Whenever I start a new sketchbook I go to the first page and do a quick drawing with no prep or reference and let it turn out terrible. Then I don’t feel so pressured for everything else to be perfect or stressful, cuz I’ve already “ruined” the book. So I started doing basically the same thing with journals (quick messy handwriting and rambling nonsense) and after that I felt so free! 💜
Same. There’s all of these cool videos about smash books and art diaries and journaling and I start off with much enthusiasm and then…. I like this idea better.
Ugh I always forget about free will and how we can do literally anything. I always want to journal but find myself intimidated about starting. What if I miss a day? What if I don’t reflect how I really feel? The concept of a commonplace notebook just dissolved all of that for me.
I do the same thing too, but gradually I’ve been going away from the idea of writing in it every day, and just accepting that I’ll write in it whenever I need to. Also I write to do lists sometimes and scribble, so I think I’m leaning towards having a commonplace book.
It shouldn’t be a task or feel like it. I use to write in mine everyday but i began to dread it and I realized i wasn’t having fun. now I sometimes go weeks without writing and anytime I feel the urge to write, it feels exciting like I can’t wait to do it.
To be honest, I didn’t even know that people actually felt pressured to write into their diary. I’ve always written stuff down, when I felt like it and I love it to this day. Personally I can just really recommend getting a diary as early as possible. My 7th grade entries actually have me in tears 😂
i've kept a discord server just for myself for about five or six years now, it's really convenient cuz i can make so many channels and categories to keep things organized, but everything is easily accessible in the same space. and since it's a messaging app it feels really low-stakes. i have photos, screenshots of articles, artwork, scraps of poetry/lyrics, to-do lists, to-buy lists, journal entries, links to songs or videos, recipes, you name it! definitely recommend trying it out if you're looking for an online method
@u-s-er7557 i actually started mine because one of my friends kept track of their stuff this way! i say it's not weird to do unless it's not working for you
I write EVERYTHING in my little notebook. Thoughts and feelings, things that happened, gossip, ideas, to do lists, poems. Whenever I want to write something down I do it in the same book
@@lordharry5994this is the best advice. i’m not very good at explaining my feelings, so before i write them down, i try form them first on my phone beforehand.
"Helps you reflect on your life but in a way that prevents you from ruminating too much on your life," nice. I have always been prone to spiraling in my diaries as well.
You need to explain to your friends that they can’t do that. Thats your personal thoughts. If you can’t trust them to not do that then you need to keep it at your house or hide it when they come to your house or something
I feel bad reading this because i cannot imagine a life without my journal. It sits on my desk and no one touches it. I just suggest, try talking to them about it, privacy, personal space... If they don't agree or agree and don't follow through i say just don't be frienda with them. Hopefully you find joy in journaling again
Im sorry that happened! Thats so wrong that they did that, what an invasion of privacy…we all have our secret thoughts whether we write them down or not, it’s not something to make fun of…
You’re one of the first people I’ve found that has actually gotten the idea of a commonplace notebook! They’re not journals, they’re basically second brains that act like your own database of info.
I have a commonplace file on here I save them too and pinterest, I've been doing this for years,( Autism) helps me keep track sometimes, but never had a name for it then. I'm 60 now and still doing it 😊
the detective idea doesn't scratch my itch so i thought, my common place book will be like that person u can tell everything and you know the feeling when something happens and ur so excited to tell them.
I believe that a commonplace book is just a tool for you to capture the little moments in life that give you the spark of happiness but are easily forgotten. It's nice to go back and relive them with a smile on your face.
I’ve learned to just keep one notebook for everything: notebook, sketchbook, journal, planner, budgeting… EVERY👏THING👏and apparently it’s supposed to be great ADHD advice
i do this too!!! i have a thick journal with tabs along the side according to all my different things, whether its arts, budgeting, mental health, or just daily journalling. SO much better for my adhd and my autism loves to journal and the organisation 🤭
Gosh this is what I need to do. I love all the notebook aesthetics and yk you got your diary, your bujo, your budgeting etc. but I can never actually make more than one entry and then I feel like I can't use the journal unless it's that specific thing but I forget yk 😭
as a person with adhd, i get excited about the idea of getting a new notebook, having everything prepared, stationaries and all. then the next day, forget it exists and it becomes a paper weight 😂
I have; 1. A Sketchbook (rn I’m almost done sketchbook 7) 2. A tiny little journal (for writing about my day and sketching from life) 3. I want to get a commonplace book for the summer!! probably a composition book
I kept a journal for a month and wrote in it every morning. I went through the worst bout of depression that month. I analysed every thought, word and interaction in that journal. A conversation that could've been just a joke, I analysed it and turned it into the biggest deal ever. it got to a point where I thought I might have borderline personality disorder because of how fast my mood changed. turns out I just became extremely observant of everyone's every single action and everything easily made me mad. safe to say I have stopped journalling now and I have buried that journal under a pile of other books and notebooks. and if anyone ever read it, I would be done.
This is sooo me dude. I have actually been diagnosed with BPD though, but as a kid i literally used to hurt myself the second someone said something that offended me, even if it wasn’t actually offensive. I am insanely sensitive to the point where i feel sorry for any person who has to ever interact with me 😭. Journaling has helped me though and it lets me get everything out without feeling like im being judged.
I had a journal like this when I was 14. I kept it for a few months and when I stopped I realize how horribly it had affected me and became ashamed of it. I ended up burning it a few years ago. For about 7 years now I have kept journals more like what she's saying, full of drawings, jokes, to do lists, and things that make me happy- for a while I purposefully avoided writing down the things that actually happened in my life for fear of becoming resentful again, though nowadays I've become more comfortable with it. I've filled 8 journals and they are my most prized possessions, they map my character growth and the evolution of my creativity without detailing my day-to-day life and interactions
Journaling was also a big empty room for me. Some thoughts were nice to write down but going through the process of writing others down made them "real" and way easier to ruminate on.
this is a practice that we used to do in college as architects/designers-we call it logbooks! it's not necessarily something as formal as a notebook, but something more scribbly, messy, and definitely better to just write whatever into. i still keep one at my office to write things down quickly or to sketch something if i need to explain an image in my mind to friends or colleagues. but yeah! it is a fun thing to have, you definitely makes me want to get a new one just for daily life.
i personally use the same notebook as both a commonplace book + diary. like sometimes i’ll just write about my day or rant or use it like a traditional diary and sometimes i copy poems / facts i’ve learned, grocery list, put pressed flowers, metro tickets and coffee shops receipts to remember where i’ve been, polaroid pictures, sketches, lists of books / movies / songs i’ve been recommended or recently discovered, ideas, etc. its literally my second brain & external memory drive, can’t leave the house without it. my tradition is to start a new one every year on january 1st so 1 notebook = 1 year. been doing it for 5 or 6-ish years !
i started a commonplace book this year, so i was looking through it when watching this video and realised i forgot about the "keeping random knowledge" bit of it?? now i have to go look for the reel i saw 3 days ago on why avocados supposedly should be extinct so i can write that down and find out about it again in a few months when i'm flipping through the book THANKS, CRYSTAL MWAH
your talk about the pressure of having an expensive book is literally me right now, i have this expensive book with pretty cover and high-quality papers that i did not touch since I bought it and it is been two years, instead I draw and write my thoughts on my school textbook 💀
omg. i've unknowingly had commonplace books for a while now (i'm on my 5th) and then this video comes across my feed. I absolutely love the idea of my own little wikipedia as a curious artist. My private collection of thoughts are quite special to me: the ones I've spent hours circling around to the spontaneous blink-and-you'll-miss-it ones at the most normal times... in summary, thank you, you've made my day.
Tbh you showing your notebooks not being super fancy helps alot. I love collecting stationary and i always try to keep notebooks for hyper specific topics but never manage. I love the idea of a commonplace book, especially with adhd and autism (i notice a lot of things but i forget them just as easily). Overall thank you for this video! I'm definitely going to try this.
