Why I Love Commonplace Books + How To Start Your Own

[@allsparkedout]

‘even though they aren’t my own words, the things you resonate with are a reflection of yourself and where you are in your life’….. this is the perfect summary and may become the first phrase in my first commonplace book! ❤

[@trezazaw7222]

This was the first phrase I wrote on my book too 😊 I just really loved it

[@jocquemorrison9785]

Really liked this idea. ❤

[@perianka]

same

[@swimmyswims]

same :D

[@TracieClaiborne]

I love this too!

[@nhappynerd]

I just realized that Pinterest is kind of a Commonplace book for me. The only downside is that they can censor you.

[@s.f.nightingale1735]

Yeah! Especially if you have functioning links! I have different playlists on KZbin for homesteading, one is entirely about meal rabbits, or embroidery. And I keep a journal specific to that. And one for my ttrpg, and the worldbuilding(I understand that that might not sound relevant, but part of the appeal from ttrpg is the conversation/dialogue/exchange of ideas, so I have notes about what my friends found interesting so I can draw from their views).

[@Ori11.11]

@nhappynerd You saying that, made me realize that I use Notes on my IPhone as a commonplace book 😄

[@gayroach2916]

The sudden mass influx of AI art is another downside to pinterest for me these days

[@ShayanMallick29]

​@@gayroach2916yess i hate that

[@celebrityguest.9530]

ugh, the pinterest censorship thing is exhausting. i feel like that site's reporting system in general has such an issue with purity culture, i realize it may be related to the wider age range using the site (it was the first "social media" myself and many others were allowed to have as kids) but it is just exhausting the amount of violation notices i constantly get for things i have on my private boards because some people just can't wrap their heads around "move on and keep scrolling"

[@nxctem]

I’ve kept so many notebooks with lyrics, quotes, book passages and small story ideas since I was 12, and never realized this is what they’re called. I stopped doing it after a couple of years because I felt like I was being unoriginal not using them to write my own thoughts and writings.p, but I want to start again after watching this video. It brought me joy when I used to do it, and I honestly need that in my life right now. Thank you for making your video :)

[@tphillips37]

Same here. I used loose leaf paper and pocket folders to keep them in and I wrote song lyrics and poems and quotes all kinds of things down. I'm 61 and I recently stumbled across a folder that had somehow survived all these years. I find post it notes and scraps of paper with things jotted on them all over the place. And now screen shotds. It never occurred to me I should put them in a journal.

[@justanotherhuman8918]

Yup me too I’ve got notebooks full of thoughts, ideas, quotes, lists of things that are interesting to me, things I want to look into more, music lyrics, historical areas of interest - my daughter says it’s an ADD symptom! I have so many notebooks and they’re all spirals.

[@redgoldcrown3990]

I think I might start, just because it would make me happy to be able to see all the things that resonated with me over time.

[@adriannamarszal]

I have so many notebooks like this at home, have been doing the same since I was a teenager and in my early 20s. Tried to consolidate them multiple times into one big journal but that proved difficult and, frankly speaking, uninspiring. So I have a few beautiful and custom-made journals with snapshots of myself from the past 😊

[@MirandaPurpleClouds]

Omg me too. One thing about that the "things wasnt your own" thinking; its inspiration! Its ideas of what you like so you know what gets you going! Isnt that amazing?? ❤️

[@wildlyimaginable]

I’ve been keeping a commonplace book for years….just didn’t know that’s what it was called until a few years ago. I first came upon the term when I was doing research on a type of note taking that totally intrigued me called Zettelkasten. Goodness, THAT was a rabbit hole of information. Most of my commonplace note taking is in Notion now but I still use notebooks cause at heart, I’m a scribe, a paper and pen gal. Thanks for sharing yours with us! ☺️

[@jonasfilmstudio]

Is Zettelkasten simply what it sounds like? Like just a box that you put your random pieces of notes in? Or is there something else to it?

[@wildlyimaginable]

@@jonasfilmstudio There so much more to it that just a box of notes. It's how it's organized.

[@seleneyue]

@@jonasfilmstudio it's like a personal living Wiki on paper. Rabbit hole indeed

[@mikethelma]

​@jonasfilmstudio Research it on youtube. Basically, you put one idea on a card, number it, put it in box, and periodically go through them and criss reference them.

[@vb7960]

I just looked up Zettelkasten... and it sounds like my new study obsession

[@AdorableLittleHeart]

This is like irl reblogging/retweeting, I like it

[@sdb9884]

I have been keeping quotes I like in an unsent email draft for years. Interesting the way that so many people do it in such different ways.

[@trash2638]

oh man, be careful! that might easily get deleted on accident!

[@trash2638]

oh man, be careful! that might easily get deleted on accident!

[@trash2638]

oh man, be careful! that might easily get deleted on accident!

