Thoughts on Journaling, Commonplacing, and my Hobonichi Evolution

where I was, where I am, and where I'm going... journal-wise

I wasn’t sure what I wanted to talk about in this (overdue) newsletter until I sat down for a kitchen table journal sesh on Friday. I wanted to watch/listen to something while I journaled and I stumbled across some videos on journaling and commonplacing.

If you don’t know what commonplacing is, it’s “the act of compiling knowledge for future reference”. Essentially notetaking but, like, elevated. I watched a few different videos (here, here, and here are a few) and started thinking about what I liked about my current journaling system/routine and what I wished I could change. This then snowballed into me thinking about the changes I made from my 2022 journal to now.

I had a lot of thoughts and felt compelled to make a video talking through it all. You can watch it below (warning: it’s a bit chaotic) or I’ll hit the highlights for ya in this newsletter.

My 2022 Hobonichi Cousin

• In 2021 I had a supplemental journal in which I did collaging, drawing, and scrapbooking. I really loved the challenge and new outlet for creativity and that’s what led me to Hobonichi. I was specifically looking for something that gave me bujo vibes but without the hassle of setup.

• I was transitioning away from “traditional” planning, and my use of the Cousin reflected that. Monthly views looked mostly like a typical calendar. Weekly and daily views were repetitive with nearly the same information highlighted in each.

• I was super inconsistent. I barely picked it up because I wasn’t really sure what direction I wanted to go or what I specifically wanted to put in the journal.

• Mid-way through the year, I started experimenting with more markers, pasting pictures, and just general silliness.

• I started going back to that 2021 “fun journal” roots and made a few spreads that I still love today.

• I had more ideas and direction at the end of the year and was ready to migrate into my 2023 Cousin.

me, writing in my journal with my gel pens

My 2023 Hobonichi Cousin

• For the 2022-2023 school year, I moved away from using pen and paper to track my to-do lists, etc. So this means that my 2023 planner was fully MINE from the get-go.

• Had a clear direction with my monthly spreads - BeReal daily pics pasted into each calendar block. I print these out on my Canon Ivy (6 photos per page).

• Had fun picking new/different color schemes each month. Wrote a little something along with each BeReal picture to remind me of what was happening in the pics.

• Weekly spread pages are basically utilized as blank paper. Sometimes used for note-taking and categorized lists in the daily columns. Also used as an index page for running lists of movies/TV shows watched, books read, concerts attended, etc.

• I have been really good at tracking books, movies, and TV shows watched in the daily pages. I stick in the movie poster/book cover and write a blurb about my thoughts. I print these pics out on my Canon Ivy (4 photos per page).

• I want to get better at more spontaneous journaling and not just journaling to journal the things I’ve been already journaling. Does that make any sense to y’all? It does to me. Most of the time I’ll pick up my journal and only update the BeReal spread and maybe do a couple more book/movie reviews and then put it away. I want to sit down with my thoughts more and channel some more creativity on a more regular basis. Which leads me to…

My 2024 Hobonichi HON Goals

• More long-form journaling! Journaling for clarity; daily reflections; morning pages. Loved this video of diff journaling techniques!

• Quotes/song lyrics that resonate and why. Quotes from people in my life.

• Reviewing new/old albums! Reacting to new albums, going song-by-song, etc. More blind ranking of things. Fun stuff!

• Writing letters to not send.

• Writing daydreams as stories.

• Still pasting pictures but maybe more from my regular printer and not just the Ivy.

• More !! fun !! lists !! a la

  Claire

• More collaging/scrapbooky vibes! Journaling ≠ writing always.

• Using the weeklies to document what I actually did that week. Assuming that I keep up with a lot of these things listed above, I won’t have the ability to document day-to-day stuff on the daily pages. And that’s FINE. I would actually prefer to keep it short & sweet and have an entire week’s worth of activities/accomplishments in one (full, beautiful) spread!

I know some of you may be wondering why I am putting THIS much thought into something that should be fun and enjoyable and not that serious. BUT if I don’t have plans and goals for myself, then the chances of me actually doing the thing (even if I actually very much want to do it) is very slim. Gotta set those expectations!

Let me know if you enjoyed this or if you have questions. I love seeing how other people use their journals so it was fun to talk through my Hobonichi evolution with you!