Why I Switched To A Digital Planner
I am a bit of a planning junkie. I’ve tried multiple planning systems over the years, and the result is that I have a row of half-used paper planners cluttering up a bookshelf in my office. I’ve used everything from Franklin Covey journals, to fancy notebooks with ridiculous ring systems that required custom paper, to bullet journaling, to free calendars that were sent to me in the mail, to regular old Day Planners.
Looking for a new paper planner every year became something of an annual tradition for me. I’d spend hours choosing a new system every year, excited about the heavy paper, the beautiful illustrations, the type font. I would day dream about how productive I was going to be this year – – this year’s planner, surely, would be life changing.
The problem with paper planners
Every time I would get a new paper planner, I’d start out the year strong. Goals are Set! Calendars are filled in! I’d follow the recommended ‘planning process’ for the particular planner brand, no matter how long or onerous. I’d highlight and mark up and sticky note all over the darn thing.
Inevitably though, whether one month or 6 months into the year, I’d give up. Paper planners are big and bulky, inconvenient and too large to carry around in a purse. I’d find myself leaving it at home, or the office, or in the car. At first I don’t plan for one day. Then a week goes by, then two. I feel guilty, I resolve to ‘do better’, but the end result is I ditch the paper planner halfway through the year and resort to scraps of paper and my Iphone calendar to keep me organized until I find the next planning system.
Don’t get me wrong. I love planning. My habit of writing out goals and to-do’s isn’t dependent on having a fancy notebook. I could plan out my life on the back of a receipt if necessary. But up until this year, I had yet to find a system that not only resonated with my personally, but was also a system that was portable, and something that I could stick to daily.
The thing is, I’m busy. You are too. Do you really need (or want) to spend more than 5 minutes a day planning out what you need to accomplish?
digital planning
This year, rather than order yet another paper planner, I switched to an undated digital planner. I love having a digital planner that is synched across my laptop, phone, and Ipad. It makes planning easy and convenient. And if you have the planner with you at all times, you’re more likely to actually use it.
Here are some other reasons I’m now a digital planner convert.
- Digital planners are easy to use and can be accessed anywhere. Using an app like Goodnotes, I can sync my planner across my laptop, phone and Ipad, allowing me instant access to my planner and all of it’s information.
- Digital planners are environmentally friendly. I am consciously trying to reduce the amount of paper I use and waste, and giving up paper planners helps with that effort. An undated digital planner can even be used year after year, just duplicate a copy in Goodnotes.
- Digital planning gives you access to all your notes, tasks, and events in one place that’s always up-to-date. Most digital planners give you access to a yearly planner, a monthly planner, a weekly planner, and a daily planner, so you can plan as much or as little as you want.
- Digital planners are customizable. You can mark up these planners with highlights, different pen colors, and fun digital stickers to make the planner completely ‘you.’
- Digital planners are flexible. Pages can be duplicated, so you never run out of space. In Goodnotes, if you need another copy of a digital page, you can duplicate it with one click.
A digital planner will help you stay organized so that you know what needs to be done and when. I am not exaggerating when I say that changing from a paper planner to a digital planner was life changing. For the first time, I’m consistently planning out my daily, weekly and monthly goals, keeping track of appointments and important dates, and keeping all of my family’s schedules organized.
If you’re ready to give digital planning a try, be sure to check out my One Day Planner Etsy Shop page for Digital Planners, Planning Pages, and more!
Like this post? Check out the following related posts below.