[@mt.shasta6097]

If sdb values the quotes, they will transfer all info to something beautiful and pleasurable to use--a proper blank book.

[@CarlyUTube]

I’ve been doing this almost my whole life. Here’s my problem, I don’t keep mine in a book that holds it all together in one place. I’ve been writing things down all over the place😂 half written in notebooks, note paper, sticky notes here and there! I have to get it together and write in ONE Commonplace book! Great video and beautiful notebook.

[@scloftin8861]

Finding sticky notes that you have no idea what they're referring to ... I moved my computer set up and there are still notes on the wall next to where it used to be. I probably reset that password ... Hope your commomplace book works out for you!

[@lillysummeroriginals1213]

Hey, I wonder if you would like a more scrapbooking attitude to making and keeping a common place book. Out and about you use whatever paper you want and have access to, napkins, receipts, Post-it notes, really whatever but every few days as you watch TV or whatever you transfer all those bits of paper into one notebook. This way everything is together and organized for when you want to go back and reference some thing, but you do not need to worry about actually putting everything into the notebook all the time. Hope this can help

[@ninii394]

Same ...and I have now 10+kg of PPR clutter due to this and I just don't know how to declutter it🥺

[@lillysummeroriginals1213]

@@ninii394 hey, this is my advice and I apologize for mistakes because I talk into my phone. Just start, it might feel very frustrating and overwhelming which is totally normal but it is important just to begin. Even if you are always super busy take 10 or 15 minutes every day to go through six. I would personally make myself come up with a really good reason why I want to keep something, even just a little piece of paper, if it sounded all like an excuse that is a great clue something I do not really want to keep. My pile might not ever become super small and that is OK but what I’ve gotten rid of a bunch of things I would start deciding on a practical organization system. There are plenty of different options and strategies out there and therefore I would recommend some child error because you want something that actually will work and last a while. This could include scanning everything digitally and getting rid of the physical paper. It was like a bunch of different binders and maybe even a file folder and labelling everything. Perhaps just copying down the most important things into some separate notebooks, I’m getting rid of the rest. Perhaps you want to individually label everything, organizer into piles, and just leave those piles stacked in a box somewhere. Those are just a few recommendations, there are so many more out there and even more ways to customize already existing strategies. remember, don’t stress yourself out, this might seem very stressful but it is not worth stressing over. Take it easy, take it slow, play some good music or an interesting television show or movie, and actually enjoy the process. I really hope this can help, if you have any more questions let me know, and again I really apologize for the mistakes.

[@ninii394]

@@lillysummeroriginals1213 ohh thank you for your advice .... but those ppr clutter are my random feelings I shared on ppr I'm introvert and had no one to listen to I was drowning in life that time I wrote all that on random pprs I got my hands on and slowly within 6-7 month it became such a huge pile but now I'm coming out of all those hardships thats why it's soo difficult for me to declutter other than that clg notes and books I easily decluttered only keeping one two books for memory ....and you don't need to apologise 😊

[@tyliyahhayilyt9700]

After I graduated high school, I unknowingly started a commonplace book. It was FILLED with qoutes from books I enjoyed. I was in a bad mental place and I threw it out. I wish i didnt. I havent thought about it much since, but now I know "my silly little qoute book" had a name. It wasnt at all silly. It was beautiful. I am going to start it again, this time I am going to keep it.

[@skepticbat]

Love this comment ❤️❤️❤️ did you start your new book?

[@tyliyahhayilyt9700]

@@skepticbat yes I have its coming together beautiful. I add objects too like for my sister’s graduation the professor said something that resonated with me and wrote it down and taped in the ticket stub and flower petal from the bouquet she got me. I’m so happy I started again!

[@skepticbat]

@@tyliyahhayilyt9700 this inspires me, thank you for the update ❤️

[@heidimeigs5192]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🥰

[@fh5497]

I've been doing this since I was 14 and only now learnt this term. I used to say "they say my feeling in their words" everytime I collected a quote, a lyric, an excerpt from an interview. Its a book made up of what makes me me

[@jop4112]

I'll be putting your quote in my book😊

[@singmysong1167]

#metoo

[@anaochoa]

that's so beautiful

[@pvp6077]

Like in the song "Killing me softly": "He was strumming my pain with his fingers, he was singing my life with his words"

[@electrogeek77]

I have poor retention and recall because of fibromyalgia and ADHD. It's really made consuming content less enjoyable, particularly if I'm trying to learn something. This might actually be a big help.

[@amstreater]

I have ADHD-like symptoms and one of them is struggling to retain information. I’ll read a whole book or watch a film or documentary and really enjoy it but could maybe tell you maximum one thing about it. I use e-books on my iPad a lot and I’m constantly highlighting sections, and recently I’ve started going back over these highlights when I finish the book and adding notes to summarise or re-word them in my own words as a way to strengthen my understanding and processing of that particular piece of information. Seeing this video I’m also curious if this could help.

