Every Friday night, my husband writes his weekend ‘To Do’ list:
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Clean car
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Fix flyscreen
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Clean gutters
You get the idea. He has a notebook, dedicates a page per weekend, and rips out the old list as he writes the new one. The book gets satisfyingly smaller as the year progresses. He also has a work diary. That’s it.
It’s annoyingly simple.
I, too, am a list maker and diary keeper. A traditionalist—mostly pen and paper, with the occasional digital note. My system, however, is far less streamlined. Jobs like ‘Upload website with new painting’ (mialaing.au) and ‘Wash dog’ go in my bullet notebook. ‘Email so-and-so’ is on a Post-it stuck to my computer. ‘Remember dentist on the 28th’ gets scribbled on a scrap of paper at the hairdresser and (hopefully) transferred to my diary later that day… or week.
I keep random notes everywhere—great quotes, potential art titles, song lyrics, stunning sentences. I screenshot books I want to read or Netflix series to watch (but can never find them when I need them). My art ideas end up on whatever scrap of paper is nearby. I have sketchbooks, notebooks, and journals. My brain is always buzzing.
This painting, Flotsam and Jetsam (available - oil on canvas) was created from a Post-it note scribbled idea.
Believe it or not, I’m very organized, but my system is ridiculously and creatively scattered—like paint splattered by a four-year-old.
The Quest For Order
To bring some order to my home and studio, I started 2025 by decluttering and simplifying. I’ve been reading decluttering blogs, watching Instagram reels, and endlessly scrolling YouTube, searching for the best way to tame a busy life.
Years ago, I learned about Bullet Journaling from a friend (also on Substack—Amanda Kendle, she’s amazing!), and I still use a basic bullet system alongside my diary. It’s my daily to-do list, much like my husband’s, but a little more complicated.
Then, during one of my procrastination internet rabbit holes, I stumbled upon something that gave me an Ah-ha! moment…
Enter The Commonplace Book
Oh. My. Gawd.
So this is what I’ve been doing all these years? Except instead of one book, I’ve used 10,000 scraps of paper, notebooks, Post-its, and half my phone to compile my thoughts.
A commonplace book is a personal compilation of knowledge, ideas, quotations, and observations collected by an individual. It’s a notebook or journal where one gathers and organizes information from various sources for future reference and reflection. More like a database than a diary.
Armed with this newfound knowledge, I found an unused notebook in my studio and started my own Commonplace Book. I methodically gathered my scattered notes, ripped up old notebooks after transferring important information, and condensed everything into one dedicated space. And it feels so… simple.
I’ve indexed pages for:
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Books I want to read
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Great quotes
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Blog ideas
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Art ideas
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Business resources/ Art items
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Shows to watch
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Travel
I’m sure this list will evolve, but these are my main areas of contemplation for now.
To keep things practical, I carry a tiny notebook in my purse for quick notes whilst out and about. At the end of each day, I transfer those notes into my Commonplace Book or my bullet journal/diary.
The Verdict?
It’s been a few weeks, and I haven’t left a single Post-it note lying around. This system feels perfect for a busy life and a creative mind. Maybe one day, I’ll transition to a digital version—but for now, I’m sticking with pen and paper.
Do you keep a Commonplace Book? What’s your system?
I’d love to hear how you organize your ideas!
Mia x
