Pencil Tips to Optimize Your Pencil Use

I have a pencil in my cup at work. It’s a yellow Ticonderoga No. 2 HB, and I love it. Not a day goes by that I don’t need it for something. If you’re a dedicated pencil user like I am, here are some tips for you to optimize your daily pencil use!

Reboot Your Eraser
You know when your eraser gets that too-smooth texture, and you just know that instead of erasing cleanly, it’s going to smear the graphite and leave a pinky-silver smudge all across the page? As a kid, I discovered that rubbing the eraser across a rough surface – I used the bricks of our living room fireplace – to remove the top layer of rubber was a surefire way to reboot the eraser and make it usable once more. A little birdy told me that rubbing the eraser across a carpet will have the same effect, but I admit I haven’t tried that method yet.

Pencils Aren’t Just for Writing
A pencil is SO much more than just a writing implement! You can use a pencil to put your hair up, or use a pair of pencils as chopsticks. You can use a pencil in the car to fish out objects you drop in that tricky place between the seat and the center console (which I did just last weekend, in fact – thanks, Pencil, for saving my debit card!). You can also lay a ruler alongside your pencil and make a mark or a nick in the wood for each inch or centimeter to make yourself a handy ruler without adding another item to your purse or pocket. Carry a pencil with you every day for a week and witness for yourself the world of possibilities.

Don’t Eat It!
Despite my best intentions, I occasionally find myself bored to the point of zoning out, and a pencil will make its way to my mouth. Try painting a pencil with clear nail polish if you’re the type to take an absent-minded nibble, or use a pencil that doesn’t lend itself well to chewing, like a mechanical pencil.

Cap It
Mechanical pencils are great for carrying with you, but what if you want to bring your favorite traditional pencil on the go without worrying about getting pencil marks on the inside of your pocket or purse? Simple! Save the cap on a dried-out pen to use as a pencil cap, or slide your pencil inside a small, capped sharpener like this one for a convenient, purse- and pocket-friendly pencil.

What are your pencil tips? Share them with us in the comments!