“I love love love these glittery plastic pencil cases! They remind me of elementary school when you used to carry giant markers, colored pencils, and cute erasers in them. You know, back when life was good! I was recently gifted a bunch of gel pens and colored pencils because I’m attempting to get into bullet journaling and I bought these glittery pencil cases (in the clear color) to house all my writing utensils and stencils and whatnot. But because they come in a pack of five, I also used the leftovers to organize all my tech cords and random knick-knacks.” —Shannon B., 29
Highly Recommend
09.05.23
09.05.23
11 Back-to-School Supplies to Help You Get Your Life Together
Even if you’re not in school.
If you’re anything like us, then September’s arrival brings with it the possibility of a fresh start, like an early New Year’s Eve with better weather and none of that toxic diet chatter. Growing up, this back-to-school period signaled new opportunities for friendship, learning, unrequited crushes, and, most importantly, back-to-school supplies (from glittery gel pens to a new outfit). Who doesn’t want to keep up that tradition into adulthood?
Even for those of us who are well beyond our school years, the back-to-school season is an opportunity to reset, whether that means shaking up our daily routine, prioritizing a new hobby, or simply getting more organized (see: the huge pile of bills piling up on the kitchen counter). No matter our age, we could always use a little extra help, and the right supplies can help motivate us to get moving on whatever task we’re trying to tackle or behavior we’re hoping to make a daily habit. So in case you, like us, could use a little inspiration to get your shit together, we asked people what products they buy every fall to get their lives in order for a busier season. Check them out, below.
All products featured on Wondermind are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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1.AmazonEnday Plastic Pencil Box
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“I’m a journaling newbie, but this Wondermind x Cloth & Paper collab is making me a convert. The 90-page discbound journal has three different planner inserts so you have ample space to keep track of your priorities, goals, and thoughts. Plus, it comes with adorable mood stickers, two incredibly satisfying gel pens, magnetic page flags, lots of sticky notes, and so much more—all in a beautiful quilted dust bag. If you’re looking for a journal/planner hybrid, I highly suggest this one.” —Casey Gueren, VP, Head of Content, Wondermind
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“As a designer, I want everything on my desk to be visually appealing and that includes my pens. I’ve tried hundreds of different pens but I always order more of these cool color block gel ones in September—not just because they look great but I love how seamlessly they write, too. They make even the most boring task a little more exciting.” —Ben R., 31
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4.Amazon“Folders tend to be forgotten once we graduate and are no longer lugging homework to and from class, but I’ve learned they’re actually crucial to successful adulting. I use these plastic folders (in a more mature muted palette) to organize the endless paperwork that comes with growing up, from health insurance files to internet bills to the random postcards and letters I have an emotional connection to. It’s a great way to keep random stacks of paper to a minimum.” —Jessica S., 32
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“I love to get a new planner every fall when my job picks up and my schedule gets a lot busier. This one from Wonder has been my go-to for a few years because it’s undated (so you can start whenever) and has these great weekly overview pages that help me identify my top priorities each week while also tracking my habits.” —Claire W., 27
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“I’m officially too old to carry a sleek purse on my subway commute to the office (#backpain) so I’ve had to finally surrender to a backpack. My younger sister, who’s much cooler than me, recently recommended this neoprene backpack from Dagne Dover and I’m obsessed. It’s very ‘adult’ but also water-resistant and easy to clean so I don’t have to be too precious with it.” —Rebekah F., 35
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7.AmazonMr. Pen Dry Erase Board
$7.99“My goal for the rest of the year is to spend less time working on my computer/phone whenever possible, so I bought this mini whiteboard for my home office that I can use to brainstorm and jot down ideas IRL instead of in a Google Doc or my notes app.” —Chris S., 32
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“I’m a bring-your-lunch-to-work girly because I’m not trying to spend $20 every day, five days a week (thanks, NYC). I’ve tried a few different lunch boxes over the years and this bento-style box is by far the best one—it has three separate compartments so you can bring a variety of food without it all mixing together and comes with its own cute utensil set.” —Liana R., 28
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“I love how straightforward these sticky notes from Knock Knock are. They help me figure out which tasks are most important each day, followed by the “would be nice” tasks and the rarely achievable “not a chance” tasks. As someone who tends to procrastinate by doing the least important things first, these help me keep my priorities in check.” —Sydney A., 25
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“I’m trying to replace two of my three cups of coffee a day with more water instead so I finally bit the bullet and bought a Hydro Flask that I can take to the office. I like that it can keep drinks cold and hot, so I can also use it for green tea when I’m craving a less intense caffeine fix.” —Lauren K., 29
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11.Amazon“Being in grad school means annotating lots and lots of books and paperwork. I love these transparent sticky notes in cool blues and greens because you can mark things up without permanent damage (I love to resell stuff) and they don’t totally block out the text underneath. Plus, they’re cute!” —Zoey D., 24
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