How to Set Up A Commonplace Book You’ll Actually Use ✨📓

Are you interested in making a commonplace book? Or if you already have one, tell us what you record in it!

❤❤❤ One of my dearest friends BECAME dear to me during our first coffee date when she said in response to a poetry question of mine, "Oh, let me check; it's in my commonplace book," as she pulled a small notebook from her handbag. I didn't know anyone else who knew what a commonplace book IS!!! ❤❤❤

I have kept commonplace books for years- but all this indexing gives my ADHD brain the worst anxiety! I make journals from recycled paper and books , keeping random quotations and impressions on various tags, pages, or added random pieces of paper. I take one off the shelf when I need advice or instruction, and always find something meaningful. As much as I love all the notebooks, pens, stickers, and post it’s, I would be paralyzed by this set up. You are a great teacher and an inspiration! I wish I could use this method. This is to sincerely shout “BRAVA “, keep making this content-AND- for those who can’t organize who might be overwhelmed, don’t let this stop you from keeping a commonplace book( or books) in ways that work for you alone! This is a wonderful practice. And the video is a great place to start. I’ve been doing it for over 50 years, and only found my best way in the past 25 years. What a great video t o inspire folks.

I just started my first journal at the age of 50 last month. I started w a bujo but it wasn't a good fit for me, then i discovered creative journaling but it didn't fit right either. I had no idea that my brain was turning my journals into common placing. I didn't have any idea I needed this in my life! I absolutely love documenting what is important to me and its effect on my life!

I used to be an art student, and have always had a sketchbook (even in the non journaling years). Over time there are fewer sketches and more quotes and observations, and settled into a consistent A5 size (easy to carry around and put on the shelf when I am done with it). I love the ideas in this video, and thank you for some history and some inspiration.

When I was 11, I used to have a notebook that I carry everywhere i go. I used that notebook to take down notes about Ancient Egypt, my childhood obsession.

I have been creating a variety of notebooks for myself for a long time. At first I only had two, a quotes collection and a place to jot story ideas. I’ve kept both for a few decades now, weird as it seems to be that old. When I learned about bullet journals and their indexing and page numbering, I started organizing other notes. Crafting, book notes, recipes, fitness, writing, etc. each have their own notebooks now. I have so much of each that it just made sense to separate them out. For general random notes that I know I will need to refer to again, I keep a series of cheap spiral notebooks right at hand by the computer. Any thing can go in those pages. When I fill one I review it to make sure the index is complete and I mark various categories of notes with different washi tapes. That helps me find stuff I will likely want for reference over and over. (How-to instructions, notes from a talk, etc. ) I find that the act of writing notes helps me retain the information too. And oh, yeah, I keep a bullet journal too, lol!!

i love how cozy this video is 💖 i’ve been thinking a lot about commonplace books recently and i feel like this was just the push i needed to start one. i’ve needed a way to get serious about studying a second language this year lol btw if you see this connie, i can never get over how pretty your handwriting is!

I think a binder notebook is a really great recommend for turning into a commonplace book! For many years I have been collecting a lot of knowledge or facts and I can't remember all of it, after write that down in commonplace book I have to classify it into the right index, not to mention I'm a not so organized person it would drive me crazy. So I like to when I suddenly remember something I can randomly write that information down and slowly classify it out later without worrying about everything getting mixed up. Plus I almost have endless page to keep continue writing without fear the limit of the pages. I also don't like having too many commonplace books, just one is more than enough. Thank you Jet Pens recently I keep thinking what's the best way to actually using my fountain pens cuz journal make me feel so cringe. I had the similar idea but didn't know that is called commonplace book. I learned a new word, you guys are the best!

Great to see this old record keeping come back!

My notebook for therapy has started becoming a commonplace book for me, it’s a great way to have a running list of interesting and useful info

I found an A6-sized blank book with about 200 pages with a flexible cover. I paired it with a sticky pad so I could make temporary notes to stick on it first then decide how to organize it. And that's a system I've decided to fall back on after so many systems. The glue tapes accessible to me are expensive but i found cheap liquid glue pens which is easier to keep. I also use multi-ink pen to make the whole set portable ❤

Connie has such beautiful voice and pronunciation, one of the best I’ve heard

I did what you suggested and honestly, it's so helpful since I do so many things for my full-time job as a teacher from committees to lesson plan ideas to editing stuff on Premiere Pro and forgetting how to do editing stuff! I love the suggestions you did for the index and dividing the notebook. I ended up reutilizing a clean Midori MD Notebook that I was gonna use for reflection on my days teaching this year.

I fell down a rabitthole on youtube about commonplace books only yesterday and today this video shows up! The world is truly fascinating. Thank you for the video 🥰

i'm on my third a6 grid editor's series stalogy as my commonplace book! i like to color code topics with little color dot stickers. i take lots of notes on articles related to subject i'm interested in, as well as quotes and poetry. would highly recommend <3

I dont know about commonplace note book in the past but i have pocket note book in every category for quotes, health and beauty, recipe, and many

Thank-you. What keeps me from keeping a journal or notebook is my poor handwriting. I am left-handed and so I tend to smear the ink as I go. I’d like to learn to write more neatly.

oh, i never really heard of a commonplace book! it’s pretty cool, like a book of little tidbits. might do this with all the notebooks i have lying around!!

Connie, this is very, very good! I did go back and read John Locke's explanations of commonplace books. I have watched many YouTube discussions on the subject. I love positive, inspiring quotes or something that makes me chuckle. The occasional recipe might sneak in, a book list / wish list, a tip-in or ephemera, but always, always something special that I want to remember❣️