7 Tips for Keeping a Commonplace Book

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How do you keep a commonplace book? I've learned from experience, and I want to share some tips for you here.
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00:00 - Start
00:23 - Picking the Right Tool
01:27 - Carry Your Commonplace Book
04:17 - Write It Down
05:27 - Add References
06:46 - Create an Index
07:39 - Be Flexible
08:47 - Revisit your commonplace books

[@brimslop]

Great video! It drives me a bit nuts when people expect their journals/commonplace books to be these beautiful, Instagram-worthy pages. There's nothing wrong with that, of course, but remember that you're supposed to be writing in a no-judgement zone for YOU! 😊

[@annetterobinson4358]

Thanks, I needed to read this. I am trying very hard to break away from the perfectionist mindset.

[@brimslop]

@@annetterobinson4358 Aw, I'm glad it helped! I STILL struggle with it from time to time, so you're definitely not alone!

[@my88110]

One of the best tips i heard was to, some days, write using only your weaker hand. Also, draw pictures, using only your weaker hand, to create the link between image and symbol.

[@ParkerNotes]

Nice! I always appreciate your take on CPBs especially since we have different approaches. You're the man!

[@wickedOneDude]

Yay! You, guys, are my favorite youtubers on journaling, thinking, reading, keeping a commonplace book. Maybe you should do a video together on these very topics. One can never have enough of peeking into a random notebook :)

[@ParkerNotes]

​@@wickedOneDudekzbin.info/www/bejne/iJKbkodmhbOXis0

[@burgerdecim9393]

Thank you for englightening us. you guys are the best! God bless! 📖💪💯

[@ParkerNotes]

@@wickedOneDude we have 😅 but we're looking to do another soon

[@penelopegough6050]

I have only recently started to keep a Commonplace book due to your influence. These hints are really helpful. I do decorate a little but then I decorate everything I own so that is a part of my relaxation and satisfies my creative instinct. But I do carry it around and do revisit. I love it. Am really enjoying the process.

[@dougclarke4540]

Thank you so much for this video! I’ve been exploring the commonplace book idea for a little bit and I’ve just seen this video. It was exactly what I was looking for. I can now take these tips and use them to help with my commonplacing. Thank you again very well done!

[@kan-zee]

This is interesting...I remember when the Book Fad, was Bullet journals, and before it was Field Journal Notebooks / Diaries / Planners etc..Now it seems that " *Common Place Book* " is the new Thang !!

[@sidneyn1366]

Commonplaced this video! It helps me retain the information I'm learning if I take notes as I watch videos. It's one out of many I'll watch this week but now that I have notes, it will stand out in my mind. Also it's meta af and I love that kind of thing

[@niceasta]

I always use the last pages of the commonplace to write the index, and they go from right to left, so I'll never run out of pages to do it At the start I usually put a to-do list of big things to do or words I'm learning in English/Spanish Edit: I also use Obsidian - I see my physical "commonplace book" as a "consumer's book", where I jot down things I'm watching or reading. Obsidian is the "second brain" to refine these ideas, plan and keep safe

[@bananacat9139]

Omg, I also do the same with indexing! It is a way to write a 'table of content' of my commonplace book, but instead I'm very picky with what to list. I use the date of entry (month-day) as a 'page number' and the highlighted/main topic as the title. Glad I found others have similar approach to me :3

[@brittanyalleyne9760]

I like how you differentiated between a common place book and a second brain.

[@rhedonlyrhed9155]

Woah, this indexing practice is such a good idea! I've only ever thought to use the back to swatch the pens i use (to avoid bleeding or dark ghosting) as well as stack my sticky notes to.

[@jlstrick1]

Solid advice as always. I agree wholeheartedly with brief references. That makes such a difference when revisiting what I captured and makes it far more useful to my future self.

[@anitas5817]

I really like these videos. I always learn a bit more that’s helpful. Thanks Jared.

[@ccpenthusiast4683]

thanks for you video, they are really helping me fix my journalling and commonplace book. especially the idea of adding an index.

[@danielgarciamagarinos3658]

Thanks, very nice. I liked a lot your videos about commonplace books, stoicism and journalling. It's interesting that your commonplace book is your pocket notebook. I do always carry a pocket notebook precisely for the reasons you mention but then I copy to my commonplace book the ideas, thoughts or quotes that I think I want to keep. My pocket notebook is more like a draft notebook for fleeting notes in a way. As you rightly say, different approaches work better for different people. Even the same person can find different aproaches better at different stages.

[@nia6747]

That's what I do too! I keep a pocketbook for draft, on-the-go notes then I use a commonplace book to more formally record and refine those notes.

[@LiterateTexan]

A few years ago, I taught a friend of mine what a commonplace book is, and she kept up with one for a long time. I think she's out of the habit now, but she still has them. Great tips in g this video.

[@christopherclements8379]

Hello, thank you for a fine outline of a scheme that I've been working for around forty five years and yes, these volumes become ever more useful as you move through the stages of your life. At the moment I'm in the midst of transcribing all the short notes I'd scribbled down to myself in the first half of 1994 and it's like meeting my much younger self with a richer perspective. Utterly fantastic hobby, obsession, compulsion, what-have-you, and your take on all of this is wonderfully well considered. Thank you again.