You converted me so well that in the middle of watching this video I grabbed an old leather notebook I thought I’d never use and started writing a couple notes about this video, a podcast I listened to recently, and a small sketch. Already alot less pressure than a diary for me
this has really helped me to be motivated into using social media less and using my notebooks for what they're here for instead of saving them for the "right moments"
I've kept commonplace books for years but one thing that made it feel really mine and like an extension of me as a person is making them myself. one day I found a tutorial on yt for making your own sketchbook so I made one with shitty printer paper and I've never gone back to buying journals since, it just makes the experience much more personal imo. also it's cheaper, that's always a bonus
i was hesitant at first at how important a commonplace book is, because i can basically do that on facebook or twitter, or threads. but i realize that theres a beauty in a physical notebook and the privacy that comes with it. this kinda inspired me to become less chronically online (i guess) because i can definitely post less of social media. and a notebook like that just looks interesting and pretty. maybe i'll start doing this cuz it looks pretty fun
It's funny to see everyone's perspective in life, when describing your commonplace books and how and why you use it, it's exactly how I use my diary! it's a piece of my brain, so while it has my deep and brooding thoughts (TM) it also had drawings, doodles, what kind of goose I saw this morning. :)
I was actually thinking about this. I didn't even know these existed and I thought "I should keep a book about everything I learn" and this video popped up. 🤯
One of my favorite things ever is when someone shows me their journal, it's such a good way to get to know someone and it's so interesting to see how everyone treats their notebooks and what they decide to write!! This video was so fun since you kept showing pages as you're talking abt itt Most people don't really realize how creative they are until they start keeping a notebook of any kind and creativity is literally a gift
i’ve never really had a problem with journaling because i think a lot of people feel like they’re not just… thinking on paper? sometimes it productive, but i let myself go months sometimes without writing and it works fine. there’s no rules for journaling or anything the idea that you have to write in it daily defeats the purpose of going to it to slow down your thoughts when they rush
i literally needed this, because even on days when i don’t do anything special, maybe I just watch a movie or so, i become alienated with everything and days just go on without me even realizing, so writing everything u think or see or whatever changes the way u live your days. With all the inputs we have every day we see so many things but remember very few of them, which is frustrating. I watch a lot of movies and series but I often forget even the plot after few months, so maybe even keeping notes of them will help also develop your memory and make u start appreciate those things that are part of a routine
I used to have a diary for most of my childhood that I would even carry around at school sometimes. It had doodles, to-do lists, plans, thoughts. Everything. It was the most creative era of my life, and I know that I owe my sense of self, and self-awareness to those diaries. I stopped a few years ago, but I want to start that again.
9:58 i think that happens bcz when u have expensive paper u tend to be careful on it and try to make it perfect so that it is worth it while as on random paper, u have not much to lose and u r free. Pretty much as you said about expensive books
Your thoughts on journalling resonant a lot with me. I always found that the fundamental difference between the two mediums was introspection vs rumination, where one introduces something new to contemplate, while the other simply revits what is generally re-occurring.
the one I use is the regular sized traveler's notebook. It's expensive as hell, but it really leans into that whole "make it your own" philosophy as it is leather & gets unique markings as time goes by. on top of that they last forever. the lil notebooks you put inside (called inserts) vary in material & style (I'm a grid paper supremacist), which allows for a lot of freedom when deciding what you want to do with it. they also come in different price ranges depending on what you can afford; it's the actual cover that is $$$ & the official brand things. if you are thinking on dumping a lot of money into something like this, I recommend giving it a bunch of thought & making sure that you actually use it & make it yours. just sharing what I personally use if any are interested. on a side note, I think this is my favorite video on the subject. I find that other people talk too much repetitive crap when talking about their journals/commonplace books, etc, so thank you for making this cool vid & sharing!
"make it your own" sounds like it could be a series haha is the grid paper simply easier on the eyes? or does it provide several functions like: easier lines, easier to visualize the page, maybe more consistent paper from the manufacturer? it's good to know that the cover of the notebook is the actual cost rather than the internal bits any recommendations on making sure that people actually use their notebooks? are you sure it's not time for a how to video? maybe someone will mix it up by bringing their book to random places like a garden or coffeeshop xD
@@thepostgradyear short answer is yes to everything, hahaha. I think that it's super versatile & I find that the space between each horizontal line is perfect for the size of my handwriting. if I use blank paper, for example, I write too big for my liking. I agree on the higher cost being for the cover notebook itself. I paid some more for it but I know it's going to last me forever pretty much! an investment, really. recs for people to use them… I say write about anything & everything to identify what you do want to write about. as you write more, you'll come to notice things you want to see more of & less of. focus on those things. you can be real meta about it & ask yourself why some topic you're writing about is important to you or why it's not. on top of that, I'll be somewhat contradicting & say be diligent with the habit but don't force it. there's really times where there's just nothing to say & that's okay. honestly, I find it quite funny how you're asking me for advice on that but I've watched some of your videos before looking for inspiration in my own workflow. isn't that real funny? but yeah, I like to think I'm that person that brings their journal/notebook/commonplace book everywhere because… I really do. one more bit of advice is to not be afraid to customize it. whether it's a planner or normal notebook or whatever, draw on it, add stickers, staple pictures into it. lowkey abuse it. I think that's the best summary of "making it your own". p.s. I really like your vids bro
@@AndresMartinez-ww1qz thanks! but you're right - this might be the best video lol I had to ask for a few reasons such as: I recognized you and that was exciting xD, had a good comment, check for things I hadn't anticipated, etc. and it worked! your reply was very helpful! you reminded me of something that helped me through the first 5 years! writing down literally everything seems so shocking to people; and, it was for me too... until I realized that it was easier to do subtraction than addition writing from scratch was so difficult! but now after taking thousands of notes, I need to refocus on improving the quality of existing work jajaja congrats on finding a system that works for you! also if someone else happens to be reading this: I recommend trying to write once every 3 days - even if it's simply writing a single word on an already worked on page - if you can't do that it's a sign of a larger problem like a workspace not being set up, no free time or space, fear of people going through your stuff, etc
I’ve been using the pocket size moleskine notebooks at come in a pack of 3 (perfect purse size) and I have about 12 fully filled out now and it’s like a timeline of my life since 2020
this video is what made me get up, and impulse buy the first cheap but decent quality notebook i found. and honestly? no regrets so far. this is exactly what i was looking for in those "why should you have a commonplace notebook and how" videos, and its better than the rest because its direct and so so *simple*, thanks so much for giving me the incentive to have a physical copy of my thoughts
I’ve been unknowingly keeping a commonplace book when I was a child/teen and it is so interesting to see how I thought back then (I’m 29), the stories that I wrote, what I was interested in. Pd: loved how you showed us your commonplace book
i was really not convinced about journalling because of all the things you mentioned (pressure, loss of motivation etc.) but honestly youve convinced me on this commonplace book! such a great resource for artists i think. i write a lot of stuff on lots of bits of paper or seperate notes on my phone but having something always to hand to help me remember shit would be so useful (because if i dont write things down i immediately forget lol)
lovely lovely video in so many ways. i've spiraled into existentialism in my diaries bc i focused too much on just "finding" myself, but really keeping a commonplace book is encouraging you to become yourself: living & bearing witness to your life at the same time. you were so right that the more you engage with what you love, the more it becomes you & you, it. thank u crystal
Oh okay, so my sketchbook is called commonplace book. It's writing, ideas, and sketches, reminders, notes, and shopping lists at the same time, on top of each other. Always has been, for over a decade now, but we were encouraged to use our sketchbooks as "commonplace books" (as you call it) in art uni. It's great though, always recommended to everyone who asked.
The algorithm randomly sent me here, but let me just say : I really hope you are a professional artist, because damn, those sketches are insane. That full on drawing is incredible. And I now realize that the "trash journal" I have been keeping has a more elegant name for it, so thanks for this!
