Earlier this month, I started using a digital planner and fell head over heels into my most productive month to date! Before I get into how and why I went digital, let me preface this whole post by saying I am at heart a tangible, physical, paper kind of gal. Always have been, and most likely always will be to some degree. It’s for the same reasons I prefer an actual book to read on a Nook or Kindle. There’s something about physically turning pages and documenting goals in your own handwriting, pen in hand to actual paper.
DISCLOSURES: This blog post contains affiliate links. I partner with many companies, including Passion Planner. As a result of my partnership, I am able to extend to you my referral code CRYSTALM10 to use at checkout for 10% off your total purchase.
My Favorite Planner
For years I have used many versions of the Passion Planner, a company whose products provide structure for plans, blank pages for creativity, and room for reflection. I’ve used the Happy Planner and Erin Condren planners in the past, too, though inconsistently if I’m being honest. Passion Planner has been my go-to for the last five years. I love the company’s vision, mission, and of course, their planner design!
All that said, I’ve always been intrigued by digital planning, but not enough to actively seek it out.. that is until Passion Planner themselves decided to dabble into the digital planner world. As the planner company continues to grow and evolve, they continue to make their products accessible to as many people as possible, regardless of their planning preferences. You can read the company’s full story here, but as a customer since their early days, I am so proud of this queer-owned business and their ability to embrace change. Passion Planner has gone from having one size planner in one color, to Limited Edition covers, to planner accessories, and now this digital planner download!
Why I Went Digital
I’m a self-proclaimed recovering perfectionist. I would spend literal hours in my paper planner, mapping out my weekly spreads in pencil first, then hand choosing my functional stickers, carefully cutting my decorative washi tape.. y’all. It was an all-day affair! The Passion Planner Digital has given me permission to mess up without messing up and ruining my planner.
My Digital Planner Purchases
To try out digital planning, I went with the Digital Daily Undated Bundle for a few reasons. One: I had already purchased my 2021 Annual Planner in the stunning Pacific Blue color and was not going to let that beauty go to waste. Second, the Undated Daily gave me the biggest bang for my buck.
Because you can start/stop at any time, the Digital Daily is able to be used year after year if you make digital copies of it. The Digital Weekly 2021 Annual Bundle is dated for 2021 so it’s a one-time use kind of purchase. Both are on sale for the same $35 (regularly $55) so the Digital Daily seemed like the best deal to me. I also bought all the digital planner sticker books. At $10 a book, they are cheaper than their paper versions, are precut for digital use, AND can be printed if I really want to use them in my physical planner so again, these also seemed like a no brainer.
Digital Planning: iOS or Android?
While I am a PC and Android user, I did recently buy an iPad 7th generation and Apple pencil 1st generation specifically for business. I had heard of the GoodNotes app before and ProCreate and all the creative things folks use their Apple devices for and so, I went this route with the planner. All things considered, it wasn’t a terrible learning curve to figure out! There’s plenty of YouTube tutorials and once you get going, I did find the GoodNotes app very user friendly.
Digital Planner Takeaways
At first, setting up the Digital Daily was a lot. My perfectionism is still alive and well, y’all. I HAD TO (not really, but you know) resize stickers to fit the daily frames and label all the tabs and line up my pretty fonts on the pin-straight planner lines and all those nonessential, completely vain things only an obsessive psycho like myself would worry about.
Once I got over that hurdle, I found myself using my planner more frequently and with increased productivity. Because I wasn’t hung up on erasing and crossing out cancelled plans, I referenced my Passion Planner throughout the day and edited entries as needed. Rescheduled a meeting? No problem. I used the GoodNotes lasso feature to group the details and move to the new time. Hate the way my handlettered notes look? Big deal. Convert all that handwriting to text and use a pretty font instead.
Overall, I do like digital planning. Is it a honeymoon phase? Probably. Will I convert 100% to digital? Not a chance! My eyes need a break from all the screen time these days and I still love looking through all my old physical planner memories. Time will tell. I’m sure I’ll post again about my digital planning adventures.
ACTIONABLE STEPS: Do you prefer and use a digital planner? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to hear your perspective, tips, tricks, and suggestions!
Not sure? Not a problem! If you’re in the market for either a paper or digital 2021 planner, try out Passion Planner. They have free PDF downloads of all their planner options, though they are not interactive with hyperlinked tabs like the Passion Planner Digital. You’ll go through the typical checkout process without entering any credit card information. It’s a great way to try before you buy! Happy to help answer questions either way.
