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Have you ever felt overwhelmed by all the note-taking and information management systems out there? PARA, Zettelkasten, bullet journaling...
I have.
And it led me to a centuries old practice that has made note-taking more fun & enjoyable than ever.
Enter the world of Commonplacing.
This isn't just another system to learn—it's a beautiful, simple practice that's been used by some of history's greatest minds:
And I think it's exactly what we need in our information-overloaded world. Here's Why:
1. It slows down the information firehose 🚰
In a world of endless scrolling and constant notifications, commonplacing forces you to pause and really absorb what you're consuming.
2. It creates a curated world of your interests 🎨
Imagine having a space filled only with ideas and information that truly resonate with you. That's what a commonplace book becomes.
3. It helps you make sense of things 🧠
Rather than just collect a bunch of stuff and file it away a commonplace practice helps you use those raw materials to develop your own thoughts & ideas.
And the beauty of it? Its simplicity.
There are no rules, no rigid structures to follow. You don’t need to worry about creating the perfect note or finding the perfect connection.
Instead, you focus on capturing what matters to you in the moment, trusting that your brain will make the connections later.
Don't overthink this or spend time trying to build a perfect system.
Just choose a note-taking tool that you can easily capture things into. That might be Evernote, Notion, Tana or even Apple Notes.
Setup a space in your tool called 'Commonplace Book' and you're ready to get started.
Start saving quotes, ideas, or media that genuinely resonate with you. Whenever you find something that you think 'Oh that is interesting.' save it into your Commonplace book.
The key here is to use your commonplace book as a filter. This isn't some consume it later app where you save everything you find and then never look at it again.
It's a place to curate theings that mean something to you, that inspire you, that speak to you in some way.
Don't overthink this step too much either. If it sparks you, save it.
Schedule regular times to revisit & wander through your commonplace book. Maybe it's a Sunday morning in your favourite café or a quiet evening at home.
This isn't some strict 'note review process.'
This is a time to turn down the noise of the information and just explore your curated space of inspiration.
Wander through your notes. Choose one & start writing.
Write about what stood out to you, why it matters to you, what questions do you have about it? Be like a 5 year old child asking all the questions & exploring in wide eyed wonder.
If you want some more ideas to help you explore and open up ideas check out The Spark Toolkit. It has over 130+ prompts and questions to help you explore ideas in your commonplace book.
Trust yourself to make connections, to be inspired and to let ideas bubble up instead of always trying to force it.
Pro tip: Don't worry too much about organising & categorising everything. A few loose categories can be helpful, but the real magic happens when you let your mind freely explore and make unexpected connections.
Optimise for exploration, for creativity, for letting your mind wander and ideas bubble up as a result.
I've found that commonplacing has not only helped me manage information better but has also boosted my creativity and helped me generate more original ideas. It's become a kind of meditation practice, allowing me to slow down and really engage with the world of ideas around me.
So, if you're feeling burnt out on complex note-taking systems, why not give this ancient practice a try? You might just find it's the refresh your note-taking needs.