[@khalidakram]

What advice would you give to your younger self today? What was young Clements - like?

[@christopherclements8379]

I'd tell the younger Clements that he should stay on course pursuing a life of wide ranging enquiry, because this volume from some thirty years ago reflects a rolling inner inquisition of just about anything and everything that drew my curiosity back then, with some themes repeated in later volumes to great effect. All of it comes across in altered form over time, all the ideas and concepts that I'd arrayed around myself as my patchwork, temporary identity while I sought out my real one were ever changing and the main reason I still to this day avoid imagining I might ever have a full understanding of anything - which is comforting as I know I won't become impervious to the perpetually unexpected new. @@khalidakram

[@PlanYourOneLife]

I agree with tip #2. I carry mine with me almost everywhere. Whenever I don’t have it, I’ll add a note to my Apple Notes.

[@monochromios]

I've recently found a third way for my commonplace book: I bought a e-ink tablet, mainly for my researcher job. I can keep on hand writing and learning, my favorite method, adding the facilitation of digital search. I was very skeptical but this tool is becoming a game changer for me

[@romeoaranjon5178]

I’m debating on doing the same. I’ve been thinking about the Remarkable 2. I know I don’t need it but when I do try to keep some writing on a tablet or phone I do get distracted easily.

[@alpharius1015]

I mainly use it to organize my articles/highlighted articles + lectures notes. What are some ways you use in addition to this? I definitely enjoy but I find I still prefer making outlines on paper and the like, and I'm looking for ways to better utilize my e ink tablet

[@romeoaranjon5178]

Great video. I’ve been keeping a common place book for a while but don’t make enough time to revisit. Obsidian is great and I have a lot that I know I will use stored there.

[@TheNutmegStitcher]

I just use good old composition books. I add to the table of contents as I go. Very simple, no aesthetic to consider. Appeals to my desire for flexibility and simplicity

[@aja1464]

thank you. That was extremely useful and beautifully presented.

[@MaximilianP-rf5hq]

Thanks for the video! I am constantly struggling with maintaining the habit of writing in my commonplace books even though I see its usefulness. Good luck with your German lessons! As a native German, I am really glad not to have to deal with this language as a second-language. Definitely useful for anyone interested in philosophy, though.

[@user-on7zd8yi8g]

Ja das stimmt!

[@Loicmartins]

Great video thanks very much!

[@armandodelagarza8038]

Love your channel.

[@aceshigh5157]

damn, you just solved a problem for me. i've been trying to solve it for a while, but you did it. many thanks!

[@carmenM-ey6qy]

I love this, I wish I had done this sooner! I’m in my late 50s, but I guess it’s not too late.

[@jeraldbaxter3532]

Thank you!

[@jennacrystalblue2244]

Oh em gee. I just accidentally hit upon the motherlode of potential CB material. I opened my Kindle for the cloud. And started looking through my notes & highlights. Every line or paragraph I've ever loved onan ebook is stored thers with page numbers. ❤️

[@simplysara8212]

This sounds a bit like what Bullet Journaling has morphed into. I think I’ll try it!

[@aceshigh5157]

do you have any tips for those who strongly prefer to create mindmaps (instead of writing linearly)?

[@prawn5148]

When you put the book in the backpocket.. where do you have your pen? Also in the backpocket? i like to have it in the frontpocket.. but it feels not right...

[@Hi_Im_Dominik]

I cerry 2 notebooks with me. My common place book for my thoughts, plans what ever i have to do. At the end of a day ill revisit what i wrote and if its connted to any topics included in my yearly journal ill add it there and 2nd one is my conpendium. I write quotes from books, ppl i admire to reflect on them when im bored. Its fun

[@nobodyxx560]

An excellent tool on your intellectual journey. I don't own a backpack. For a genius it seems pretty dumb to not be able to carry cool rocks and groceries home at the same time. What do you say to that mister savant!

[@Nerdelkin]

#4 is like the main point.

[@StudioUAC]

would a commonplace book be the best for writing down list of random thoughts and ideas?

[@nsavch]

how to reference an ebook in a physical commonplace book?

[@pelhamh]

Should I have a commonplace book for each subject? Or can I have one for various topics?

[@CristinaDias7]

Obsidian!!! 🙋🏻‍♀️ but I use Apple notes for random notes, like a Comnonplace book, Obsidian as tought hub. Art history and theory masters student, works greats.

[@zenbrandon]

Yeah, Obsidian really works well as a place for me to store research documents and notes and drafts. I love it!

[@kellysharpe2122]

I loved Obsidian until it completely erased my dashboard one day. I was looking at it, and then it blinked and was a blank page. I didn't save, but when I reopened the markdown file in a text editor, all my stuff was gone.

[@jrm2547]

The index could also be in the middle, and when you really know what you are doing. Just pleased to meet yourself in such a big mess.

[@inshallamiami]

Why not use a digital commonplace book? With my ipen and iPad, I can “handwrite” my notes easily.

[@Nick-qp7to]

love the video however personally i find the music slightly distracting even though its very lovely reminds me of zelda, i would prefer/ suggest if its lower thanks!!

[@retardhunter69]

You need to take better care of that moustache of yours!