Many people on the internet ask me about my journal and the “little charts” I paste inside of it. The “little charts” are a part of my Weeksheet — a piece of paper I print off every week that helps me balance pragmatic concerns with the time, energy, and space necessary for meaningful creative work (music and songwriting for Hello Emerson in my case).

Anyone can use this method if it suits them. Here’s a video walkthrough of my process, and links to everything I use to start my mornings.

— Sam

The Weeksheet

I think passive income isn’t as important as passive goodwill, so you can always get the basic Weeksheet for free. Artists helping artists, you know? But I use the Premium Weeksheet (lol). It is in full color with a few extra sections that I found helpful for my weekly rhythm. You can download that for five bucks. Feel free to edit and remix them to suit your own needs. I’d be curious to see the changes you make!

The Resilient Journal

I use a Moleskine A4 Sketchbook. It’s unlined and the paper is heavy enough weight to stand up to watercolors. So, it’s sturdy enough to tape or paste my habit trackers to. One journal lasted me about three years of “nearly-daily” journaling. For me, it’s worth the cost. There is a nice pocket in the back as well!

The Cheap Timer

There is nothing particularly special about this timer. It helps me stay on task for short chunks of time, and I like how it shows me how much time is left. It beeps when it’s done. I’m sure there are better and fancier timers, but not everything I use has to be top quality.

The Bespoke Cup

I have a woodworking friend named Turner. He makes beautiful woodcrafts out of salvaged wood, and he made me some amazing cups! They are all hardwood, handturned, and full of unique beauty. It’s indescribably pleasant to pour my pens onto my desk in the morning and choose the color of the day.

The Colorful Pens

I use Pilot Precise V5s. The colors are good, the pens feel good in my hand, and the extra fine tips make me happy. They also have V7s for a little bit of a wider tip if you prefer (with even more color options). Use whatever you like, but in case you were curious — now you know.