Are you a fan of paper planners, but considering going digital? Wondering if a digital planner could meet your organizational needs? This article highlights the main advantages of adopting a digital planner. Whether for work or study, these modern tools combine traditional paper planning methods with the many benefits of digital technology to structure your schedule, manage your tasks, and optimize your productivity.
Why I switched from paper planner to digital planner
I’ve always loved writing my goals, thoughts, and organizing my tasks in planners and paper notebooks. I enjoy freely sketching my ideas to bring my projects to life.
In 2019, I decided to buy an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil to adopt a more minimalist and less cluttered approach. I had also decided to only buy digital books to read with a Kindle. With an iPad, I could take study notes directly on PDF files, rather than printing tons of paper and seeing my desk completely cluttered.
I immediately started by downloading the Goodnotes app on my iPad. As I became more comfortable with note-taking on the iPad, I realized I should also find a solution for my many paper planners and notebooks to further declutter.
That's how this new method opened up to me, and I was completely won over! Little by little, I discovered all the advantages of the digital planner.
Today, I've been using digital planning for several years, and it's the best change I've ever made.
Reasons why you need a digital planner
In this article, I share all the reasons why I decided to switch to a digital planner, as well as the benefits and advantages this method brings to my personal and professional organization.
#1 Looks like a paper planner
We all know the benefits of handwriting, but just to recap, writing helps us retain information better and unleash our creativity. To achieve the goals we set for ourselves, handwriting is an indispensable tool! You can read more about it here.
When you switch to organizing with a 100% digital method, such as Google Calendar, Notion, Airtable and many other applications, you lose the advantages associated with handwriting.
That’s why I would never have given up my paper planners, even with a passion for digital. (If digital planners didn’t exist, that is.)
This is where digital planning is absolutely brilliant. Digital planners are PDF files specially designed to be used with an iPad or Android tablet, a stylus, and an annotation app like GoodNotes (iOS only) or Noteshelf (iOS and Android).
Digital planners resemble or mimic paper planners. You can write and annotate as you would with a traditional planner using a stylus compatible with your tablet.
Additionally, with the hyperlinks in digital planners, you can tap on a tab to access a page or section of your digital planner, much like flipping through the pages of a traditional planner.
I wrote this article to help you learn about the main planning features of the Goodnotes app.
#2 No more cluttered office supplies
One of the best advantages of the digital planner! In addition to not accumulating paper and physical notebooks, you will no longer need to buy all the office supplies.
Adopting a paperless life means no longer needing to store paper punches, printers, printer ink, planner stickers, pens, markers, binders, and many other small accessories.
I loved collecting all that; it was even more fun to acquire office items. But it's very liberating when you no longer need any of it and everything is on your tablet, everything is reusable.
So, your iPad stores everything for digital planning. Stickers, pens, notebooks—everything is digital, everything is reusable. You can copy-paste stickers endlessly! Better yet, no more spending hundreds on all your office accessories.
#3 My digital planners are always with me
Another essential advantage for planning enthusiasts is the ability to always have access to the various planners one might have.
That said, who here has ever used more than one planner per year? Raise your hand! (ME, certainly!)
Sometimes we want to have different planners to organize and manage distinct aspects of our lives. You might choose a professional planner, another for your family and personal life, for your life goals, or even for your physical health (training and nutrition). The possibilities are endless.
So, when you adopt digital planning, all your planners are always at your fingertips. Best of all, it takes up no physical space (hello, point #2).
And when we say at your fingertips, we also mean being able to sync your digital planners to your mobile phone and computer. With an app like Goodnotes and iCloud synchronization, you have access to all your notes.
Digital planners are easier to carry around!
Those who know me from social media (if not, come say hi on Instagram) know that I am a full-time traveler. As a digital nomad, I always have my planners and notebooks with me, and it’s super practical. I couldn’t store new planners every time I finished using them.
#4 Digital planners are highly customizable
When we talk about no longer needing office supplies as in point #2, we must immediately mention that digital planners are customizable. You no longer need to buy pens, but you will now have a multitude of colors!
Here are some ideas to customize your digital planner and make it unique:
- Create custom color palettes for your digital pens and markers. (Tip: I use the website Coolor.co to select beautiful color palettes and then add the color code to GoodNotes 5).
- You can use handwriting or type on your computer (and choose your favorite font — mine is Bradley Hand).
- Easily move text and other elements using the lasso tool.
- Add photos, images, and digital stickers from your camera roll.
- Duplicate, reorder, or add new pages to your planner or notebook.
- Change your planner's cover.
- If you like to keep your notebooks neat, with digital, scratches are a thing of the past. It's easy to erase, change text color, or edit.
#5 Digital planners are searchable, paper planners are not.
You can easily find anything in your notebooks or planners!
Has it ever happened to you that you wrote something down and then couldn't remember where you put it?
With the GoodNotes app, one of the functions is the ability to find handwritten notes. No more flipping through all the pages of a notebook to find a note. Just type the keyword you are looking for, and you will find all references.
#6 Reorganizing and repeating tasks is quick and easy.
Your monthly, weekly, or daily organization may change, but don’t stress, you won’t need to cross out your planner to correct it anymore. When you plan with a digital planner, you can erase tasks with the eraser tool in the annotation app. You can also move a task or appointment with the lasso tool or simply copy-paste it wherever you want.
Planning on iPad allows you to be especially flexible and create recurring tasks, duplicate pages, create indexes, or move tasks.
#7 It’s fun and creative
This new way of planning or writing is just as fun as using paper and allows you to have a playful experience every day. I love transforming and decorating the monthly and weekly pages of my digital planner. I'm sure you'll love it too, and it will be on your list of digital planner benefits.
You can experiment with different writing styles and colors. I often create color palettes. You can have idea notebooks or a creative journal to explore your artistic side.
To personalize your planner, read the article: how to import and use digital stickers with a digital planner.
#8 It's easy to share
You can easily share your planner with your friends, family, co-workers, or partner. I recommend the GoodNotes app because one of its features is the ability to collaborate with other users. When you invite a friend to contribute, you will be able to view and edit the same digital planner.
Another option, if you don't want to share your entire personal planner, is to save one of the annotated pages and send it to a colleague, for example. No more scanning a page as you would with a paper planner or notebook.
#9 Digital planners help reduce waste.
This is an option for those who want to adopt an environmentally friendly approach. Of course, you need to buy an iPad and an Apple Pencil, but as we saw in point #2, you will greatly limit the purchase of products related to traditional stationery. Going paperless means zero office gadgets. So, when you buy digital planners, you choose to reduce consumption and waste.
#10 Digital planning is affordable and reusable
You choose a digital notebook and you only have to duplicate the file endlessly! When you no longer have office supplies and you can simply reuse your notebooks, stickers, digital pens, that's the magic of digital planning. Everything is reusable.
If you decide to adopt undated planners, for example, then there’s no need to spend tons on paper planners every year.
In conclusion, the advantages of the digital planner: it's the best of both worlds
Saving time for our most important activities in life.
These advantages of the digital planner save you time! This is very important for those seeking an organized and productive life.
Again, the goal here is not to compare with tools like Google or Asana, but rather with a paper planner. I clarify that the digital planner remains a tool where you must appreciate the intentional need for handwriting. You must enjoy referring to your planner for your notes and appointments, just as you would with a traditional planner.
Combining the feel of paper with the best advantages of the digital world is a way to reach new heights of productivity, organization, and success.
If you are convinced by all the advantages of the digital planner:
I invite you to visit the InMotion Planner store to discover various planner and notebook models to make the most of digital planning.
