This grandmother in America has been enjoying your sweet, humble, brave spirit for quite a few months. I was so excited when you said commonplace book, because I also have a commonplace book! It has quotes, inspirational writings I have come across, lists of books, lists of movies, notes of things I have experienced or seen. It’s like you said….personal, no need to share, like creating your own retreat. One thing in it says: “ These words have enriched my life; made me laugh, cry, or think beyond myself.” Blessings to you and your sweet husband!

I remember my professor at Engineering university saying that the brain learns through the hand... He forced us to take notes during his lessons, giving also instructions on how to write and to organize the page. He used to check everything at the final exam! After many years I still remember its words... And confirm it's all true!

I almost feel like crying. I was always quite proud, almost vain about my handwriting. And then in 2014 I had a stroke and while I recovered remarkably, I have some ‘deficits’. I drag my right foot a bit, and have great difficulty writing. And it stresses me terribly to have poor handwriting. The book you describe sounds lovely, but I fear it would cause me great stress when I could barely read what I wrote. I don’t know if I can bear to try this. But perhaps I will try. And thank you so much fir the kind suggestion. Much love to you and Brian.

hey, i was doing this the entire time and i never knew it had a name! but "(un)commonplace book" sounds so cute

Ana, I started teaching my children about commonplace books when they were 5. Back then they were pictures, colors, or I would write names of books and songs for them. Fast forward to now...they they have commonplace books, boards, or random sheets of paper every where! My family loves this concept! Thank you ever so much for sharing!!!!

I have a box full of empty notebooks, sketchbooks and notepads, and you just gave me an idea what to do with them. Thank you! 😁💛

I've done this for a couple of months now without knowing it actually had a name! It's very liberating to let myself write down just anything at any time without calling it a diary/journal and limiting myself to just describe my days and feelings.

Thanks for this video. It's comforting to hear you talk.

Ok... It will probably sound creepy, but I have to say: I love everything about your channel and about how you see things and present yourself. LOVE!!! I love your art, your sweet demeanor, your charming objects, your peaceful knowledge, your classy presence. Thank you so much for being so genuine, so special, and so brave to share your enchanting world! I'm very inspired by you! 💛

I am turning 60 this summer and I have had many thoughts, memories and future plans swirling around in my head and I love this idea of the commonplace book where I can write these ideas down. Thank you so much for sharing this❤

I never thought of it as a common place book, but I usually have a notepad on the go where I write down lists of things I need to do and bills that I have to pay. I also writ down books I want to read and films I want to see. So, I suppose it is a common place book. Dreams I write in a book I keep next to my bed along with anything that comes to me during meditation. Dreams tell us so much about ourselves. Thank you for sharing this idea. Take care of yourself x

Whenever I journal - which is actually every single day - I always write with a 0.5 mm pencil on paper. _Never_ digital. I need to feel the way the pencil glides across the paper, and watch the way it forms the letters on the page. That's half of the therapy of it all: the tactile, the visual, the penmanship. I'm passionate about words, sentences, phrases, and often collect them and keep them in a special notebook. I never draw in my journal or commonplace book. For some reason, I cannot abide a mixture of the two, although I love to do them both❤ Thank you for your video, Ana💙

I enjoy your company in both channels.

Today is the first day that I came across your channel while searching KZfaq for commonplace books. I instantly connected with your calm spirit and enjoy listening to you speak. I will definitely subscribe and I hope that you keep making these types of videos.

Hi Ana, this was very interesting. I had to look up in Wikipedia what a commonplace book is and was really captured by what I learned. Somehow I associate this with the practice of collecting and creating a cabinet of curiosities. Thank you for sharing this.

