The 100 Years Club Installment #89: Adult School Supplies

New season…new habits!

I was one of those kids who loved back-to-school shopping—pencil cases, a new book bag, a funky lunchbox, and so many notebooks (and, later, colorful loose-leaf binders). I may still have my compass and protractor in a storage box.

Every fall, I’m tempted to buy a big box of 64 Crayola crayons (with a sharpener, of course!). And, because we’re living in an era of excess, I could upgrade to the ULTIMATE 152-crayon assortment (Don’t have a sharpener? This $50+ electric gadget seems useful, but perhaps a big excessive).

Speaking of gadgets and other adult toys…

No, not THOSE toys! This particular blog is not a sex-ed class.

Starting the season with organizational tools and gadgets is a great way to upgrade your habits and stay on track to your goals.

My faves are:

1. A paper planner. Although I generally live in the cloud, I like checking stuff off my to-do list and looking back on my progress. I divide the pages into “Self-Care,” “Passions,” and “Work,” and make sure I have something in each column every day. (Please don’t judge…we all have our organization and life management hacks.)
2. My Calpak backpack is lightweight and versatile. It holds what I need when I work at Industrious, my co-working space.
3. I love this laptop stand. It is adjustable, very flattering for Zoom calls, and keeps me from straining my neck.
4. My purple Coldest water bottle with my name on it compels me to hydrate. The color is on-brand, and I don’t have to worry about someone picking it up by accident (unless they’re a thief named Nancy).
5. Various electronic gadgets. I just set up my Pivo. I despise shooting selfie videos, but this little gizmo makes it at least a bit of fun. I downloaded Capcut too and am playing around with video editing. (See below and go easy on me…this is my first attempt.)

I also splurged on a few new fashion items. Guided by one of my upcoming podcast guests, I took a quiz to define my “Stellar Beauty” type and bought some inexpensive things she suggested. (The episode will air in October.)

Of course, you don’t need a lot of “stuff” to be productive or to get smarter this fall season. I began this series by listing what I plan to do and learn over the next few months.

Most back-to-school sales are over by now, but Amazon has another Prime Day in October and other retailers jump on the sale bandwagon too.

Whatever is in your backpack, suitcase, or tote bag or on your desk this season is, like technology, simply a tool to make you more productive and faster or to build your business or personal brand. Plus, being organized has health benefits!

Want more facts and tips on organizing for the fall? Here you go!

	7 backpack trends A history of the backpack
	Joining a new group is not a tangible back-to-school supply, but can help expand your business and social circle. I recently discovered this group, too, which has been terrific for meeting new local people.
	Heavy backpacks can mess up your body and posture. What do you REALLY need to bring to work or on business trips?
	Feeling nostalgic? Etsy has an online store dedicated to antique school supplies.  Speaking of nostalgia, here’s a tidbit about the history of the school bus. And this desk accessory would make a great holiday gift for your writer friend or family member!