I have been unintentionally keeping a “common place “ note book in my notes app for little over a year now. Happy to know the little things I do is actually a common thing amongst others. Lovely video thank you for sharing 😊
I was wondering why this idea wasn’t really resonating with me until I read this comment and realized “oh yeah I already just dump everything in my head into different notes on my notes app” 😂
@@bibubbleteaI’ve been doing this too then gradually organizing said thoughts into one note then moving it to paper which actually feels better compared to typing
This just reminds me of bullet journaling in a way , you can customize it and put down your habits, your ideas, moods, events, doodles, etc. you don’t just have to use it to be productive you can use it to recall your interests and favorite things
i love this idea but i also think it's important to just not give yourself too many rules with journaling and documenting your thoughts/life in any way. by all means if you like to have rules implemented then do so! but i think taking all of these ideas and having a place where you can journal about your everyday life, think about existential problems, write down small creative ideas and thoughts is absolutely doable and in my experience it's a lot easier to get into the habit when you just give yourself full creative freedom
Exactly. Her problem with journaling is not the actual journaling it’s her making herself do it on a daily basis. I saw in a video “journal only when you itch for it”
12:54 someone's probably already said this but notion would be a really good app for a digital commonplace !!!! its very very customisable, so anyone can completely personalise it, and you can also organise everything in there !!!!!
i used to draw on my journals but not so much now because I felt so confined to the idea that journaling is for me to just vent.. and I shouldn't be putting anything else on there. I am a convert!! Dug up a dotted notebook that's been gathering dust in my storage and making it a commonplace notebook now. Thank you!!
I loved this video and everything you said! I’ve had the guilt of “ruining my journals” for years due to it being random/scrappy, so this motivates me to start a commonplace book. I like how you worded it as a detective book for your own life. Also totally agree with the private Pinterest boards, it’s become too aesthetic and clean to show the random things we like
i think i bought my latest diary with this in mind: it is cheaper than the others and i don't put as much pressure to write in it everyday, and i even doodle in it. but most importantly, i bought it with the goal of actually trying to know myself. i'm happy i came across this video and learnt about commonplace books, it's very cool! and it's really encouraging me to fully do the same with this new diary, it seems very liberating.
I love love LOVE how you come at finding yourself. I now propose that we change every single day. The search for a core self is nigh impossible because we change EVERY SINGLE DAY. We are never static. We constantly update as humans and this notebook is just an attempt to document that.
I've tried so many similar things like keeping a diary and morning pages but i could never fully commit cuz it started feeling like a chore so this is perfect!!! Thank you so much
My favourite kind of notebook is finding a nice notebook I bought years ago, so long ago that it doesn't matter if it was "precious" then, and just scribbling something in it to start it.
Hi Crystal. You have many beautiful and meaningful journal notebooks. They don't look aesthetic or neat, yet they are authentic, which are more appealing to me than those with lots of fancy washi tapes and design. Thanks for sharing!
I find it very funny that I've been keeping commonplace books without even knowing it! I always had notebooks that I filled with all sorts of unrelated shit: diary entries, video game facts, drawings, lesson notes. I wanted to try journaling but was always anxious about not being able to organize myself enough to do it. This a wonderful idea and I will put it into conscious practice from now on!! Thank you for this video ☺
i got really into bookbinding so i love to buy cheap notebooks with ugly covers (but good paper!) which i then rebind to make the covers look like actual books. its a really fun process and i love having something so unique, and it means i can make them studier and dont mind when they get a bit battered because it makes it look more authentic and old. point is: find a commonplace book that works for you, and even better if its personal to you so you enjoy using it!
i bought a journal last summer from a market somewhere in Germany. it has a beautiful imprinted leather cover, handmade paper, and you can tell that a lot of love was put into making it. the pages are grainy, with little imperfections in places where the mix maybe wasn't blended as well before being pressed into paper, and the leather cover bleached its design onto the front page from where they touch. point is, i was so scared to write or draw in it because i didn't want to "ruin" it, but your video's helped me get over that fear.
This is SO TRUE. I randomly got a seizure disorder from stress and trauma in march of 2022, and it caused me brain damage so long and short term memory and motor skills and processing information has been compromised for me ever since. I can’t remember a THING from the time it started happening, but yesterday I found in an old planner that I detailed my exact feelings and what was happening and my experience and it gave me SOOO MUCH clarity and closure. I didn’t even know that past me did that. And looking at the change of handwriting and sentence structure spoke volumes of my mental and neurological state. Looking at how your handwriting changes during different emotions and periods of life says a LOT too.. Losing my memory abilities has taught me the fragility of being a human and the unreliable nature of our memory and how our brains compartmentalize information and emotional memories. So since then, even the smallest idea I have that I THINK I’d remember, I still write it down. I write down everything (in a much more fragmented way, but I’m trying to streamline the process) and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. We don’t even know that we don’t know what we don’t know. And we don’t even remember what we think we remember that we DONT remember. And even a more tangible memory is manipulated and altered every time you revisit the memory consciously or subconsciously. I do a mix of online and physical archiving and I HIGHLY recommend it. It will change you as a human and your ability to introspect and you gain more insight
Didn’t understand the last part, cause I don’t wanna think too much but sorry for what happened and I’m glad to hear ur on a good track. Maybe I should start takin notes,too…
hi, crystal. i watched this video soon after you posted this, roughly two months ago. you helped me to fill out the rest of my journal, based on your advice here. it's allowed me to revive my creative spark with writing, interpersonally understand myself better, and get back into casually drawing. i used to paint on canvas but i'm finding that it's too time-consuming but maintaining a commonplace book is far more feasible for me at this chapter in my life. thank you. much love from north carolina
This video made me realize that I've been using a commonplace notebook the whole time last year, but I called it my "Everything Notebook" instead. And when u talked abt it being less of a chore, it made me understand why I used that one more than my actual designated journals!
i just recently started doing this bc I am not organized enough to have more than one book and i love it. I think the pressure of having a specific schedule around the book just made me not want to do it, but i really do want to keep track of my brain and evolution in some manner. I love flipping through it and seeing my achievements in a way that feels true to myself.
I finally found someone who does this too! I have never known how to explain it to people. Like it's journaling? and scrap booking? And a sketch book? It's the wonder within my life.
I go through a small notebook every 2-3 years in this manner. It’s fun getting to go back and see the little doodles, more complex drawings, random code explanations, grocery lists, trauma dumping, etc. I’d heard of the term commonplace book but didn’t realize that it applied to my little drawing journals. I find that it helps to just have it with you wherever you go because you’ll always end up in some situation where you need to write something down and then you’ll be ready! Plus it helps keep things low key
This is so great and VERY true!! I have been journaling since 2022 and don't regret it one bit. It is crazy to look back on things I said and worried about back then VS now. If you are reading this, this is your sign!! Starting writing neooww!!!
I love this idea. Started one in 2018 when I had an extra 5Star notebook after a semester of college and made sections with a couple pages to write down notes for SelfImprovement, Health, Financial, Relationships, and career. Then the rest of the notebook was fair game for any and everything. Thoughts, quotes, drawings, recipes, letters, song lyrics, to-do lists, post it notes, etc. Lowkey tried to make it a bullet journal of my life. Nice to look back once in a while when I’m in the mood for nostalgia.
I got into a habit of keeping one ever since I was a kid. I would take notes of things I need to do, some random dreams or wishes, as well as note the events of the day or use it as a diary for my feelings (could't get too existential at the age of 7 what a privilege). It is a fun way to peek into your own mind, and go back to that perspective you had going through your life at that age, would highly recommend! I even found some funny drawings of a dragon eating my crush or smth because I was so mad that I liked him (I was like 7) as well as a drawing of what I imagine myself to be as a teen. Glad to know my soul remain unchanged through all those years.
My mother passed when I was very young, and a little bit after my grandfather passed, I went to clean out his house, where I found a bunch of these books in my mother's childhood bedroom. she had TONSSS and it really helped me learn who she was more than any diary would've.
I always wanted to make something like this but I never knew that it had a name and that it was a thing up untill now lol Knowing the fact that it’s called a commonplace book is really comforting or whatever And I think this is a sign for me to start making my own. ❤
I started doing this in my late 20s and I'm 31 now. I have a hard time sticking to one at a time, but I do revisit them and carry one around. I didn't realize this is what I was doing though. I'd either write lists of films or books, drawings, personal thoughts, etc. This is dope. Love your illustrations.
