Planning, note-taking, and list-making has always been an enjoyable activity for me. I love to be organized, and having a schedule eases my anxiety. I’ve learned over the years that writing everything down really is worth it, andI can relax better knowing I don’t have to rely on memory - or have the “oops” moment when I realize I’ve forgotten something important.

Building a collection of fun pens, markers, and highlighters that work well yet don’t hurt my hand or bleed through onto the next page has really been much more rewarding than I thought it would be. It’s turned list-making into a ritual; I find time slows down and I’m able to focus just on the task at hand, which seems harder as time goes on, since we have our phones and social media to distract us.

While colorful pens and a variety of pens aren’t essential for planning, making lists, and note-taking, they help make an everyday task more enjoyable. As far as keeping all of my pens and markers organized, I love this desk pen holder with 360° spin. There are three sections and you can spin it to easily reach everything, and I like that it’s neutral and clean in design. That being said, here are all of my favorites that I use weekly (if not daily):

best pens for planning, making lists, and note-taking

PILOT Acroball PureWhite - The pen everyone steals from me. They’re really fine point, and stay comfortable in your hand no matter how much you write. They’re not heavy, either, so I use these most often when I’m journaling or plan on writing a lot.

Linfac Retractable Quick Dry Gel Ink Pen, Fine Point 0.5mm - I originally bought these because I liked the neutral packaging, but I’ve been really impressed by the quality. They glide perfectly, and the ink doesn’t smudge, smear, or explode everywhere. The pens are sleek, but a little heavier than a traditional pen. I love these, and get them for others as gifts since they’re the perfect combination of pretty and functional.

Sharpie Pen 0.5 (Fine), 0.7 (Medium), and 1.0 (Bold) - One of the more popular pens for note-taking, I really like these. Fine is best for overall writing; the medium or bold are better for headers. These pens definitely look more expensive than they are; they’re matte black and the grip is really comfortable.

Pentel RSVP Ballpoint Pen, (1.0mm), Medium Line - I think we all grew up using these pens, but they’ve been around for so long because they’re a sold, reliable pen. They’re lightweight and comfortable for lots of writing, and the ink doesn’t smear. The colorful versions last longer than other colorful pens I’ve used; I definitely went through a phase where I exclusively wrote using their green pen, as weird as it sounds.

Le Pen - I’ve always seen these pens in stationary stores but thought they were way out of my price range. They’re cheaper than I expected ($14 for a pack of 10), and they write really well. The colors are bold enough to see and differentiate, so they’re a dream for color-coding. They also don’t bleed, so you can use them in your planner or notebooks without worrying.

best neutral highlighters for planning, making lists, and note-taking

Gotideal Neutral Pastel Highlighters - These highlighters are very “love it or hate it.” They’re rectangle-shaped, so they’re not the most comfortable to hold. They come in a set of 12; I don’t love all the colors, but they’re cheap so it’s worth buying the pack for the 3-4 colors I do use. It’s also almost like a 2-for-1 deal, since they’re double-sided, with both a thick and thin point. I like having neutral/ pastel highlighters as someone who gets sick of neon quickly, but they’re not for everyone.

best markers for planning, making lists, and note-taking

Kuretake Zig Clean Color Dot Pens - A must-have if you make bullet-point lists. These give you the perfect, uniform sized dots, and they are actually pastel. You could probably use them as a highlighter if you wanted to, but I wouldn’t want to ruin their shape. I use these way more than I thought I would, and I think they’d make studying fun, too.

Zebra Mildliner - Obsessed with these; it was worth buying the big pack on Amazon, but you can also get them in smaller sets. They’re double-sided, so you get a bold and fine point, and they have every color imaginable - from neon to pastel and everything in between. They’re so fun to use, and make planning a relaxing activity.

Sharpie S Note (24 pack) - Another great marker set, and you can get them in-store at Target for more convenience. I don’t reach for these as much since I got the Mildliners, but I like that they provide bold color without bleeding through onto the next page. These would have made studying a lot more engaging if I had them back when I was in school.