Hello dear,I am watching your videos every morning these days.❤️🌹🌹🌹.I also writing a common book like you said.Very glad to watch you ✋🌹🌹🌹💕💕💗💗💗💗

Thank You Ana for introducing the commonplace book.💚

I have had a common place book each year since 2020. I didn't know the name of it but a simple spiral journal I have beside me each day to jot down whatever. Really helped me process the last few years. I totally agree that hand writing is a lost art. As an artist I find the use of a journal paramount to creativity. Computers just don't have the same effect. Thank you for this beautiful video. Ana, you have inadvertently become my muse 💙

Two videos from you in as many days seems like a gift! I like this idea and hearing how you use this type of recording of your days. Coincidentally, I just happened to write about my writing practices on my blog, and it’s one I’ve done for years. I have a journal where I simply write about my days in a type of diary format, and a different notebook, sort of a “bullet” journal, though mine is clearly an amalgam because it changes with the years to suit the current period of my life. Keeping some type of written account of our days, thoughts, ideas, or books read, quotes and so forth is so enriching I feel. What seems most important is to not feel tied to a particular way and allow it to change with the years and seasons. What works at one time in our lives, may no longer serve us at another time and that is fine. The change can renew us. Or at least that’s been my experience.

Thank you for the video. Sometimes I struggle with keeping up with the journal. As I have too many of those. But I always keep something ❤️👌

This comes into my life at just the right moment. I feel so picked um and gifted. Thank you Ana!💚

minimalist and far from digital machines. Yes your five reasons are true.Thank you

Thank you for giving a name to this thing I have practiced for years!

I just started a common place book. I have tried Roam, Notion and Obsidian. However, the cut and paste without sympathizing the information so it became more permanent in my mind was lacking. Plus hard to keep up, because it gives a sense of rushing. Whereas, I hear that writing analog, and I am a functional planner, slows me down and reduces my stress. Thanks for the video. I have subscribed, liked, etc.

Ana, thanks for this video! My grandma gave me a journal for Christmas and my immediate idea was to use it to write down all my thoughts and ideas. This gives me even more inspiration for what to write!

You couldn't have been more right when you said that we're probably doing this without knowing :) This is how I write too... I get so caught up in following rules, so giving myself journaling rules has always disincentivised me. So now I do just as you said, I write the date and then whatever flows out from there is exactly what I needed to write. The practice of writing the date also grounds me... knowing that this day will never again happen and will, one day, be history...

Good idea! Ialready have various separate places where I jot down lists, quotes, etc. You seem to be doing the same thing but in one book - something I will consider. ⚘

This video makes me happy, Ana. It is delightful and I am trying to re-discover my own creativity. It’s crucial, since I need a source of income. I’m just discovering about Patreon, and I want to make an account for myself there. I journal, although I have not done so in a few weeks. In general I avoid writing about my depressed feelings because I want to keep my journal only uplifting. At the same time, it’s very good to just put down those unhappy feelings on paper, and to then culminate with positive affirmations to let myself know that I always choose to see my opportunities and potential, and that expecting good outcomes leads to that happening.

Love the uncommon take on this practice! The unstructured non-system system

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Thank you sharing- I got a kick to try out my own common place book now❤

Thank you Ana for your wise words and thoughts.

Thank you for sharing this Ana. I’ve been keeping a five year journal since the birth of my first child and it is like a gift to myself, being able to go back and see what happen previous years in our little life. A common place book is definitely something I’d like to try ☺️

Dear Anastasia keep on writing, creating crocheting, dreaming, and surviving ❤. Spring is coming 😊! I can’t wait for march with time change

I know it’s been months since you posted this but…. I love your “compost heap” book! I’ve always kept this record but didn’t know of the term commonplace book. Many years and four grown kids later I still keep one. It’s my space. Thank you anyway.

I love your less disciplined (that may not be the right word) way of keeping a writing practice. I'm always overwhelmed by all the rules, methods, instructions, etc. on journaling. The "must does" of writing turn me away, though I wrote in one for years while in my 30's. Maybe ill take it up again without worrying about how others keep their uncommonplace books! Thanks for the inspiration!! Much love!! 💖🍀

This was interesting, thank you Ana.

