Commonplace book
A notebook kept only for quotes and passages copied out of what you read
One notebook that holds nothing but other people's sentences, copied by hand out of books, articles and overheard talk. The practice predates the printed anthology by centuries. Copying by hand is the slow part and, by most accounts, the useful part, because you notice the sentence twice. Writers raid theirs later for epigraphs, arguments and titles.
Who backs it
Sorted by strength of stance
- Austin KleonDoes it
Writer and artist · Steal Like an Artist
One of the four notebooks he keeps going at once is a commonplace diary. He links to the exact one he uses, while saying he endorses no brands and does not think everybody should keep a notebook, let alone four.
Source: AustinKleon.com: My 4 notebooks
Aimed at the same thing
Other entries filed under focus or productivity.
- HabitFREE, no cost
Daily reading
A fixed daily reading block, usually books rather than feeds
Backed by 25 of 62 stacks: 23 do it, 2 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - HabitFREE, no cost
Early rising
A fixed, early wake time, often before anyone else is awake
Backed by 11 of 62 stacks: 10 do it, 0 recommend it, 1 have discussed it - HabitFREE, no cost
Daily writing
Write something every day, published or not
Backed by 10 of 62 stacks: 8 do it, 2 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - HabitFREE, no cost
Phone-free first hour
No email, news or social media until you have done something of your own
Backed by 6 of 62 stacks: 4 do it, 2 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - HabitFREE, no cost
Margin notes
Writing in the margins while reading, especially where you disagree with the author
Backed by 4 of 62 stacks: 3 do it, 1 recommend it, 0 have discussed it - HabitFREE, no cost
Thinking retreats
Blocks of time cleared of the schedule to sit with one hard problem
Backed by 4 of 62 stacks: 3 do it, 0 recommend it, 1 have discussed it
Habit entry · notes paraphrased from cited sources, quoted excerpts copied from the transcript they link to. Not medical advice. Not affiliated with, endorsed by, or reviewed by anyone listed. How this works.