[@shanc4696]

Tristen and the Classics has a video called How to Remember What You Read Better that may also have some useful tips.

[@toxizenz]

here's another tip that could help- i'm not finished the vid so forgive me if it's already in there ;; when reading, underline passages that stick out and make a note on how they may be important to the story and what that line expresses. when doing this you can add some sort of small bookmark or symbol to the quote, and write the quote down in your book as well. this way you can help yourself comprehend the story and intentions better, and use it as a guide to what has happened later on.

[@HoneyduckXD]

Ya I have ADHD symptoms and this is actually cool. It can be a diary, a chunky book full of junk, and everything in between that u can literally get at dollar tree

[@anastasiaseagull]

I’m an artist and I use my ‘commonplace books’ as sketchbooks as well and since I not only place quotes and useful information there, but journal as well (reflecting on what happens in my life), I like to keep one leather notebook where I snap several notebooks with ribbons and it’s much more customizable than just one notebook. I tried keeping just one, but it was a mess because I haven’t categorized anything, so now I also write marginal notes in my journals because I’m too impatient to make table of content and it will distract me to flip through pages to write the theme down. Marginal notes are also very flexible, you can write themes, key words, quotes, book names, authors, your personal notes, redirect yourself to different page of your journal (I number pages of my journals/buy leuchtrum ones that come numbered already), make corrections or just write again something you’d like to highlight even more. As for my writing/drawing tool I use fountain pen (Pilot Falcon) and Walnut ink (I love it’s warm brown hue). Anyway, nice video, keep it up 🐸📕🖋️

[@NotebookOverloadd]

loved reading your artist perspective!! It sounds awesome the way you do it.

[@youremyfavoritesong9868]

I've been sketching so much more since I let myself sketch in my journal instead of just a sketchbook! it's so fun

[@boodoesart4872]

I USE MY SKETCHBOOK THE SAME WAY!!! I didn't really know anyone else did, by no means did I think I was being original but still. And I am awful at making and keeping table of contents so my things are never organized but I have a weird knack for remembering where about in a book or story or whatever something was. Like I can remember roughly on the page it is and everything... So it tends to work out alright for me and my inability to keep a working list of where things are.

[@flowerbloom5782]

That’s such a good idea about marginal notes.

[@emmawright9660]

I learned about a commonplace book in A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS in gradeschool and started keeping them in high school. It's always helped me with my writing process when I have a story idea I want to experiment with outside of my rough draft, as well as research for worldbuilding and writing craft.

[@digitalchapel]

8:01 I don't even know why I clicked on this video because I had never heard of doing this, but as soon as you described what a commonplace book was at the beginning, I immediately thought of how my ADD anxiety really thwart my memory when it comes to anything that my body isn't determining as expressly dire information (so, work and school stuff basically) and I get mental burnout so much. what you describe at this timestamp is EXACTLY why I got excited by the beginning of this video, and I'm so happy that this isn't just for me! it's how I'm able to remember important complex new information when I'm studying for a class, I don't know why it didn't occur to me to do this for things I'm interested in or love!

[@christimorgret7818]

"Consume content that is worth keeping" hits harder than I thought it would. Commonplace book = better life curation! Edited to add: downloading Obsidian as I watch.

[@TanaMSchiewer]

I didn't know this type of notebook had a name! Very cool. Also, I love the idea to "consume content that is worth keeping." Great way to evaluate our media consumption.

[@pamdistasio5207]

I started a commonplace book this year in an a5 journal with an index. But i hated not having a good way to organize the information. Chronological just wasn't cutting it. So i changed to a disc bound notebook so i could insert and move around the pages, and hated it. Now I'm using a zettelkasten system using large 5x8 index cards. So far, so good!

[@mikethelma]

I suggest you make a distinction between recording and retrieving. The essence of it is recording. It was only that in the beginning and John Locke revolutionized it with his method of indexing. You might try it. It worked for him. 😂

[@munser9763]

thats actually so smart

[@thewatchfemme4051]

I’ve been commonplacing, and book journaling, since I was 12; although I did not know to call it that for a long time. It’s so cool to get better at it, and to look back over years and years of entries. Cool channel, glad I found you.

[@alishaking1561]

This is fantastic. I currently handmake journals but never know what to do with them. I'm going to give this a try and put my beautiful journals to use!!

[@karma13612]

I’m a fountain pen enthusiast AND like to journal. AND, I love quotes! Sounds like I need to explore this commonplacing concept! Thank you! And I agree, writing things down by hand is excellent for retaining the information. I believe it’s to do with neuroplasticity. 🖋❤️🙋‍♀️ TOTALLY INSPIRED!