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Hi Ana, you made a very good point about the loss of good old hand writing. I completely agree. You covered a lot of ideas here and I'll need to view this clip again to take in more of this topic. For me, just doing two things is plenty. First, be observant - paying attention to what's going on around me and what's going on inside me. Subtle and not so subtle changes in how my bodily systems are working is becoming much more apparent to me now, as I've reached this advanced age. And of course there is no end to the daily ups and downs in the world. Second, think about all of it, spend lots of time in contemplation. I try to resist society's encouragement to "do", "create", "influence", "make better", etc. I like to keep it simple now, just notice things and think about them.

I had never heard of a ‘commonplace book’, but I also have been doing this for most of my life! I have a big stack of notebooks that have accumulated over many decades of living (and writing) (and drawing). I could never hold all the many, many things I write out or sketch out in my note books in my mind without my head exploding! Having this place to put my thoughts, store them, helps keep me calm. Anyway, those are my thoughts, and thank you so much for making a vlog about this. I thought I was the only one!

Love the wonderful ideas. Inspiring to keep. I call mine my book of life. ❤ thank you!

Great video Ana hope u had a good birthday week 😊

Until today, I had never heard of a commonplace book. I always found the restraints of a journal frustrating and intimidating. I love how you broke the idea of a commonplace book in such a great and comprehendible way. Thank you for opening my eyes to this type of journaling!

I used to write in a diary when I was at school but since then not done a journal. This was a very interesting topic. Thanks so much & btw your English is excellent ❤

i also like to see what kind of journal books that other people create.it can be intimidating, but i just love seeing what comes out of people's minds! so much variety and inspiration. i think that's why i watch your channel :)

Está atardeciendo ahora en Uruguay. Después de muchos días de calor agobiante, llovió ayer y hoy corre una brisa fresca. Los pájaros están yendo a sus nidos a dormir. Se oye su canto. No sabía que se llama commonplace book, yo le digo al mío: cuaderno (notebook). Así que hoy he aprendido algo nuevo contigo 🙂 Escribo más o menos las mismas cosas que tú en mi cuaderno. También letras de canciones. Me gusta cantar. Estoy de acuerdo contigo en que la práctica de escritura a mano se está perdiendo. Es muy preocupante. Además un soporte físico, analógico es importante para mí. Por lo menos uno en este mundo virtual, digital, donde todo va a parar a un servidor que está quién sabe dónde. Vi y comenté tu otro vídeo de hoy. Gracias, Ana por tu compañía 🙋🏻‍♀️😘

So glad I found your channel. Love your sweet hopeful enthusiasm for life. Keep up the great work. The world needs YOU!

I have a lovely small notebook I've collected quotes in over the years. I don't do it often--hence the small book still has room--but I like collecting the thoughts/quotes that are meaningful in the moment. The idea of a commonplace book is appealing. Journaling hasn't been a successful endeavor for me, but I'm convinced it could be beneficial. I'll give this a try. Thank you!

I like the idea of the common place book to track bits of information that I come across

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You are a treasure, Ana! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! 💕

This puts into words so much that I think 🌟❤

I especially tuned in to your description of the book as your compost heap. That's what I need. For my thoughts to find a process of enrichment toward something that will become fruitful. Thank you for sharing!

ur videos bring me so much comfort and peace thank u for making them ❤.❤ sending u love from Lebanon ❤

Thanks for the great idea, I will try again, after many years!

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Oh Ana I love you and your videos a lot. Appreciate it so much. Have been following you for three years now I think :). Does not happen a lot that this happens to me with youtubers.

