each day of the week. Timetables are a more in-depth way of planning your days, since you are planning your days by the hour. Now that time is incorporated into your planning, it can help develop a habitual routine. This method of determining whether your responsibilities can fit in a day makes it easier to accomplish your summer goals! The reflection section at the bottom can help sort out your days, as you can include ways in which you can change or add to your timetables after a week of following your routine.

In this design, I’d like to highlight my use of the Zebra Pen Sarasa Clip Gel Retractable Pens in the Milk Colors and the Mildliners. The milk colors were perfect for the soft colored theme I was aiming for. I used the Sarasa Clip gel pens to color in my doodles with a lined pattern and went in with the Mildliners on some of the illustrations in order to add variability in texture. I then went in with the same pattern on my timetable. Adding color can help important or habitual events in your timetable stand out as well!

September BUJO Design

For the last bullet journal design, I created a September reflection page. In this spread, I decided to write out my September goals, and reflect back on my accomplishments and highlights of my July-August summer. This reflection serves as a way for me to learn from events that took place in the summer and help motivate me to do more amazing things for others and myself.

In this design, I used the Mildliner Double Ended Highlighters and Zensations Brush Pen. The double-sided feature of the Mildliners really helped bring my spread to life. I used the fine end of the highlighter pen to outline the words and the images and used the bold end of the pen to color in small doodles I had drawn around the page. In this way, the coloring balanced out! In addition, I used the brush pen to letter small words as mini headers to the sections of the spread. The versatility in this brush pen contributed a great deal to the collection of summer spreads, as it allowed me to letter in huge letters for heading, and in small letters for mini headings!

Thank you for reading and I hope this helped. I wish you all a very productive summer!

What You Can Do to Help the Grevy’s Zebra

The Grevy’s zebras are in grave danger. Just a few decades ago in the 1980’s, there were approximately 15,000 in population. Over the last 30 years, that number has dropped almost 80% and today, fewer than 3,000 remain. About 2,812 of these special zebras live in Kenya and 230 live in Ethiopia.

At Zebra Pen, we strive to celebrate uniqueness and individuality in everything we do. Our spokesanimal Zen, a Grevy’s zebra, is an important part of our culture and represents this commitment to honoring individuality.

Learn how you can make a difference in helping to save the Grevy’s zebra with these tips.

Learn About Conservation Efforts
Education is key to helping the Grevy’s zebra because more you know, the more you can help! You can visit Grevy’s Zebra Trust to learn all about the animals themselves but also the conservation efforts this organization is leading.

Practice Ecotourism
Practicing ecotourism is a great way to help many endangered species. When you are on vacation, visit or volunteer with organizations that help protect wildlife.

Spread the Word
Be an advocate for the Grevy’s zebra. Tell their story to your friends, family, or on social media. By spreading the word, we can reach more people who can help.

Opt for Vegan Clothing
Avoid animal-skin products that support illegal hunting of these animals.

Provide a Donation
You can also provide monetary donations to the Grevy’s Zebra Trust where all the money goes directly to the conservation of the Grevy’s zebra.