[@botanicantics5909]

I feel like this concept could really help me right now deal with my grief, maturing, and place in this wider world. Reading the comments also gives me ideas of how much I can personalize it to what I need and what media I resonate with. A big thank you for the video and to the commentators!

[@ericmaher4756]

I like how this keeps thoughts alive in your mind and make them transformative instead of just being momentary.

[@epowell4211]

Interesting! I'd never heard of these before, but I'm guessing my sister did: back in the 80s, she shared a journal with her friends, and it was filled with random quotes, snips of conversation, anything they found interesting, and I was always so jealous of it. I have always sucked at journaling - it was required in a few classes I took - and rather than track my feelings/events, I always tended to just note anything I found interesting that day, so the idea of a Commonplace book really resonates with me. Thanks for sharing!

[@erinkeel8052]

Your comment about our curated feeds keeping us outraged is so true. I have begun to feel information exhaustion, so I am fasting social media every other month as a new year's resolution/goal. Also, you mentioning that writing helps us remember and process notable information is a good point. Thank you for sharing this beautiful notebook here.

[@bethel1019]

It's heartening to me to see that you have crossings out in your book, and that your lines in the index are wavy. I watch so many videos about journalling where people have beautiful handwriting and can draw artistic borders and illustrations, etc. My handwriting has always been messy and I can't draw to save my life, so I worry about spoiling a beautiful notebook. Maybe it doesn't matter so much if it's just for me.

[@Lb_Collects]

I'm so glad this was recommended to me randomly, I've always done this since i was a kid... never knew why, just ... found something i liked and wanted to read it more than once, in that moment.

[@andreav83]

I thought I was alone in my little quote-keeping world. It's great to know this has been a thing since Ancient Greek times and it's even better to find a whole community of commonplace book writers here.

[@poyobunny8508]

This is such a great idea💙 It inspired me to create my own commonplace book now. A tip for sectioning different media in your notebook is to draw a special little symbol at the beginning of the paragraph you wrote to indicate what media your got it from like draw symbols like: 📢📖📱🎥

[@sthrwars]

the cover of the book you show in the beginning is INSANELY good, I couldn't keep my eyes out of it

[@mariavogelsang]

It is like a Mandala, or brocade.

[@cynthiaakacyndsmith6539]

This is an awesome channel. I am in love with common place books. My adopted Grandma kept one. I love perusing it. Her daughter did something with it when she died.. hers was a hard covered book. She started with a dip pen, and then went to ballpoint. I believe she started it in the 1910’s she was born in 1892. And went to college 1917? Ish. And that is when the book I was started. I remember loving to read it and look at her hand writing.

[@NotebookOverloadd]

Thank you for sharing this lovely story! 💛

[@TempestPhaedra]

Wow, a grandma who went to college. That is special! My grandparents going back several generations were not well educated.

[@simmyjester]

This is so neat! Apparently I've been doing a sort of commonplace book type thing off and on since high school! And I used composition books so yeah, very inexpensive hobby. Mine was more of a quote collection and brain dump, but...similar, I guess. :)

[@NotebookOverloadd]

Sounds similar enough! :D Your own version of it, which is always the most awesome.

[@umbreon127]

Honestly you gave a new meaning for commonplace books for me and have explained it to be more of a knowledge index. Almost like an organized braindump and I love it. I was going to get into commonplacing but I always felt like it needed to be intellectual. You've definitely opened my mind to starting one once again.

[@yymmas]

my thoughts exactly!!! also yes, i love the thought of it being an organized braindump considering that i already do a lot of braindumps over the years in my notebooks haha

[@NotebookOverloadd]

Organised braindump is a great way to word it! That’s exactly how it feels lol. Glad this video was helpful in some way.

[@gamewrit0058]

Great video! An even simpler table of contents option is writing the title or subject of each entry on a single line at the very back, working forward, until the notes and the TOC meet. That way I never have to guess about how much room to leave for each letter of the alphabet or keyword, etc. And when I'm done with each book, I put a label (usually tape with permanent marker) on the front with its start and end dates. I've used a variety of more complicated indexing systems in the past, but they were a hassle to upkeep.

[@julialovesgfriend]

I’ve done this naturally ever since I was little! like, actually really young! it makes me kind of emotional that this is just something human beings feel the need to do, like collecting words and phrases and thoughts, it’s sort of like a treasure box but for words 🫶🏻

[@heidimeigs5192]

Yes! I have a small, pretty notebook with nothing in it but quotes. 😁

[@daylenestaneart775]

Very well put!