Dear Ana, thank you for the name! I had always a journal, additional a dreambook and a scetch book for textile patterns and ideas to creative and crafting ideas, extra book for little stories, a notebook to carry with me, a travelling book....it made me crazy! I love notebooks and pens! As my father died 2016, I began a book just with letters I wrote him to have contact, our deep conversations that I miss so much. Now its all in one book and you inspired me to use one book for all things! I'm on a minimalist path since 2009 but for my creative side that was difficult ( hobby and art supplies). Thanks a lot Ana and I experience it the same as you: a quiet personal place without digital stress from light. Precious time keeper! Greetings from Germany, Sonia 😊

Thank you, Ana - strangely have felt a call to do this lately, too. So glad I caught up with your video🌟💛

That's awesome 🧡🧡🧡 I keep info everywhere hehe, but specially in my Notion and notebook, always mixing it all with my sketchbook or even my KZfaq history hehe, I like seeing it reflected everywhere in my life, it makes me own it, feel more connected to my passions ^^

Hi lovely Ana, I’ve been collecting my thoughts in writing form for many,many years. I do have a favorite notebook from Moleskine, and always enjoy starting a new one. I even collage in them. Writing is so much a part of me.♥️

Hi there! Oh my gosh...I feel that we are kindred spirits!! So much of what you discuss in you videos are part of my thoughts. Even though we are of different ages (I'm well over 60) and different spaces (I live in the middle east) you say it loud lots of what I think and do! I'm amazed. Best wishes

I’ve been keeping common place books on and off my whole life. Only I didn’t know they were a thing. They have been many books over the years, sometimes even loose scraps of paper. They may contain recipes, quotes, thoughts, observation, how I’m feeling, of something that happened that day, stitch count to track what I’m knitting. And so many other things. They are disorganised and often messy. But they are important to me. Now I have a name for them. My (un)common place books. Thank you.

I have never heard of this term but it fits perfectly with what I will start to do. I have had a longing to want to write in this age of technology and use my fountain pen but never get around to it because I have never journal or kept a dairy for longer than a couple of days. Been able to just write whatever pops in your mind with no thought to whether it is ridiculous or not, is very appealing. Thank you.

Lovely video, home!

I love my "everything journal" which is basically this but just absolutely everything! Every other journal system people talk about also didn't work for me because I'm too all over the place to have my journals in narrow boxes 😅 I do have a little bit of a system with it, the first entry of the day is labelled with date and time, and each following entry is timestamped (helps memory issues). I have assigned some highlighter colours different meanings so I can create headings and quickly navigate to them via the marked colour. Your videos are always inspiring in a helpful way, thank you ✨

Thank you for this video, it makes me feel relieved that I keep my now "Uncommonplace Journal/notes Book" in which I too enter my thoughts, musings, day to day activities, and (a big AND) my nature journaling notes with drawings. I have spent a small fortune (not quite that much, but lots) on trying to fine the best affordable book to do all this in. Again, thank you for this video.

A Commonplace Book - I had never heard that word. Thank you so much for introducing it! My writing process started with Morning Pages 2 years ago. (without the rules). I was writing a book and had hit a serious writer’s block. The block dissolved quickly and I had found out, that there is something very wise in me which I usually can’t access spontaneously. But in my writing, it could express itself and give good counsel. I still write my „whenever pages“, not daily but often. It feels very soul-nourishing.

yayy :3 it's my favorite use of these beautiful dot grid journals made to be used as bujos. the bujo method had always intimidated me, and caused me so much anxiety while doing it. but I wanted to use these notebooks, and, somehow, I felt pressured to use the bujo method. then I slowly turned my notebooks into more like of commonplace books, using them to brainstorm and brain dump, outline stories, make lists of interesting things (theory of mind? thick description?), and to just have it open with me when I'm reading a non-fiction book for fun to jot down its key ideas.

Wow I also did this as a teenager carrying around a pocket sized Moleskine all the time, and I didn't know it was a thing with a name! I guess getting a smartphone gradually made that practice fade away and I do want it back. I feel like my brain worked differently and the quotes and observations I wrote down were processed in a more lasting and meaningful way, so thank you for reminding me to pick it back up again!

