Jordan McMahon: The Pens and Planners That Helped Me Stop Doomscrolling

I’ve been spending a lot less time on my phone lately. I haven’t ditched my smartphone for a more minimalist option, nor do I Brick my phone every night before bed. Instead, I’ve finally forced myself to dive into hobbies that require me to be off my phone for more than a few minutes. Much of the time I used to spend doomscrolling now goes to kickboxing, singing, and the occasional stand-up open mic. All of those get me out of the house and away from my phone — which is great — but don’t do much for keeping my screens turned off when I’m at home, especially after a long day.

My stationery obsession, on the other hand, does. I spend hours trying out fountain pens with my trusty notebook, looking for one that’s smooth enough to handle my quick handwriting and small enough to satisfy my love for tiny pens (so I can always have one with me). Then, of course, there’s the matter of finding the right ink to go with my pen. Since I’m trying to get away from the black ink I’m used to from ballpoint pens, I’ve wanted to find something a little more exciting without veering too far from neutral colors. After trying the fountain pens of a few friends and sampling their inks, I’ve decided that I want a nice brown ink with rich shades that aren’t too dark. That search has proven nearly as difficult as the challenge of getting off my phone in the first place, but mostly because of all the options — and it’s a lot more satisfying.