I appreciate this video a lot since other videos like this, "how should you keep a commonplace book" go more into how their commonplace book look or structured. While it may be helpful, i believe they take away from the core element that makes a commonplace book, well- a common place book. It supposed to be a place where you dump all of the things you want to keep and remember without any limits. you can do anything to it. its not SUPPOSED to be structured, but if you like it to be, you should! Your video touched on why a person should even have it without explaining to them how it should look like or be like. yours is raw and messy with doodles, and honestly. that's how i wish mine to look like. i strive for your messiness. I really appreciate how real you kept it, i want more creators to follow your direction. it was a good vid, good work!
omg i did this after i graduated high school through college and it helped me so much as i developed as a person and found what i truly liked, and kept records of all the little things because those add up, it also helped me remember positive things and moments in life because its so easy to focus on the negative things in our lives, and if i need something to get me out of a funk i just scroll through it
I'm going to try this!! Thanks so much. I have been trying to keep a journal for about 10 years now. I'll have periods of daily writing followed by periods of no writing, and my entries become so formulaic, that it feels like a chore. I feel that I unintentionally write as if other people are reading it - like explaining who people are in relation to me, or describing things I am already familiar with. It's like there is some imaginary audience that I'm subconsciously catering to. I want to write for myself, and I am not an organised ordered person, so this might be a better alternative to journalling.
This is so interesting, so glad I found your video! I used to keep diaries growing up until my parents read it, and ever since then I’ve always kept a form of commonplace books full of things I’m interested in, quotes, personal growth musings, etc. stuff that is ‘safe’ if found. Never knew there was a word for it, and I’m glad to hear it’s actually a really healthy thing! This has inspired me to go through my old ones. Thank you!
omg. THIS is what ive been doing for years but havent had the language for it. thanks for being so authentic and real sharing your process with this. super awesome!
I had a notebook that was always lying around and so I started writing random things on a day to day, something I remembered someone said that stuck with me, a to do list, why I’m nervous about something, workout routines I wanted to follow… now coming across this video I see what I was acc doing:)))
this is a really good video. i have lots of journals and sketchbooks and one of my biggest issues is feeling like they're too "nice" to ruin with my messy thoughts and art. i also really enjoy compartmentalising things a little too much so sorting every varying thought or creative whim i have into different types of journals. i'm trying to get rid of that mindset. a good compromise i've found: a refillable travel journal. this is good because refills are super super cheap and then i can have multiple journals and/or commonplace notebooks on me at all times because it can fit several little booklets at once. i recommend a travel journal even to people who don't travel (i don't) because it's convenient and that way you can have a little flimsy paperback that's still protected in your bag + i love decorating the covers of the refills :)
Can’t recommend commonplace books enough if you’ve got memory problems. I started writing in a journal in 2019, and got my second concussion in 2021. Just having a record of like ‘went grocery shopping, watched two episodes of baking show, TDIL (insert fun fact)’ made me feel like I hadn’t just up and lost a year of my life to the void, just because I whacked my head on a chair. I’ve definitely gotten more organized about it- more of a bullet journal these days- but this was a nice reminder to make my journal suit my needs, and not the other way around.
I love your points of using it as a workspace/idea storage, and that the things you find interesting ARE us, as a collection of ourselves. im in my late 20s and reflecting a lot lately about the Self, how we spend our whole lives as a constant learning and unlearning what that means to us (haven't been around that long but have heard others say it.... and i do reflect more on life the older i get so it sounds legit RIP) i really liked the idea of treating it as a detective mission to observe and find out things and get to flip through later as a collection of things you like and thoughts. I think the 'pressure to perform' has been stopping me from starting my own since i bought a beautiful notebook weeks ago but you're right I just gotta start putting things on the page, I'm gonna start it after sending this comment 🥰 Thank you for such an authentic video!
As a bullet journal girlie, I think I've been looking for this concept of Commonplace book for so long!! Excited to separate my life and tasks kind of stuff and all my general thoughts and ideas into a commonplace book❤
I bought an expensive leather journal and I fully anticipate it looking rough later on. Such a liberating feeling of buying something expensive and then reflecting on how much you have used it, not enslaved to the fear of ruining it. Wear and "abuse" is a sign its well loved. Embrace it!
to be honest ive just been writing down/drawing bs when im commuting. dumb thoughts, views from the bus window, outfit inspo, tt trends, movie reviews and literally just bs i think of at the time
I have a lot of spare papers and I've started to bind them together using old gift ribbons and tape (and I will try to "sew" my next one using some old sturdy yarn or something) to form sketchbooks/commonplace books. They already look messy and personal from the start and are a great way to make a commonplace book out of things you can find at home :))))
I like how you talked about it being your own personal wikipedia and then moved onto saying a tiny collection of private information it's really interesting seeing you set the boundaries of the topic while jumping around - just like a commonplace book this is the first video on commonplace books I've seen in a long time that actually feels like someone going through their book there is so much practical advice that shows you actually use it - like a soft cover folding in the bag (maybe not great) when you said to write about things that you think are insignificant, I thought you might get into how the really organic and random thoughts come from that process but also add a lot of bloat over the course of years - which is both one of the coolest and most annoying things haha - but I gotta get halfway through before asking why stuff is missing lol there are so many little things like "record what you're drawn to" which make me feel like I'm going to hear an entire video and then you present it in a few sentences haha it's great to hear so many mentions of low stakes and low pressure because it's cheap and private unless intentionally shared (which you later say is uncorrupted or unaffected by other people because no one sees it as you make it or even afterwards - in different words) omg I pulled out a mirror and was like wait did I do this wrong? because I still can't read half of it haha I hope you make an entire video on how you decided to lean into the parts of yourself you found most in your commonplace book! it's not ruined! it's personalized! the bugs are intentional design - congrats now this is going to be the video I send people to get into the topic
You‘ve convinced me. I‘ve been writing a diary on and off for years but I always quit after a while because I feel like my writing is not good enough and it’s not about getting things off my chest anymore but about performing. This might actually be the solution for this problem. Thank you so much :)
i saw girl interrupted when i was like 15 and always wanted a journal/diary like suzanna had in the movie and i always wanted to just have a book i just randomly write in but i never like knew how to keep something that wasn’t an actual journal/diary but i really wanna start making a commonplace book bc now i know what they’re called and ive been binging commonplace book videos and want to make one so bad. the problem with me is i probs won’t be able to use it at work so that’s annoying but its fine
this is how i've been keeping sketchbooks forever!! i didn't know there was a name for it. i've been an artist all my life but never had an interest in keeping sketchbooks until i used them like this. i think it clicked for me the day i saw one of my friends titled all their sketchbooks. i realized i could do the same to reflect the overall life vibes and underlying currents i was feeling going into them. then working in them, journaling, making diagrams, and taking notes on all my projects, processes, and papers became the recorded timeline of that period of my life.
Perhaps the best commonplace book video that i watched. Usually i just skip a lot of talks in between but i sat throughout the whole time you spoke. Never thought about making it a personal Wikipedia. thanks for the idea
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[buying a cheap notebook, so] "you don't feel like you have TO PERFORM on your book" this sums it up!
my problem was that i did this and my notebook fell apart ! haha
Whenever I start a new sketchbook I go to the first page and do a quick drawing with no prep or reference and let it turn out terrible. Then I don’t feel so pressured for everything else to be perfect or stressful, cuz I’ve already “ruined” the book. So I started doing basically the same thing with journals (quick messy handwriting and rambling nonsense) and after that I felt so free! 💜
+ it stops you from procrastinating about starting, otherwise you feel like you can't start w/o buying a cute notebook first!
Same. There’s all of these cool videos about smash books and art diaries and journaling and I start off with much enthusiasm and then…. I like this idea better.
I have this problem and it stops me from wanting to draw or write down my thoughts, I'm def going to try getting a cheap notebook
Ugh I always forget about free will and how we can do literally anything. I always want to journal but find myself intimidated about starting. What if I miss a day? What if I don’t reflect how I really feel? The concept of a commonplace notebook just dissolved all of that for me.
I do the same thing too, but gradually I’ve been going away from the idea of writing in it every day, and just accepting that I’ll write in it whenever I need to. Also I write to do lists sometimes and scribble, so I think I’m leaning towards having a commonplace book.
SHUT UP, I'm just kidding you talked about free will so I wanted to do that😊
@@yojeli 🤭 this made me giggle picturing a stranger exercising chaotic, yet polite free will
It shouldn’t be a task or feel like it. I use to write in mine everyday but i began to dread it and I realized i wasn’t having fun. now I sometimes go weeks without writing and anytime I feel the urge to write, it feels exciting like I can’t wait to do it.