I have done journaling for many years it has always helped me to let out my emotions and reach peacefulness in my mind I tend to go thru spells where I don’t use it much and times where I have used it daily. It is a wonderful outlet I also dray and doodle in mine.

I love the idea of keeping a commonplace book. I just always bump into the same issue again and again, so if someone could enlighten me, please, feel free to - how do you manage to keep the negative thoughts away or at least in balance? Like someone who struggles with severe anxiety and panic attacks and who is always almost at the verge of burn out, I see that sometimes it's really hard to keep the light even when trying. I'm really sorry if I darken the mood. I have seen that expressing gratitude helps but would you make that a different journal or you just make it part of the commonplace book? Thank you for your helpful input! Sending much love and appreciation from Belgium 💚

ah! i have been doing this for years now:-) really nice to know the name of it

Oh, I love this so much. I used to keep a diary of thoughts and hypotheses as a teenager and recently started looking back through them and it’s funny to see how much turned out to be accurate and how much was so so wrong. 😊 I think I’m going to start this in February. Thank you!

The last couple of months have been a little crazy and somehow I missed this vlog. I truly enjoyed all of the information you provided on this. I keep all kinds of notes: on back of envelopes, scraps of paper or napkins, or on my iPad. I just need to keep them in a common book. As I age 😬, I realize that I have forgotten about many things. A common book would be a great place to record all of that information. I just read that writing in a common book is a wonderful way to prevent memory loss. Thank you for sharing this century old technique. 📒.

This was so helpful. I have only just discovered (un) commonplace books and am eager to start one. You gave a very good in-sight into the subject. Best wishes from Lottie in Suffolk, England.

You're so right! I've been writing common/uncommon place books for years too, without knowing it. The only difference is that I kept mine separate, well, I still have a bit of OCD left...so I have a book for my dreams, one for my wine course and 1 for my wine labels, 1 for my thoughts, 1 for psychotherapy sessions, 1 for recipes and 1 for making cleaning products with natural ingredients or homemade moisturiser.. I think that in the future, once I finish them, I will try to keep everything in one space, is probably more space effective!

Yes! I used to do this during a very unhappy period of my life. I would keep it beside my pillow and put my commonplaces down when I woke in the middle of the night. It was very healing and I should reinstate it. I failed at journaling too, but maybe I just misunderstood it.

I have a special journal since 2001 that I’ve been writing my inner thoughts in and also a collection of meaningful quotes, pictures from magazines, and other assorted items that are special to me. This year, the first time in many years, I bought myself a journal to write in most days. No pressure, but try to capture my thoughts or events on most days. I find it helps me center myself. Enjoyed your insight

I’ve kept notebooks since I was a teenager - I’m 63 now. I keep one for poetry - which includes all of my revisions. (I’m often more interested in the revision choices than the poetry!). I keep one for quotes. I do keep a “journal”, although haphazardly. I also started something more like a commonplace book after I retired. There seemed to be so much to explore suddenly when my mind wasn’t so consumed by work. The commonplace book almost seems more “me” than the journal or the poetry - I love the freedom of it.

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When I was a child I received a diary from my godparents. That diary is long gone but I can recall it so vividly - red velvet, embroidered flowers, brass lock & key, and gold edging on the pages. I was afraid to write anything very personal as I was sure one of my six siblings would find it. Many years later I received my Mother’s personal diaries, they were filled with some pretty intimate stuff much of which I never needed to know. I actually found them a bit traumatizing as the details included stuff about me and my siblings as well as highly personal info on my mother. It’s no wonder I always destroy my own writings. I think it’s helpful and often cathartic to write things down. Still though; to this day and even though I live alone I do not keep journals sitting around for very long. I’ll usually burn them when I’m in need of releasing the past or that which no longer serves a purpose.

Much thanks for your videos. I have done versions of a commonplace book. But your explanation has set me on a different thought path. I am starting a new book. Separate from my daily calendar. Or the book I keep for my finances. This will be a book just for me. Thank you so much.