[@sunlitriddle2294]

One of the best, most useful lessons I ever learned in university was how to keep a commonplace book. I deeply wish I could go back in time and take that class over again because it was wasted on a sleep-deprived early-twenties me. I'm not good at keeping A Commonplace Book™, but I do collect quotes and song lyrics and whatever inspiration strikes for whatever writing project I'm on. This can be motivational quotes found on tumblr or poetry, quotes from youtube essays, excerpts from fiction or non-fiction research. And interwoven (and usually in an accent color) are reflections and comments of my own and how they apply to the overall Project the journal is related to. And if said journal is unavailable? Jot it down on scratch paper and slap it in there later. It's more like a bujo meets commonplace book meets scrapbook. Absolute chaos, but the overall effect is soothing for me, to flip through and see the evolution of a thought in the post-it strata.

[@MirandaPurpleClouds]

That feels like me. A chaos Commonplace journal

[@mikethelma]

Brava! Of all the videos on commonplace book, yours is the only one that is actually about commonplace books. So many people talk about keeping multiple commomplace books that they miss the entire point ... the book is a COMMON PLACE to write everything. I keep a pocket notebook so I can jot things when I am out, but then it goes into the book back home. THAT is the common place. I also keep project books, but that is only for one project. It is not for capturing random ideas, but for study. A suggestion: use the free phone version of Evernote to snap a picture of the latest page. It will make your book searchable and protect you from loss. Thanks for the video.

[@CynthiaMcLain]

I'd never heard of this before, but I love it. I used to keep a notebook with random thoughts, quotes, & bits of math I needed to do - but I haven't done it in years. Now I want to get back into it, only with a bit more purpose / organization. Thanks for the inspiration!

[@tushibabie]

This is a marvelous coincidence because I just entered a couple quotations/ advice I got from another KZbin channel and I just wrote it really nicely in this empty notebook that I had which was beautiful and I thought to myself “you know what I’m gonna enter every piece of advice or code that resonates with me in here” and just when I put the notebook away, I saw this video wow.

[@skeletonboxers7336]

in my classes in university our weekly sketchbook assignment was so open ended that even stuff like this was included for the grade, not just sketches contributing to the final product of art for each assignment. outside of art though i think theres a big reason why we evolved to write: not just to record history and ideas and things for others but as a means to be an extension of our own brain/memory. i keep cahier notebooks on me constantly for pretty much everything--even ideas, reminders, etc. and then i go through it at the end of the day and organize it into my digital notes/brain vault. its allowed me to develop and break down more complex projects in my personal life and work, and as someone with severe ADHD its allowed me to organize my life to where i can be a full time artist, a full time software dev, and a math researcher, hobby architect among all the other things i love to learn. i guess as reassurance for those who want to make their notebooks look neat and organized: dont! dont worry about it. be messy, have a secondary commonplace book to organize the new contents written in the messy one. allow yourself to freely flow. my cahier notebooks are quite literally idea fragments, thumbnails of sketches and schematics, quotes and lyrics that resonate, to stuff i hammered out on the piano, to pseudocode.

[@MirandaPurpleClouds]

This is me. But im not sure how to organize it when I get home if that makes sense. Everything is in the on the go notebook but i cant find the old things easily because everything is a mess if that makes sense,

[@aestheticsilence]

Pilot G2's are my favorite pens! Been using them for years for journaling and notes. I like the idea of commonplace notebooks...suppose ive been doing them without realizing it for years too. I love random quotes and thoughtful anecdotes and try collecting tidbits of info all the time.

[@ChuMoon]

2:16 That's the quote I'm going to start my commonplace book with Thank you for this video It has really inspired me and given me a use for all those miscellaneous note books I have sitting on my shelf

[@NessaIP]

I have probably a hundred of these, and today I learned what they are called, and that they are actually pretty meaningful not just... chaotic. As I always used to think. Thank you for this.

[@happybunnyntx]

Thank you for actually explaining what a commonplace book is and how it works. I've found too many videos where it was just people geeking out over them but not explaining anything. It's all well and good to have enthusiasm, but it's hard for those trying to learn that way. Your video was clear and concise, and I may try this myself now.

[@mirif9703]

As a total stationery addict, I have just subbed to your channel as it seems we are of the same cloth. I cannot believe I haven’t heard of this before, and I plan to start one immediately!! Thank you for this video

[@Shirumoon]

I am soo glad to have come upon this video! I have Notion where I save tv shows, travel stuff and medical information, my phone gallery is full of screenshots of youtube or reddit comments that really inspired me and I have tons of sticky notes in books that I've read. So much stuff in so many different places and adding to that, I keep watching videos on the same topics because I never remember all of the content. A commonplace book is exactly what I need and since I never know what to put in my journal, this will be it. Not sure how I wanna do the index yet but that'll be a process of trial and error. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful concept with us!

[@SamanthaJoGoes]

I've been doing this for years and so pleased to hear it has a name! I love the tone and style of your videos, looking forward to seeing more.

