The commonplace journal

This is a type of journal that I started a year or so ago, after seeing this Instagram post. I’m always emailing myself screenshots or tidbits of info, and while I’m quite sure there are digital filing methods, when I was considering what to do with all the info, I felt like digital wasn’t for me. There’s a lot of history you can read about this book and how they work, but like anything I do or share, the most important thing is that they work for your needs.

This is to say that mine is informal. No tags, no index etc. That’s why I call it a commonplace journal, not a commonplace book. For me, the commonplace journal is a place where I can write down those little tidbits of info, and then delete the screenshot. The act of writing it down feels more “real” to my brain, and I like to believe that if it feels more real, then I’ll absorb it more. I’m sure there’s research on that, but the fact is, I don’t care, because I like the way I do it. And liking it is important.

I keep the notebook marked as commonplace, and upright (using a letter holder/mail organiser) so that it’s visible to me. I don’t remember to use things when they’re put away in drawers.

I like that it’s a notebook where the cover is bright chunky colours too, but that’s just personal preference.

Do you have a place where you collect knowledge? How does it work for you?

Image description: a colourful hard cover notebook sits in a black letter holder. On its spine, made from a generic label maker, is the word “commonplace”.