I have been trying to get into gratitude journaling, I have also tried daily pages. I think what I need is a box with a lid that I can throw all the scattered bits of whatever I write or draw on, into, and make a book of the contents later. I love journals but I have a hard time being consistent. Dream journaling is something I have always enjoyed, and those recollections find themselves into whatever I am writing.

Love the name

This really helped

Lately I mostly use a sketchbook and I have boxes full of journals from past decades

Thank you so much, Ana. Since the end of last year I've been trying to do a variety of journaling systems and styles without success. This makes so much more sense for me. I wrote down the points of what you include in the back pocket journal that I eventually settled on and feel much less constrained to use it. Thank you again for your spirit and sharing.

Fenomenal presentation. So excited to begin a commonplace book and share this info with a friend. I had been afraid about writing down my emotions. This idea of commonplace book sounds more enlightening and less intimidating. I love writing and feeing l the pen in my hands. Love how the letters and characters dance and come alive with expression. Thank you so much for your inspiration. You are amazing ❤

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Coucou chère Ana ! I love your sharing about this creative type of notebook, I love it and I do something like this too in a slightly different way but the idea is the same 😊 I would like to tell you how much I'm astonished about your so fluent english speaking skills and, above all, in front of a camera !! And the second thing is that I love your background so much with all the fairy lights and your beautiful creations ✨️ thank you so much ! Warm hugs for you 🌿💛🌸

Ana, I love your own pictures you used for chapters, nice personal touch :) 1:57, 2:43, 3:34, 4:01... :)

Dear Ana, lovely video. i'm glad i've found you

Ana, that IS what a bullet journal is, too. People have taken in extremely overdone and prefectionistic artistic directions, which has nothing to do with it. If you read/listen to how the inventor of it, Ryder Carroll, describe it, it is a commonplace book with an added to-to list. He says that it is in essence: "A mindfulness practice disguised as a journal".

Thanks!

What a beautiful video Ana. I agree with you that the art of handwiriting is pretty much lost. I love writing by hand. I used to be a prolific letter-writer (pre-Internet!). I started drawing last year, using it as a therapeutic tool. My sketch books also have my writing in them, just small thoughts. Based on your suggestions, I am excited now to put more in my book.

This is absolutely beautiful! I am so grateful I stumbled upon your channel. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to more content. I struggle with my desperate NEED to write and create blended with my need to organize and plan. The nature of my brain needs things all in one place but the logistic can consume the freedom to just allow myself to be.

Love this video! I am similar to you - since childhood I've also kept notebooks of various things like dreams, story ideas, quotes, doodles, etc. I never actually called it a "commonplace book" but I did enjoy putting all kinds of various things into it! I feel like I need to do more "analogue" things like that again. Also, I'm not sure how I never knew you had an art channel also, but that's so exciting and I'm off to go check it out! :-)

Oh yeah, I have indeed been doing this for years and years and did not know the name 😄 My current situation though is mixed... I have 3 paper notebooks / sketch books where I write down current thoughts and/or draw, or even reflect a past year. Then I have my onenote on my phone where I have various lists (e.g. plant care, finance, inspirational thoughts, potential projects, ideas for birthday presents, potential "what to buy"s, ...) and my diary with very personal thoughts and with my dreams. It would maybe be nice to have only have... let's say two physical books. but often it's easy to have the phone around to quickly write something down or even make a whole diary entry, for example when being outside, walking, traveling. I could start with having one physical book and the OneNote and potentially identify digital things, that could also go into the book. Regarding your video Ana, I find the video composition pleasant and the backgrounds when the writing was shown are beautiful 😊

Super ideja.U ovom digitalnom svetu i ja volim da imam stare dobre sveske u koje zapisujem svašta.Uskoro ćemo zaboraviti pisati rukom. Baš sam razmišljala da napravim jednu svesku "svaštaru" i da joj ukrasim sama korice.