To be honest, I didn’t even know that people actually felt pressured to write into their diary. I’ve always written stuff down, when I felt like it and I love it to this day. Personally I can just really recommend getting a diary as early as possible. My 7th grade entries actually have me in tears 😂
i've kept a discord server just for myself for about five or six years now, it's really convenient cuz i can make so many channels and categories to keep things organized, but everything is easily accessible in the same space. and since it's a messaging app it feels really low-stakes. i have photos, screenshots of articles, artwork, scraps of poetry/lyrics, to-do lists, to-buy lists, journal entries, links to songs or videos, recipes, you name it! definitely recommend trying it out if you're looking for an online method
Omg the discord server for yourself is GENIUS. I don’t really like notebooks except for notetaking and scribbling, so this is a great alternative
Is there a way to export it all?
@u-s-er7557 i actually started mine because one of my friends kept track of their stuff this way! i say it's not weird to do unless it's not working for you
Omg I tried to do this but I don't really understand discord and I got overwhelmed and gave up 🙃
remember discord is hosted on aws and servers deemed unused will be purged
I write EVERYTHING in my little notebook. Thoughts and feelings, things that happened, gossip, ideas, to do lists, poems. Whenever I want to write something down I do it in the same book
Samee
what kind o book do u recommend ? i'd fill up a composition book too fast :')
What if it’s mid conversation or you’re somewhere you can’t necessarily write it? What do you do then
@@Ava-jf9ucI think the notes app could be useful to hold on to those thoughts until you’re able to write them down in your journal!
@@lordharry5994this is the best advice. i’m not very good at explaining my feelings, so before i write them down, i try form them first on my phone beforehand.
"Helps you reflect on your life but in a way that prevents you from ruminating too much on your life," nice. I have always been prone to spiraling in my diaries as well.
I once wrote 1 time in a journal ONCE! and my friends found it and read it out loud IM ACTUALLY DYING THAT WAS THE MOST EMBARRASED ID FELT IN A WHILE
You need to explain to your friends that they can’t do that. Thats your personal thoughts. If you can’t trust them to not do that then you need to keep it at your house or hide it when they come to your house or something
I feel bad reading this because i cannot imagine a life without my journal. It sits on my desk and no one touches it. I just suggest, try talking to them about it, privacy, personal space... If they don't agree or agree and don't follow through i say just don't be frienda with them. Hopefully you find joy in journaling again
Im sorry that happened! Thats so wrong that they did that, what an invasion of privacy…we all have our secret thoughts whether we write them down or not, it’s not something to make fun of…
those are not your friends if they did that
That's why I use a coded alphabet, journaling is wonderful, maybe it would help to try that ^^
You’re one of the first people I’ve found that has actually gotten the idea of a commonplace notebook! They’re not journals, they’re basically second brains that act like your own database of info.
I’ve combined journaling and commonplace bits and pieces for a long time. 🤷🏻♀️
I never put a name to what i did with my journal but ig she found one
This idea had been here for a long time. Jordan Clarke posted a video on this about 5,6 years ago. I guess you were just born yesterday. 🙄
@@randombibliophile3686 Your comment is rude. Better be careful, your illusory superiority is showing.🤨🤨
I have a commonplace file on here I save them too and pinterest, I've been doing this for years,( Autism) helps me keep track sometimes, but never had a name for it then. I'm 60 now and still doing it 😊
the detective idea doesn't scratch my itch so i thought, my common place book will be like that person u can tell everything and you know the feeling when something happens and ur so excited to tell them.
this idea scratched my itch omg !!!
this scratched my itch, can't wait to tell my future self who definitely forgot :')
OMG THANK YOU THIS SCRATCHED MINE TOO
I believe that a commonplace book is just a tool for you to capture the little moments in life that give you the spark of happiness but are easily forgotten. It's nice to go back and relive them with a smile on your face.
Yesssss
I’ve learned to just keep one notebook for everything: notebook, sketchbook, journal, planner, budgeting… EVERY👏THING👏and apparently it’s supposed to be great ADHD advice
Do you mind sharing more about your process? Where do you keep this notebook and do you save them?
Also interested in more info on this!!!
i do this too!!! i have a thick journal with tabs along the side according to all my different things, whether its arts, budgeting, mental health, or just daily journalling. SO much better for my adhd and my autism loves to journal and the organisation 🤭
Gosh this is what I need to do. I love all the notebook aesthetics and yk you got your diary, your bujo, your budgeting etc. but I can never actually make more than one entry and then I feel like I can't use the journal unless it's that specific thing but I forget yk 😭
as a person with adhd, i get excited about the idea of getting a new notebook, having everything prepared, stationaries and all. then the next day, forget it exists and it becomes a paper weight 😂
A common place book is just you discovering diaries don’t have rules.
I have;
1. A Sketchbook (rn I’m almost done sketchbook 7)
2. A tiny little journal (for writing about my day and sketching from life)
3. I want to get a commonplace book for the summer!! probably a composition book
Sameeee
Sameee OMG 😭✨✨
As a dedicated diary keeper you’re the first person to actually convince me to keep a commonplace book lol
I kept a journal for a month and wrote in it every morning. I went through the worst bout of depression that month. I analysed every thought, word and interaction in that journal. A conversation that could've been just a joke, I analysed it and turned it into the biggest deal ever. it got to a point where I thought I might have borderline personality disorder because of how fast my mood changed. turns out I just became extremely observant of everyone's every single action and everything easily made me mad. safe to say I have stopped journalling now and I have buried that journal under a pile of other books and notebooks. and if anyone ever read it, I would be done.
This sounds like me and my jornal…..
This is sooo me dude. I have actually been diagnosed with BPD though, but as a kid i literally used to hurt myself the second someone said something that offended me, even if it wasn’t actually offensive. I am insanely sensitive to the point where i feel sorry for any person who has to ever interact with me 😭. Journaling has helped me though and it lets me get everything out without feeling like im being judged.
I had a journal like this when I was 14. I kept it for a few months and when I stopped I realize how horribly it had affected me and became ashamed of it. I ended up burning it a few years ago. For about 7 years now I have kept journals more like what she's saying, full of drawings, jokes, to do lists, and things that make me happy- for a while I purposefully avoided writing down the things that actually happened in my life for fear of becoming resentful again, though nowadays I've become more comfortable with it. I've filled 8 journals and they are my most prized possessions, they map my character growth and the evolution of my creativity without detailing my day-to-day life and interactions
Journaling was also a big empty room for me. Some thoughts were nice to write down but going through the process of writing others down made them "real" and way easier to ruminate on.
this is a practice that we used to do in college as architects/designers-we call it logbooks! it's not necessarily something as formal as a notebook, but something more scribbly, messy, and definitely better to just write whatever into.
i still keep one at my office to write things down quickly or to sketch something if i need to explain an image in my mind to friends or colleagues. but yeah! it is a fun thing to have, you definitely makes me want to get a new one just for daily life.
i personally use the same notebook as both a commonplace book + diary. like sometimes i’ll just write about my day or rant or use it like a traditional diary and sometimes i copy poems / facts i’ve learned, grocery list, put pressed flowers, metro tickets and coffee shops receipts to remember where i’ve been, polaroid pictures, sketches, lists of books / movies / songs i’ve been recommended or recently discovered, ideas, etc. its literally my second brain & external memory drive, can’t leave the house without it. my tradition is to start a new one every year on january 1st so 1 notebook = 1 year. been doing it for 5 or 6-ish years !
i started a commonplace book this year, so i was looking through it when watching this video and realised i forgot about the "keeping random knowledge" bit of it?? now i have to go look for the reel i saw 3 days ago on why avocados supposedly should be extinct so i can write that down and find out about it again in a few months when i'm flipping through the book THANKS, CRYSTAL MWAH
I love this idea! All of my ideas are scattered everywhere, then I forget, and they're gone forever.
your talk about the pressure of having an expensive book is literally me right now, i have this expensive book with pretty cover and high-quality papers that i did not touch since I bought it and it is been two years, instead I draw and write my thoughts on my school textbook 💀
"I hope I converted you" yes you did I absolutely have to do this now I can't believe it never crossed my mind
omg. i've unknowingly had commonplace books for a while now (i'm on my 5th) and then this video comes across my feed.
I absolutely love the idea of my own little wikipedia as a curious artist.
My private collection of thoughts are quite special to me: the ones I've spent hours circling around to the spontaneous blink-and-you'll-miss-it ones at the most normal times... in summary, thank you, you've made my day.