[@cadence4311]

This is such a nice video and intro to commonplace books! I've heard a bit about them, but I always figured that I wouldn't like not having a way to search for things easily. Putting together an alphabetical index in the back is a great idea that I will definitely use if I ever start one!

[@maqy01]

I've been commonplacing without knowing it was what I was doing, but now I don't have to come up with ways to improve it myself. what a relief it is to find out I'm not original dude

[@CynthiaHahn]

I've been doing some of this for years as part of my journaling and gaming hobbies. My twist is that once I complete a notebook, or other periodic times, I scan them and then I can reassemble them into their topic area. so for instance the last Moleskine CP became four different digital notebooks that I carry as ebooks. That way I always have access to them.

[@MirandaPurpleClouds]

Do you still keep the original completed notebooks because of sentimental (or something) reasons or do you let them go when they are "done" (scanned)

[@MirandaPurpleClouds]

Also, what do you write about your gaming? I like gaming and want to do this too

[@texasstardust1]

I am a stationary-holic and love your book and the way you are keeping it. I started similar notebooks in the past, but didn't have the indexing and cataloging methods you detailed in this video; so I got frustrated and stopped writing my journals. I am going to start again and try your methods of indexing and cataloging. Thank you for sharing!

[@Terri_MacKay]

I'm 60, and I've been doing this since I was 14. I've got totes with all the notebooks I've filled over the years. I never knew that there was a word for what I've been doing. It's funny that you mentioned physics, because a few years ago I decided that physics and astronomy were the 2 fields that I wanted to know more about, and I've bought quite a few fantastic books on both subjects. 😊

[@huntrrams]

I’ve been doing this with new notebooks and write down everything about KZbin growth and quotes I like. I finally found out until now what it’s been called. Thanks for these tips.

[@dakotaridgek9]

Oh! It has a name and history! So Ibegan a notebook of this type bc it was un healthy to have to dig thru my journal of bad days to find the quotations that uplifted me during those times. I was hesitant to re-read past entries and decided to move all inspirational quotes, passages or poems to its own dedicated journal. Thank you for this video

[@tickledtoffee]

I've been making a commonplace book for almost a year without even knowing it's a thing 😂 I started doing it when I read a quote that really resonated with me. It's so nice to know that these books have a name and other people make them too 😊

[@lin90210]

Gosh I used to do this when I read books to get me through my anxiety and to motivate me...I didn't know it was called a common place book. Thank you for your video! :)

[@CSNStudentVideos]

Watching this has given me an idea. I could use a separate book as a table of contents for my commonplace book.

[@MirandaPurpleClouds]

Genius! 😀😀

[@Khepara]

I didn’t know there was a word for this! This is what I do with my journals along with writing down emotions, goals, etc. They’re amazing to look back on as you evolve

[@SeekingtheTruthofGod]

I love keeping notebooks and journals of handwritten things. That's important. If I am out somewhere and I don't have my journal, I either write things down in smaller notebooks or on my phone, but then I like to write them down later. I never thought about making a book specifically of quotes that I resonated with me me and just that. I like that. So, I might just start doing that as well. I learned something new about the act of this is called Common Place.

[@karenallen7064]

I’ve kept notebooks recording notes from books I’m reading or speaking/training events since 1973. When I learned about Bullet Journals, I realized these were my Collections. I started adding the Index, which makes them much more useable. Like you, I find it helps me recall information that I’ve recorded. I have a section of Quotes that I add to. I use Threading so I don’t have “save pages” for later notes. I note the page # on the page (cont. on page %+), both the page where I stopped and on the page I pick it up again. Also add them to the Index. I have a separate Collections notebook from my Bullet Journal. I do put programs, wedding stuff, etc. in the back of my Bullet Journal.

[@theweatherisaokay4964]

I have a few for years, only don't know what it called and written in it all, including kind of journal kind of stuff. Actually I just write anything that crossed my mind or even things I want to remember like, tips on baking, what not to do and what to do. Stuff I need to remind my children when I see them and all. I even have a small one I kept in the car so I can write down when I stop somewhere and got stuff that I need to remember. I thought it called note books. Now I try to make it beautiful so that chances I will look at it more and remember stuff I wrote in it, because I have a habit of not opening those book unless I want to find something I forgot. Thank you for sharing this lovely video, now I know what it called.

[@OneTwoPeanut]

One of my Renaissance and REformation projects in college was to keep a commonplace book and use quotes from our assigned readings in them, still my favorite college project I ever had to do and I've kept my own since.

[@jamila7544]

I used to keep quotes in my diary on post it notes on the first and last pages so cool to know that ppl make books of them!

[@jeanwhite2705]

Thank you for this video. I’ve been using my own version of this kind of journaling since I’ve been very young.I just didn’t know it had a title. I like the term “ common place book”. My books started out being just a little picket note book but I’ve upgraded them thru my 70 years and now keep these notes in some type of book that really appeals to me when I purchase a new one. Something that is very nice for me to keep my private thoughts and collections in. Thank you for detailing this type of collection.

