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Discover a beautiful, simple practice that’s been used by some of history’s greatest minds
Why You Should Ditch Complex Note-Taking Systems for This Centuries-Old Practice
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:
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Thomas Jefferson
- Mark Twain
- Henry David Thoreau
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.
How to get started keeping a commonplace book:
1. Choose a tool.
Don’t overthink this or spend time trying to build a perfect system.