I came here to comment this exact thing, except I don’t think I would have said it so eloquently
Tbh you showing your notebooks not being super fancy helps alot. I love collecting stationary and i always try to keep notebooks for hyper specific topics but never manage. I love the idea of a commonplace book, especially with adhd and autism (i notice a lot of things but i forget them just as easily). Overall thank you for this video! I'm definitely going to try this.
You converted me so well that in the middle of watching this video I grabbed an old leather notebook I thought I’d never use and started writing a couple notes about this video, a podcast I listened to recently, and a small sketch. Already alot less pressure than a diary for me
this has really helped me to be motivated into using social media less and using my notebooks for what they're here for instead of saving them for the "right moments"
I've kept commonplace books for years but one thing that made it feel really mine and like an extension of me as a person is making them myself. one day I found a tutorial on yt for making your own sketchbook so I made one with shitty printer paper and I've never gone back to buying journals since, it just makes the experience much more personal imo. also it's cheaper, that's always a bonus
Do you happen to have the tutorial you used?
Would love to do this! Could you share the video?
i was hesitant at first at how important a commonplace book is, because i can basically do that on facebook or twitter, or threads. but i realize that theres a beauty in a physical notebook and the privacy that comes with it. this kinda inspired me to become less chronically online (i guess) because i can definitely post less of social media. and a notebook like that just looks interesting and pretty. maybe i'll start doing this cuz it looks pretty fun
It's funny to see everyone's perspective in life, when describing your commonplace books and how and why you use it, it's exactly how I use my diary! it's a piece of my brain, so while it has my deep and brooding thoughts (TM) it also had drawings, doodles, what kind of goose I saw this morning. :)
I was actually thinking about this.
I didn't even know these existed and I thought "I should keep a book about everything I learn" and this video popped up. 🤯
One of my favorite things ever is when someone shows me their journal, it's such a good way to get to know someone and it's so interesting to see how everyone treats their notebooks and what they decide to write!! This video was so fun since you kept showing pages as you're talking abt itt
Most people don't really realize how creative they are until they start keeping a notebook of any kind and creativity is literally a gift
i’ve never really had a problem with journaling because i think a lot of people feel like they’re not just… thinking on paper? sometimes it productive, but i let myself go months sometimes without writing and it works fine. there’s no rules for journaling or anything the idea that you have to write in it daily defeats the purpose of going to it to slow down your thoughts when they rush
i literally needed this, because even on days when i don’t do anything special, maybe I just watch a movie or so, i become alienated with everything and days just go on without me even realizing, so writing everything u think or see or whatever changes the way u live your days. With all the inputs we have every day we see so many things but remember very few of them, which is frustrating. I watch a lot of movies and series but I often forget even the plot after few months, so maybe even keeping notes of them will help also develop your memory and make u start appreciate those things that are part of a routine
I used to have a diary for most of my childhood that I would even carry around at school sometimes. It had doodles, to-do lists, plans, thoughts. Everything. It was the most creative era of my life, and I know that I owe my sense of self, and self-awareness to those diaries. I stopped a few years ago, but I want to start that again.
9:58 i think that happens bcz when u have expensive paper u tend to be careful on it and try to make it perfect so that it is worth it while as on random paper, u have not much to lose and u r free.
Pretty much as you said about expensive books
Your thoughts on journalling resonant a lot with me. I always found that the fundamental difference between the two mediums was introspection vs rumination, where one introduces something new to contemplate, while the other simply revits what is generally re-occurring.
the one I use is the regular sized traveler's notebook. It's expensive as hell, but it really leans into that whole "make it your own" philosophy as it is leather & gets unique markings as time goes by. on top of that they last forever. the lil notebooks you put inside (called inserts) vary in material & style (I'm a grid paper supremacist), which allows for a lot of freedom when deciding what you want to do with it. they also come in different price ranges depending on what you can afford; it's the actual cover that is $$$ & the official brand things. if you are thinking on dumping a lot of money into something like this, I recommend giving it a bunch of thought & making sure that you actually use it & make it yours. just sharing what I personally use if any are interested. on a side note, I think this is my favorite video on the subject. I find that other people talk too much repetitive crap when talking about their journals/commonplace books, etc, so thank you for making this cool vid & sharing!
"make it your own" sounds like it could be a series haha
is the grid paper simply easier on the eyes? or does it provide several functions like: easier lines, easier to visualize the page, maybe more consistent paper from the manufacturer?
it's good to know that the cover of the notebook is the actual cost rather than the internal bits
any recommendations on making sure that people actually use their notebooks?
are you sure it's not time for a how to video? maybe someone will mix it up by bringing their book to random places like a garden or coffeeshop xD
@@thepostgradyear short answer is yes to everything, hahaha. I think that it's super versatile & I find that the space between each horizontal line is perfect for the size of my handwriting. if I use blank paper, for example, I write too big for my liking. I agree on the higher cost being for the cover notebook itself. I paid some more for it but I know it's going to last me forever pretty much! an investment, really. recs for people to use them… I say write about anything & everything to identify what you do want to write about. as you write more, you'll come to notice things you want to see more of & less of. focus on those things. you can be real meta about it & ask yourself why some topic you're writing about is important to you or why it's not. on top of that, I'll be somewhat contradicting & say be diligent with the habit but don't force it. there's really times where there's just nothing to say & that's okay. honestly, I find it quite funny how you're asking me for advice on that but I've watched some of your videos before looking for inspiration in my own workflow. isn't that real funny? but yeah, I like to think I'm that person that brings their journal/notebook/commonplace book everywhere because… I really do. one more bit of advice is to not be afraid to customize it. whether it's a planner or normal notebook or whatever, draw on it, add stickers, staple pictures into it. lowkey abuse it. I think that's the best summary of "making it your own". p.s. I really like your vids bro
@@AndresMartinez-ww1qz thanks! but you're right - this might be the best video lol
I had to ask for a few reasons such as: I recognized you and that was exciting xD, had a good comment, check for things I hadn't anticipated, etc.
and it worked! your reply was very helpful! you reminded me of something that helped me through the first 5 years!
writing down literally everything seems so shocking to people; and, it was for me too... until I realized that it was easier to do subtraction than addition
writing from scratch was so difficult! but now after taking thousands of notes, I need to refocus on improving the quality of existing work jajaja
congrats on finding a system that works for you!
also if someone else happens to be reading this: I recommend trying to write once every 3 days - even if it's simply writing a single word on an already worked on page - if you can't do that it's a sign of a larger problem like a workspace not being set up, no free time or space, fear of people going through your stuff, etc
crystal you have possibly changed my life in this very moment, thank you
I’ve been using the pocket size moleskine notebooks at come in a pack of 3 (perfect purse size) and I have about 12 fully filled out now and it’s like a timeline of my life since 2020
this video is what made me get up, and impulse buy the first cheap but decent quality notebook i found. and honestly? no regrets so far. this is exactly what i was looking for in those "why should you have a commonplace notebook and how" videos, and its better than the rest because its direct and so so *simple*, thanks so much for giving me the incentive to have a physical copy of my thoughts
I’ve been unknowingly keeping a commonplace book when I was a child/teen and it is so interesting to see how I thought back then (I’m 29), the stories that I wrote, what I was interested in.
Pd: loved how you showed us your commonplace book
i was really not convinced about journalling because of all the things you mentioned (pressure, loss of motivation etc.) but honestly youve convinced me on this commonplace book! such a great resource for artists i think. i write a lot of stuff on lots of bits of paper or seperate notes on my phone but having something always to hand to help me remember shit would be so useful (because if i dont write things down i immediately forget lol)
lovely lovely video in so many ways. i've spiraled into existentialism in my diaries bc i focused too much on just "finding" myself, but really keeping a commonplace book is encouraging you to become yourself: living & bearing witness to your life at the same time. you were so right that the more you engage with what you love, the more it becomes you & you, it. thank u crystal
finding oneself sounds weird to me... you're right there, silly...you've been there all along...were else could you have gone?
Oh okay, so my sketchbook is called commonplace book. It's writing, ideas, and sketches, reminders, notes, and shopping lists at the same time, on top of each other. Always has been, for over a decade now, but we were encouraged to use our sketchbooks as "commonplace books" (as you call it) in art uni. It's great though, always recommended to everyone who asked.
