A Beginners Friendly Guide to Digital Planning: answering the 5 Top Questions
Are you looking for a friendly guide to digital planning? Look no further! In this blog post, we will discuss everything you need to know about getting started with digital planning. We will cover topics such as what tools you need, how to get organized, and how to stay productive. Let’s get started!
What is Digital Planning?
Digital planning is the process of using technology to plan and manage your life. This can include anything from managing your finances to keeping track of your daily tasks and spiritual goals. There are various tools that you can use to help you with digital planning, including apps, and software. You’ll create all your plans directly on a Digital Planner. Today, this means much more than just a digital calendar; it means translating the complete experience of a paper planner into a digital format with enhanced functionality.
Why Should You Use Digital Planning?
Digital planning can help you save time and be more productive. One of the biggest benefits of using a digital planner is that you can access it from anywhere. This means that if you’re on the go, you can still keep track of your schedule and tasks. Additionally, digital planners often come with various features that can help you stay organized, you can link outside resources, take notes on the go, and so much more.
Here are some of the reasons why I, as someone who absolutely loves paper books and traditional planning, fell in love with digital planning:
Durability and Backup Security
It won’t get destroyed or lost. My son, with sensory needs, loves to rip paper and has destroyed my planner by tearing every page. This was the main reason I started digital planning, now even if it gets deleted I have a copy automatically saved on my iCloud.
Easy Sharing and Collaboration
I can easily share it with others. If I need to ask my husband to pick something up from the store; it’s as easy as sending him a screenshot of the grocery list with just a few taps. Even making the grocery list is simpler too, since I have a master grocery list template in my planner as well.
Ultimate Portability
It lives on my phone, tablet, or computer. I don’t have to carry an additional item to have my plans and notes with me. I mainly use the iPad, but I can open my planners on my other devices as well.
Unlimited Tracking Possibilities
Track or plan anything. You can track virtually anything inside the same planner or notebook, without page limitation. You can add sections for finances, meal planning, fitness goals, home projects, devotions, prayers, and the options are endless.
If you have a big project or a business that you want to track separately, simply add another notebook or planner.
Reusable and Sustainable
Use the same planner over and over again. Unless you buy a dated digital planner, you can use them indefinitely. And if, for some reason, you don’t like it anymore or want to change your planner to another style, orientation, or colors, transferring your content to a new one is super simple.
Are you concerned about the planet? Me too! With a digital planner, there is no waste. You don’t have to throw away your old planner or worry about personal information written on it. Plus, they don’t create clutter.
Endless Personalization Options
Personalization options are endless. Adding colors, digital stickers, decorative washi tape, photos, screenshots, drawings, duplicating pages as needed, and removing what you won’t use, the planners you get will be your own.
Powerful Search Functionality
You can SEARCH your notebook or planner. This has been a game changer for me, I use Goodnotes5 and the search feature works not only for the typed text boxes, and imported documents, but it reads my handwriting as well. I have multiple notebooks and if I don’t remember where I took a specific note, I can do a simple search, the content is found instantly.
Perfect Writing Every Time
No worries about your handwriting. If you make a mistake, you can easily erase it and rewrite it. Or, if you prefer, you can simply type your content and use your favorite font.
What do you need to start digital planning?
Essentials
- A device – As I mentioned, I like to use the iPad, but you can also use your phone, or computer. Consider if you will be using a device you already own or if you are going to invest in something new.
- An App – GoodNotes is my app of choice, they now offer a free version, so you can give it a try, but there are other great apps, like Notability and Xodo. These are the most well-known because they’ve been around the longest. I encourage you to research about the apps, and check the compatibility with your devices.
- A digital planner – in most apps, you can upload a PDF file to get started planning. To use all the benefits of a digital planner, a fully linked planner will be best. More details about the difference below.
Optional Accessories (Highly Reccomended)
If you want to make your experience as similar as possible to using a paper planner, consider these additions:
- A stylus – I use the Apple Pencil, but check what stylus will work or is best for your device.
- A paper like screen protector for your tablet, it will enhance your writing experience. You can go with the most recognized brand, Paperlike, which has excellent reviews, or if you want to try a less expensive option, there are quality alternatives that work great.
Compatibility Check
Make sure before getting any device, apps, or accessories that you double-check their compatibility.
What is a Digital Planner?
We already mentioned you need a Digital Planner, but I would like to clarify the important distinction between a printable planner in PDF format that you can import to your note-taking app and a digital planner in PDF format. They might seem like the same thing, but they function very differently. Allow me to explain.
True Digital Planner
A digital planner is an interactive PDF. This means that you can click on navigation tabs, checkboxes, and buttons that are included in the design of the planner to move from one section to another. Some even have hidden quick links, these make navigating inside the planner much easier. A well-designed digital planner will make your planning experience as similar as possible to using a paper planner on an electronic device.
Printable Planner
A printable planner won’t include all these hyperlinks, making navigation significantly more complex. Imagine having a 200-page planner, you are on page 150 and need to get back to page 2. In a planner designed to be printed, you’ll have to scroll or use the thumbnails to get there. In a true digital planner, you will have convenient navigation links on each page to make it easier and faster to navigate.
In the images above you can see the difference between the formatting of the documents, I’m showing here a Sermon Notebook, but the same applies to any other journals or planners.
The difference in user experience is substantial and can make or break your digital planning success.
That said, you can import any PDF document to your app and take full advantage of the features offered by the app. An additional advantage of good note-taking apps is that you can fill forms and save them as PDF’s without printing or scanning.
You can also find digital planners that already come with a design for printing included—others you can print anyway, but you’ll have elements like decorative tabs that serve no functional purpose on paper. You must understand these differences before you purchase your planners.
How to choose a digital planner?
The next step is to decide what format you want your planner to be in and what size you want it to be. Think about the following key considerations:
- Do you want it to be undated so that you can use it for any year, or do you want a dated planner?
- Do you prefer a one-page view (portrait) or a two-pages view (landscape) of your planner?
- Which pages are a most for your: weekly, monthly or daily views, or all of them? You can even select from Sunday Start or Monday Start.
- Do you want it to be 12 months, 3 months or 1 month?
- Do you want separate tracker pages in their planner where they can track their progress on different goals? If so, you want to make sure the planner has extra sections, besides the months.
- Do you want to be able to customize the colors and layout of your pages?
- Do you want it to include pre-made stickers that you can use?
- Finally, but important as well, think about your budget.
Final Thoughts: Making the Digital Switch
I was initially hesitant to switch from paper planning to digital planning. After a year of going completely digital, I’m so glad I gave digital planner an opportunity. The ease and convenience of having everything on my iPad has been wonderful.
The ability to integrate my spiritual planning, family scheduling, and personal goals all in one searchable, portable system has revolutionized how I stay organized
I highly recommend giving it a try if you haven’t already! Digital planning isn’t just about replacing paper; it’s about enhancing your entire planning experience with tools that work as hard as you do.
If you need any clarification about digital planning, feel free to leave your questions in the comments below. I’m happy to help! Your planning journey is unique, and finding the right digital system can truly transform how you manage your daily life and spiritual growth.