[@user-oj9yd8ps7x]

This girl should make more videos... cause I'm learning A LOT! I'm happy I found this channel.

[@cherylbalmas4901]

This is a great video! I’ve been common placing for many many years but I never knew what it was called until about seven or eight years ago. As an avid reader and researcher, I of course fell down the rabbit hole on the topic of common placing. I love your indexing system, I always struggle to find one That worked for me. Because I am a visual person, I like the boxes and the way your information is separated versus doing it line by line as in a typical index which I find overwhelming for my poor aging eyes! I’m so glad you decided to do a video on this topic, I never get tired of reading about it and learning more. My biggest problem is filling up all of my many notebooks. As soon as I find a new one I want to start that one so consequently I have several that are unfinished. This used to bother me because I wanted everything in chronological order, but now I’m just filling up those notebooks! I just ordered How Romantics and Victorians Organized Information: Commonplace Books, Scrapbooks, and Albums by Jillian Hess. I’m also going to check out the book you referenced. Thanks for the video!

[@itsacarolbthing5221]

Research has shown that the human brain remembers around 80% of anything that you physically write out with one and paper. Subscribed.

[@juliep6435]

The organization aspect of commonplacing has been the part I found most intimidating, but the glossary method you showed looks like the perfect solution! Thank you!

[@AaBb-sn3ji]

I am intrigued by commonplace books and I’m watching videos on them. I came across yours and the affirmation page stood out to me. You have become my first page of my common place book. Thank you

[@maidofcornwall]

I used to commonplace in books, but then I saw that some people use cards. So I switched to cards and now find it wonderful for archiving because you can put things into alphabetical order. This helps me to find things again instead of having to go through lots of books. I currently have three boxes of cards and a fourth on standby 🙂

[@layla1692]

i just learned how to make my own paper and wanted to get into bookbinding to make my own completely self made book. i just wasnt sure what to put in it but i came across this video and absolutely LOVE this idea! i will definitely be doing this once i've made my own book! :)

[@revsla]

I found your channel today. I've done this for years. I didn't know it had a name. Commonplacing. So cool. I look forward to watching more of your channel.

[@snorlaxgender]

I didn't know commonplacing was a thing until very recently, but as long as I can remember I've kept an "everything notebook," where I do everything from journaling and planning to writing down quotes, lyrics, or funny text posts. I have an impressive but ever-changing page flag system. I don't think I could separate out a proper commonplace from the book I also journal in, but it's nice to know I'm not the only one who likes to record others' words and thoughts too!

[@SprinkleGoodThings]

This notebook is absolutely gorgeous! And the fact that it is a reproduction of something Woolf actually used gives me chills 😍I learned so much! I am a new creator as well! I love being part of this community and I have learned so much in such a short amount of time. Just subbed ❤ Congrats on your channel!

[@annanikolova2615]

I just stumbled across your channel, and thanks to you I can answer a qustion I've had for many years - how to store random knowledge, quotes, etc. in one place... I got so happy when I saw "A Brief History of Time", written by one of my all-time favourite scientists.

[@fiannaverret562]

I love your TOC idea. Seems straightforward but effective , especially for someone who has tried to read all of Bryson’s books and recall specifics but has to flip back through them with frustration! I’m going to start this tomorrow! I’m in a PhD program now and have digital notes and analog notes and then planners for home etc all separated … this just makes so much more sense as a whole human being .

[@milcaful]

OMG ! I remember having one as a child, this is the sign to make one again ❤

[@user-dy9hw7gp4p]

I keep a journal that includes everything from common place (didn’t know that’s what I was doing until today!) to goals and lists and I use a refillable notebook. It allows me to add journal entries to the correct sections.

[@ericad3850]

This is such a lovely video! I've been keeping a journal for many years now and I've often considered commonplacing. However, I think I prefer to keep quotes, etc in my "regular" journal. I hope you have a great day! Ciao, Erica

[@tinahatch7440]

Oh no. OH NO. I adore beautiful journals and I blame your (lovely!) channel for introducing me to those gorgeous journals. I am about to spend so much money. 😆I use a big Leuchtturm for my commonplacing and have smaller, cheaper "purse journals" to capture good stuff on the go. I love seeing how other people use theirs!

[@NotebookOverloadd]

hahaha I'm sorry for being such an enabler lol!

[@annharper8342]

One of the best commonplace talks😊I have seen. I use binders for my commonplace, allows lots of different input and alpa tab pages to organize . Thank you and good luck with your channel .❤

[@digispace1]

I thought about doing this but didn't know there was an actual term for it. I wanted to record my consumption for the same reason - to show the stream of quotes, etc that have helped shape me. I am going to start one (finally 😊). Thank you for sharing this video. ❤

[@Bamdeidz]

I feel like Ive tried to keep one of these all my life without success but hearing about how it has a name and a history and the different ideas you can record in it really made it all click! Gotta start mine pronto!

