I think maybe your planner is quantitative data while your journal/thoughts is qualitative (like quantitative vs qualitative research) rather than facts vs fiction. My current 2-book system is working has more "active tasks" (my planner) vs "past log" (my bullet journal), and I do mini journalling in the planner because that's where I have space. I've got a separate journal for freeform writing that I use in conjunction with therapy, since that is better to keep separate from my bullet journal and planner. It would take up *a lot* of space. I haven't started a commonplace book, but I think my concept of it would be like Pinterest boards meets browser bookmarks meets scrapbooking. Stuff I just want to collect and write down, in that moment, without thinking about the long-term storage of it. I can always cover up a page with inserts or taped/glued paper if I don't want it anymore, like a recipe.
I love how you break down the purpose for each book. I desperately want to keep a common place journal, but am struggling where to start. My life is just not that interesting 😂. And i forget to write down quotes when im reading. 😂
To me, the commonplace notebook is just notebook to dump all your thoughts and notes in the notebook but in a neat format, instead of just writing it down in a piece of paper. But I do love your system of having multiple notebooks for organising facts and fiction/own thoughts (w/o worrying about grammar).
I think what you refer to as your waste book is actually more what I would consider a common place book. Its to scratch thoughts down so you don't forget them. Not things that can wait until you can make them pretty. Maybe just rename your waste book to your commonplace book and rename your commonplace book too a new name? Make it fun! Ask your followers for name suggestions LOL. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR TO-DO LIST BOOK!!! I HAVE SO MANY NOTEBOOKS IT'S RIDICULOUS BUT THIS MAKES ME WANT A NEW ONE FOR A TO-DO LIST 🤣🤣🤣
I know your troubles. I have one digital planner with meetings, work, todos and one bullet journal for my mental health journy but sometimes does things overlap and I struggle what to do. Sometimes I'm writing the things twice and sometimes I writed them in the planner with is open at the moment. So I think you should do what you need in den moment. If you want to have another space do it, if its at one plance do it. You will finde out, what you need :)
Unfortunately, I don’t think I can help you with your situation because I struggle to use many books all at once, I need one single place for everything and any short-term stuff is just placed as a sticky note somewhere or the notes pages on my binder. I have lined and productivity pages in my Erin Condren binder to keep track of that kind of thing, while my one and only 8x10 weekly softbound takes care of my day to day stuff. As for projects and such, I use the specific notepads from EC. Everything EC. 🤣 and I also have a notebook from EC but I’m all over the place there. I just can’t seem to adjust to having things in many places. I need all in one place. So mostly it’s just sticky notes on my planner and very rarely my binder for more space, maybe meeting notes and such.
