The S.O.S. Planner Accessory All-Stars

Between all of us on the team here at Anchored Women, we have gone through our fair share of planning supplies. Most have been good, some have been bad, and some downright ugly (don’t ask about the Great Pen Explosion of 2023). Over time, we’ve been impressed by a few shining stars and we’re sharing those with you today!

PENS 

Smooth operator // Pilot G2

Office supply aisles are bursting at the seams with gel pens, but the Pilot G2 stands out as the most consistently smooth and least likely to skip while you are writing. It also has a pretty decent ink life unlike other gel pens we’ve tried, making it a great value and our overall go-to pen.

Softest touch // Acroballs

Sometimes you just need a ballpoint pen, especially when you are writing on thinner paper or are concerned about bleed-through. Still, most stick ballpoints tend to remind us of clipboards and endless forms at the doctor’s office- or worse, the DMV. Not so the Acroball! Retractable and refillable with a cushy grip, these ballpoints have gone through a glow-up so impressive, you’ll have to hide them from your family members and co-workers! 

Most Likely to Forgive and Forget // Frixion Pens

Erasable pens are having a moment, probably because they are so darn practical, combining the flexibility of a pencil with the durability of a pen. Being able to erase what you wrote is also a tonic against Perfect Planner Syndrome- that feeling you get when your planner is so pretty, you don’t want to write in it.

A word of warning- Frixion pens work by using heat to erase the ink, so if you live in an extremely hot climate or if you leave your planner in a hot car, you might find your plans disappearing! That being said, under normal indoor use, they perform reliably.

I keep a regular supply of the basic black ones at all times, but I also enjoy the colorful Waai version, especially for filling out my monthly calendar. The bright colors lend themselves beautifully to color-coding my schedule and the thinner tips are perfect for writing in smaller calendar boxes.  

HIGHLIGHTERS

Most Dependable // Mr. Pen Chisel Tip Highlighters

I bought these sturdy highlighters for my mother as a Christmas present last year and immediately had to order a set for myself. The chisel tip is great for creating consistent highlighter lines and the ink is bright and quick-drying, but the standout feature of these highlighters has to be their shape. Because they are chunky and square they will not roll away from you! As someone who constantly has all manner of pens and markers strewn about her desk at any time, this is a strong selling point. 

Most Likely to Brighten Your Day // Zebra Mildliners

We are not alone in our enthusiasm for Zebra Mildliners, but these pens live up to the hype. They come in so many delicious colors, are resistant to bleeding, and last forever (the original set I bought when my middle daughter was born is still going strong. She’s eleven now.) These highlighters give me extra motivation to use my habit trackers- I love seeing it filled up with all the gorgeous colors at the end of the month! 

Team Player // Zebra Journaling Set

Speaking of Zebra pens and highlighters, this set is another Christmas gift that was such a hit, I immediately had to buy myself one as well! It comes with seven Zebra Mildliners and seven colorful gel pens. I mostly use this set when I’m on the go and I don’t want to gather all my supplies or risk losing my favorite pen. They are great for sermon notes and an incredible value for the price. 

BINDING SUPPLIES

Most Adaptable // Discs 

Disc-bound notebooks are kind of genius and really maximize the flexibility of our customizable planner. Not only can you build your own planner, but you can add and take away pages whenever you want! I like these fun confetti disks and find they are less likely to break than the ones that have a hole in the middle, but if your planner is holding a lot of pages or you have a heavier cover, you might want to try these metal discs.

*Kayse’s personal favorite discs: The metal discs from Inkwell Press! They are a bit more of an investment, but they hold up so well, for years and years!

Most Likely to Punch Above Their Weight // TUL Punch

A good disc punch is a solid investment and this one consistently performs, even punching through laminated covers. If you find the punches are sticking, try punching through fewer sheets at a time.

Most Likely to Split Up After Graduation // Clear Disc-Bound Dividers

These disc-bound dividers are our very favorite because 1) they are super durable, and 2) they are see-through so you can easily view our gorgeous divider pages through them! Plus, the blue stickers match our S.O.S. Planner colors beautifully, and you know we love our color-coordination!

Most Likely to Keep It All Together // Cinch book binding machine

Disc binding is great, but sometimes I want something a little more permanent, especially if I am doing any kind of memory keeping in my planner. The Cinch Binding Machine lets you create wire-O bound notebooks at home, and although there is a bit of a learning curve, I have been pretty pleased with the result. The set linked here includes everything you need to get started. If you like having a permanently bound planner and have been going to the office supply store to have it done there, binding your own planners in this way can be a more economic solution in the long run.

OTHER ACCESSORIES

Most Likely to Reach for the Stars // Telescoping Pen Pouch

The first time I saw a telescoping pen bag, I was a little bit amazed and to be honest, it still makes me happy. Not only is this bag roomy enough to hold all your supplies, but the top folds down, presenting you with all of your writing supplies, there are your fingertips. I find this especially handy when I am using several different colors of pen or highlighter (I love a good color-code) and don’t want to root around in my pencil pouch to find it or leave it on my desk to have it roll away. (This is a problem I have. See above.)

Most Likely to Stand Out // Avery Ultra Tabs

For the longest time, I was using those plastic tabbed dividers in my planner like I was still in fourth grade science class, or having to sticker over other labeled dividers. And then I found these. My favorite thing about Avery Ultra Tabs is the variety. If neon school colors and fourth grade throw-backs are your thing, they have your back (no shade thrown.) But they also have so many other elegant and stylish options, including the ones linked here, which match perfectly with the SOS Planner!

Another great option: The beautiful planner tabs from Daily Grace Co! These are the ones Kayse uses regularly, and the colors go great with our S.O.S. Planner, too!

Snazziest Dresser // Bloom Daily Mega Sticker Pack 

I love the simple, elegant aesthetic of our planner and most of the time, it doesn’t need any additional decoration. But every once in a while, I find myself wanting to add a seasonal sticker or mark a special birthday, and that’s when I reach for this sticker pack. I appreciate the mix of decorative and functional stickers that come in this pack, but my favorite feature is the washi strips. I love a good washi strip and so many sticker books tend to be stingy with them. Not this one! It’s the perfect, easy way to add a little color or seasonal decoration to a page without too much fuss. 

And there it is! Our all star line-up of tried and true planner side-kicks. Which ones would make your list? Which ones did we miss? Share in the comments below!