The algorithm randomly sent me here, but let me just say : I really hope you are a professional artist, because damn, those sketches are insane. That full on drawing is incredible. And I now realize that the "trash journal" I have been keeping has a more elegant name for it, so thanks for this!
I have been unintentionally keeping a “common place “ note book in my notes app for little over a year now. Happy to know the little things I do is actually a common thing amongst others. Lovely video thank you for sharing 😊
I was wondering why this idea wasn’t really resonating with me until I read this comment and realized “oh yeah I already just dump everything in my head into different notes on my notes app” 😂
@@bibubbleteaI’ve been doing this too then gradually organizing said thoughts into one note then moving it to paper which actually feels better compared to typing
This just reminds me of bullet journaling in a way , you can customize it and put down your habits, your ideas, moods, events, doodles, etc. you don’t just have to use it to be productive you can use it to recall your interests and favorite things
But I know it’s not the exact same
the second you said "its like the notes app on your phone" it totally clicked lmao maybe I'll start to do this
i love this idea but i also think it's important to just not give yourself too many rules with journaling and documenting your thoughts/life in any way. by all means if you like to have rules implemented then do so! but i think taking all of these ideas and having a place where you can journal about your everyday life, think about existential problems, write down small creative ideas and thoughts is absolutely doable and in my experience it's a lot easier to get into the habit when you just give yourself full creative freedom
Exactly. Her problem with journaling is not the actual journaling it’s her making herself do it on a daily basis. I saw in a video “journal only when you itch for it”
12:54 someone's probably already said this but notion would be a really good app for a digital commonplace !!!! its very very customisable, so anyone can completely personalise it, and you can also organise everything in there !!!!!
i used to draw on my journals but not so much now because I felt so confined to the idea that journaling is for me to just vent.. and I shouldn't be putting anything else on there. I am a convert!! Dug up a dotted notebook that's been gathering dust in my storage and making it a commonplace notebook now. Thank you!!
I loved this video and everything you said! I’ve had the guilt of “ruining my journals” for years due to it being random/scrappy, so this motivates me to start a commonplace book. I like how you worded it as a detective book for your own life. Also totally agree with the private Pinterest boards, it’s become too aesthetic and clean to show the random things we like
i think i bought my latest diary with this in mind: it is cheaper than the others and i don't put as much pressure to write in it everyday, and i even doodle in it. but most importantly, i bought it with the goal of actually trying to know myself. i'm happy i came across this video and learnt about commonplace books, it's very cool! and it's really encouraging me to fully do the same with this new diary, it seems very liberating.
I love love LOVE how you come at finding yourself. I now propose that we change every single day. The search for a core self is nigh impossible because we change EVERY SINGLE DAY. We are never static. We constantly update as humans and this notebook is just an attempt to document that.
Omg I may have to convert my diary into a common place book.
I've tried so many similar things like keeping a diary and morning pages but i could never fully commit cuz it started feeling like a chore so this is perfect!!! Thank you so much
My favourite kind of notebook is finding a nice notebook I bought years ago, so long ago that it doesn't matter if it was "precious" then, and just scribbling something in it to start it.
omg this is the manual version of a blog i love it!
Hi Crystal. You have many beautiful and meaningful journal notebooks. They don't look aesthetic or neat, yet they are authentic, which are more appealing to me than those with lots of fancy washi tapes and design. Thanks for sharing!
I find it very funny that I've been keeping commonplace books without even knowing it! I always had notebooks that I filled with all sorts of unrelated shit: diary entries, video game facts, drawings, lesson notes. I wanted to try journaling but was always anxious about not being able to organize myself enough to do it. This a wonderful idea and I will put it into conscious practice from now on!! Thank you for this video ☺
i got really into bookbinding so i love to buy cheap notebooks with ugly covers (but good paper!) which i then rebind to make the covers look like actual books. its a really fun process and i love having something so unique, and it means i can make them studier and dont mind when they get a bit battered because it makes it look more authentic and old. point is: find a commonplace book that works for you, and even better if its personal to you so you enjoy using it!
i bought a journal last summer from a market somewhere in Germany. it has a beautiful imprinted leather cover, handmade paper, and you can tell that a lot of love was put into making it. the pages are grainy, with little imperfections in places where the mix maybe wasn't blended as well before being pressed into paper, and the leather cover bleached its design onto the front page from where they touch.
point is, i was so scared to write or draw in it because i didn't want to "ruin" it, but your video's helped me get over that fear.
This is SO TRUE. I randomly got a seizure disorder from stress and trauma in march of 2022, and it caused me brain damage so long and short term memory and motor skills and processing information has been compromised for me ever since. I can’t remember a THING from the time it started happening, but yesterday I found in an old planner that I detailed my exact feelings and what was happening and my experience and it gave me SOOO MUCH clarity and closure. I didn’t even know that past me did that. And looking at the change of handwriting and sentence structure spoke volumes of my mental and neurological state. Looking at how your handwriting changes during different emotions and periods of life says a LOT too..
Losing my memory abilities has taught me the fragility of being a human and the unreliable nature of our memory and how our brains compartmentalize information and emotional memories. So since then, even the smallest idea I have that I THINK I’d remember, I still write it down. I write down everything (in a much more fragmented way, but I’m trying to streamline the process) and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. We don’t even know that we don’t know what we don’t know. And we don’t even remember what we think we remember that we DONT remember. And even a more tangible memory is manipulated and altered every time you revisit the memory consciously or subconsciously. I do a mix of online and physical archiving and I HIGHLY recommend it. It will change you as a human and your ability to introspect and you gain more insight
Didn’t understand the last part, cause I don’t wanna think too much but sorry for what happened and I’m glad to hear ur on a good track. Maybe I should start takin notes,too…
hi, crystal. i watched this video soon after you posted this, roughly two months ago. you helped me to fill out the rest of my journal, based on your advice here. it's allowed me to revive my creative spark with writing, interpersonally understand myself better, and get back into casually drawing. i used to paint on canvas but i'm finding that it's too time-consuming but maintaining a commonplace book is far more feasible for me at this chapter in my life. thank you. much love from north carolina
This video made me realize that I've been using a commonplace notebook the whole time last year, but I called it my "Everything Notebook" instead. And when u talked abt it being less of a chore, it made me understand why I used that one more than my actual designated journals!
i just recently started doing this bc I am not organized enough to have more than one book and i love it. I think the pressure of having a specific schedule around the book just made me not want to do it, but i really do want to keep track of my brain and evolution in some manner. I love flipping through it and seeing my achievements in a way that feels true to myself.
I finally found someone who does this too! I have never known how to explain it to people. Like it's journaling? and scrap booking? And a sketch book? It's the wonder within my life.
The notebook sounds at 3:23 are so nice lol I love it
I go through a small notebook every 2-3 years in this manner. It’s fun getting to go back and see the little doodles, more complex drawings, random code explanations, grocery lists, trauma dumping, etc. I’d heard of the term commonplace book but didn’t realize that it applied to my little drawing journals. I find that it helps to just have it with you wherever you go because you’ll always end up in some situation where you need to write something down and then you’ll be ready! Plus it helps keep things low key
This is so great and VERY true!! I have been journaling since 2022 and don't regret it one bit. It is crazy to look back on things I said and worried about back then VS now. If you are reading this, this is your sign!! Starting writing neooww!!!
I love this idea. Started one in 2018 when I had an extra 5Star notebook after a semester of college and made sections with a couple pages to write down notes for SelfImprovement, Health, Financial, Relationships, and career. Then the rest of the notebook was fair game for any and everything. Thoughts, quotes, drawings, recipes, letters, song lyrics, to-do lists, post it notes, etc. Lowkey tried to make it a bullet journal of my life. Nice to look back once in a while when I’m in the mood for nostalgia.
I got into a habit of keeping one ever since I was a kid. I would take notes of things I need to do, some random dreams or wishes, as well as note the events of the day or use it as a diary for my feelings (could't get too existential at the age of 7 what a privilege). It is a fun way to peek into your own mind, and go back to that perspective you had going through your life at that age, would highly recommend! I even found some funny drawings of a dragon eating my crush or smth because I was so mad that I liked him (I was like 7) as well as a drawing of what I imagine myself to be as a teen. Glad to know my soul remain unchanged through all those years.