[@emazey5044]

Wow, been doing this informally for years, about a year ago started a newer version where i add the date of my entry as well as a decorative box at the front of the entry specifying what it's about, ie exercise, food, insight, etc. Like how books have the big decorative letter at the beginning of the first paragraph in the new chapter. I forget what it's called. Glad this popped up in my feed, very cool! 🤗

[@EzriKaiRaven]

I love this idea! I've accidentally done this with many notebooks. I also loooove the G2 pen - so easy to write with despite carpal tunnel. :)

[@perplexedmortal2637]

Out of topic but i absolutely love your voice its so relaxing

[@CheyenneNKStone]

I've totally done this, especially when I was younger: story ideas, character concepts, quotes

[@ChaseTheOttah]

Neat! I've been doing this with a notes app on my phone for more than a decade now and didn't know it had a name. Thanks for the video!

[@andrewtongue7084]

Marcus Aurelius was always a favourite when I was at school - his quotations are (not unnaturally), legend; unsurprising then, that he should be one of the first protagonists for the Commonplace journal.....keep on keeping on - I've been creating these books for decades, tho' with a fountain pen; in the early days, employed a pencil - I could never get used to ballpoint or rollerball writing instruments - perhaps due to the fact of being left handed....wonderful presentation !

[@joannamarieart]

Just bought a new notebook today to start a commonplace book! ♥

[@tori4toast]

Before clicking on this video I didn't know what commonplace books were, but now Im really considering starting this practice in my life. I would like to slow down a little and consider the things that I'm consuming and keep track of what I like. Thank you for sharing this!!

[@KyleMaxwell]

That glossary/index idea is great, exactly the kind of thing I watch these videos for!

[@asiawilk]

oh wow I didn't know there was a name for this! I just called mine my "book of quotes"😂Thanks for sharing!

[@Green2Red2]

I do this with plain spiral notebooks all the time! I never knew it has a name. Now I'll take it more seriously. A great Aunt of mine died, and we found two notebooks in her belongings...one contained newspaper clippings of food reviews, and her own notes of (possibly?) eating at these places. They may have been a fantasy as going out wasn't her thing. The other was articles she'd clipped that she felt were good advice, etc. again with a few notes from her. It was an interesting window into her personality. I keep quotes in mine, biblical and even movie quotes. I like being creative with markers when copying them into my "book". Unfortunately there's really no organization to locate thoughts later, but my view is- that's how life is...thoughts just come at us whenever and wherever. 👍💖

[@asexualatheist3504]

I do an index. I like the key word idea.

[@marmar3530]

This made my mind expand. Thank you for all of the wonderful tips.

[@elle.roiproductions]

As a multidisciplinary artist I've been doing this for years. I had no idea this has been a long standing human tradition! I call my notebooks reference books because they inform what ever future project I will be doing. Thank you for sharing!

[@sarahj132]

I had a scrapbook for a year, and it was so fun to keep. I just filled it with whatever I thought was worth saving, not just quotes and words. But, I'd love to try this intellectual version, especially as a student. I think this might be the perfect way to take notes.

[@oldtimesong]

I'd love to try this but my chaotic mind only allows me to screenshot things or save posts with little to no order or context, that end up being lost or forgotten. Inspiring, to say the least!

[@pandoranight3483]

This is such an interesting idea, and also really cool. So like, it can just be anything that you resonate with? Quotes from games or show's that you find to be profound, to little tips and tricks to general life or to something specific? Just anything that you find interesting or learn from? That in of itself is just so *interesting* I may have to start one, but first i need to get over my innate fear that i'll do it wrong lol

[@alexferrari8413]

I guess I was doing this without realizing it. At work I listen to a lot of youtube, so I made a work journal, where I would just write down anything cool or interesting i would hear. now a few months later it is quite full, and i think it helps processing. I will try to reword information in my own words, and write that down as a way of helping understanding. its also helped me be more mindful of how i explain things and talk to other people.

[@NighttimeDaydreams]

The typical NotesApp app is what I use to write down almost anything I need to keep, or want to keep, including story ideas, checklists, quotes, reminders, etc. Kind of a commonplace book, but I also have a habit of always carrying some sort of notebook or sketchbook with me. It's my type of journaling- doodling, writing down dates and events, sticking random paper paraphernalia among the pages, etc. I do this thing I call "doodle quilts" where I choose a page, and fill it with mini artworks/concepts/doodles and it looks like a little quilt by the end. I like to make it pretty and ornamental, like adding borders to the individual boxes and stuff.