My mother passed when I was very young, and a little bit after my grandfather passed, I went to clean out his house, where I found a bunch of these books in my mother's childhood bedroom. she had TONSSS and it really helped me learn who she was more than any diary would've.
I always wanted to make something like this but I never knew that it had a name and that it was a thing up untill now lol
Knowing the fact that it’s called a commonplace book is really comforting or whatever
And I think this is a sign for me to start making my own. ❤
I started doing this in my late 20s and I'm 31 now. I have a hard time sticking to one at a time, but I do revisit them and carry one around. I didn't realize this is what I was doing though. I'd either write lists of films or books, drawings, personal thoughts, etc. This is dope.
Love your illustrations.
I appreciate this video a lot since other videos like this, "how should you keep a commonplace book" go more into how their commonplace book look or structured. While it may be helpful, i believe they take away from the core element that makes a commonplace book, well- a common place book. It supposed to be a place where you dump all of the things you want to keep and remember without any limits. you can do anything to it. its not SUPPOSED to be structured, but if you like it to be, you should!
Your video touched on why a person should even have it without explaining to them how it should look like or be like. yours is raw and messy with doodles, and honestly. that's how i wish mine to look like. i strive for your messiness.
I really appreciate how real you kept it, i want more creators to follow your direction. it was a good vid, good work!
omg i did this after i graduated high school through college and it helped me so much as i developed as a person and found what i truly liked, and kept records of all the little things because those add up, it also helped me remember positive things and moments in life because its so easy to focus on the negative things in our lives, and if i need something to get me out of a funk i just scroll through it
I'm going to try this!! Thanks so much. I have been trying to keep a journal for about 10 years now. I'll have periods of daily writing followed by periods of no writing, and my entries become so formulaic, that it feels like a chore. I feel that I unintentionally write as if other people are reading it - like explaining who people are in relation to me, or describing things I am already familiar with. It's like there is some imaginary audience that I'm subconsciously catering to. I want to write for myself, and I am not an organised ordered person, so this might be a better alternative to journalling.
This is so interesting, so glad I found your video! I used to keep diaries growing up until my parents read it, and ever since then I’ve always kept a form of commonplace books full of things I’m interested in, quotes, personal growth musings, etc. stuff that is ‘safe’ if found. Never knew there was a word for it, and I’m glad to hear it’s actually a really healthy thing! This has inspired me to go through my old ones. Thank you!
omg. THIS is what ive been doing for years but havent had the language for it. thanks for being so authentic and real sharing your process with this. super awesome!
I had a notebook that was always lying around and so I started writing random things on a day to day, something I remembered someone said that stuck with me, a to do list, why I’m nervous about something, workout routines I wanted to follow… now coming across this video I see what I was acc doing:)))
this is a really good video. i have lots of journals and sketchbooks and one of my biggest issues is feeling like they're too "nice" to ruin with my messy thoughts and art. i also really enjoy compartmentalising things a little too much so sorting every varying thought or creative whim i have into different types of journals. i'm trying to get rid of that mindset.
a good compromise i've found: a refillable travel journal. this is good because refills are super super cheap and then i can have multiple journals and/or commonplace notebooks on me at all times because it can fit several little booklets at once. i recommend a travel journal even to people who don't travel (i don't) because it's convenient and that way you can have a little flimsy paperback that's still protected in your bag + i love decorating the covers of the refills :)
Can’t recommend commonplace books enough if you’ve got memory problems. I started writing in a journal in 2019, and got my second concussion in 2021. Just having a record of like ‘went grocery shopping, watched two episodes of baking show, TDIL (insert fun fact)’ made me feel like I hadn’t just up and lost a year of my life to the void, just because I whacked my head on a chair.
I’ve definitely gotten more organized about it- more of a bullet journal these days- but this was a nice reminder to make my journal suit my needs, and not the other way around.
I love your points of using it as a workspace/idea storage, and that the things you find interesting ARE us, as a collection of ourselves. im in my late 20s and reflecting a lot lately about the Self, how we spend our whole lives as a constant learning and unlearning what that means to us (haven't been around that long but have heard others say it.... and i do reflect more on life the older i get so it sounds legit RIP) i really liked the idea of treating it as a detective mission to observe and find out things and get to flip through later as a collection of things you like and thoughts. I think the 'pressure to perform' has been stopping me from starting my own since i bought a beautiful notebook weeks ago but you're right I just gotta start putting things on the page, I'm gonna start it after sending this comment 🥰 Thank you for such an authentic video!
As a bullet journal girlie, I think I've been looking for this concept of Commonplace book for so long!! Excited to separate my life and tasks kind of stuff and all my general thoughts and ideas into a commonplace book❤
I was waiting for a sign I had to start a commonplece book, loved this vid's aesthetic 🤍🌻
this is so helpful. as someone who has tried journaling and never kept up with it bc of the PRESSURE, i am definitely going to try this method!!!! :)
okay um this video quite literally changed my life. thank you so much
I started one because of you. Never herad of a commonplace book before. Thank You!
i'd like to suggest notion!!! you can add songs and playlists
For me, it’s not about how expensive it is but it’s beauty. I appreciate this video. Thank you
Love love love this commonplace book content, please do more of it!
I bought an expensive leather journal and I fully anticipate it looking rough later on.
Such a liberating feeling of buying something expensive and then reflecting on how much you have used it, not enslaved to the fear of ruining it.
Wear and "abuse" is a sign its well loved. Embrace it!
to be honest ive just been writing down/drawing bs when im commuting. dumb thoughts, views from the bus window, outfit inspo, tt trends, movie reviews and literally just bs i think of at the time
I have a lot of spare papers and I've started to bind them together using old gift ribbons and tape (and I will try to "sew" my next one using some old sturdy yarn or something) to form sketchbooks/commonplace books. They already look messy and personal from the start and are a great way to make a commonplace book out of things you can find at home :))))
I like how you talked about it being your own personal wikipedia and then moved onto saying a tiny collection of private information
it's really interesting seeing you set the boundaries of the topic while jumping around - just like a commonplace book
this is the first video on commonplace books I've seen in a long time that actually feels like someone going through their book
there is so much practical advice that shows you actually use it - like a soft cover folding in the bag (maybe not great)
when you said to write about things that you think are insignificant, I thought you might get into how the really organic and random thoughts come from that process but also add a lot of bloat over the course of years - which is both one of the coolest and most annoying things haha - but I gotta get halfway through before asking why stuff is missing lol
there are so many little things like "record what you're drawn to" which make me feel like I'm going to hear an entire video and then you present it in a few sentences haha
it's great to hear so many mentions of low stakes and low pressure because it's cheap and private unless intentionally shared (which you later say is uncorrupted or unaffected by other people because no one sees it as you make it or even afterwards - in different words)
omg I pulled out a mirror and was like wait did I do this wrong? because I still can't read half of it haha
I hope you make an entire video on how you decided to lean into the parts of yourself you found most in your commonplace book!
it's not ruined! it's personalized! the bugs are intentional design - congrats now this is going to be the video I send people to get into the topic
You‘ve convinced me. I‘ve been writing a diary on and off for years but I always quit after a while because I feel like my writing is not good enough and it’s not about getting things off my chest anymore but about performing. This might actually be the solution for this problem. Thank you so much :)
Loved this video!! All about about that journal and commonplace life!! ✍✍
This video CHANGED my life. I can't thank you enough.
i saw girl interrupted when i was like 15 and always wanted a journal/diary like suzanna had in the movie and i always wanted to just have a book i just randomly write in but i never like knew how to keep something that wasn’t an actual journal/diary but i really wanna start making a commonplace book bc now i know what they’re called and ive been binging commonplace book videos and want to make one so bad. the problem with me is i probs won’t be able to use it at work so that’s annoying but its fine
this is how i've been keeping sketchbooks forever!! i didn't know there was a name for it. i've been an artist all my life but never had an interest in keeping sketchbooks until i used them like this. i think it clicked for me the day i saw one of my friends titled all their sketchbooks. i realized i could do the same to reflect the overall life vibes and underlying currents i was feeling going into them. then working in them, journaling, making diagrams, and taking notes on all my projects, processes, and papers became the recorded timeline of that period of my life.
Perhaps the best commonplace book video that i watched. Usually i just skip a lot of talks in between but i sat throughout the whole time you spoke. Never thought about making it a personal Wikipedia. thanks for the idea