If you’re a beginner looking to get started with your digital planning journey, then you’ve come to the right place. We understand how overwhelming it can be from choosing a device, to selecting the right digital planning app, to figuring out how to import, annotate, and customize! We’ll try to make this as easy and simple as possible; and hopefully by the end of this post, you’ll be ready to purchase & customize your very first digital planner!
Warning: digital planning can be quite addictive. Use with caution!
Before we dive deep into the nitty gritty, we’ll answer some of your main questions first…trust us, we’ve been there, done that!
Digital planners are like the twin siblings of a paper planner—only, yes you guessed it—it’s digital. They come in a PDF format (Portable Document Format), which you need to download and import into your device and open in a PDF annotator app so you can annotate/write on it.
Digital planners can also be created, and are perfect for creatives out there. But this article will focus more on purchased digital planners which you can customize, mix & and match, and annotate.
Since digital planners are a replacement to the traditional paper planner, these won’t sync to online apps like Google Calendar, iCal, or Outlook. Think of it like a paper planner that was converted into a digital, weight-free product that you can carry around through your iPad, Tablet, phone, or laptop.
Digital planning is basically just the digital version of paper planning/journaling—but better.
Why?
Yes, although, using your phone would be a bit harder than using a laptop or your tablet, due to its size. But with apps like Xodo or Goodnotes, you can simply download and install them on all your devices and sync to Cloud if you want to sync your planners in all your devices.
Digital planners are much like paper planners, only electronic. So for you to “write” on your planners, you’d need a planning app or a PDF annotator app so you can also “write” on and customize your planners.
An Apple Pencil or any digital stylus is a nice-to-have, especially if you want to mimic paper planning; however, you can still plan digitally by using your app’s text feature if you need to insert any text.
Before you think about burning all that cash for a new iPad or Tablet, look at what you currently have, as you might actually get to use it!
Smartphones are okay, provided you have a bigger screen to work with. If you’re looking to write on a digital planner the same way you’d do on your paper planner, then a tablet or an iPad will be best for you.
iPads are our current favorite, while Android and Windows users can still use their tablets. Make sure your device also has enough space so you can download what we’ll be talking about in Step 2.
You might also be wondering if it’s a must to have a stylus or Apple Pencil. We say it’s a nice to have, since it makes the writing experience similar to paper planning; however, if you don’t have one, or if your iPad isn’t compatible with an Apple Pencil—don’t fret. PDF annotator apps have a Text Tool available so you can input your text without a stylus. Generic pencils can also be sourced from Amazon if you really want to buy one!
Lastly, don’t forget your laptops or desktop computers! You can still use digital planners with them, provided you have a PDF annotator or planning app that you can download.
One question we get asked the most is: “does this work on iOS and Android”?
When selecting a planning app, your device’s operating system matters. iOS users will benefit a lot with GoodNotes 5 (this is a separate, one-time purchase which you can find in the App Store, $7.99), while Xodo (FREE) is our top pick for Android or Windows users. Some planners can work with other apps such as Notability ($9.99), Zoomnotes ($7.99), and Noteshelf ($6.99), however for Worthy Gal planners in particular, the first 2 we’ve mentioned are our best bet.
It’s also best to look at the app’s compatibility with your device. GoodNotes in particular only works on iOS devices running on 12.0 and up. Prepping to get your planning app takes a bit of time, but doing the research is definitely worth it and will set you up for success.
If you’re looking for pre-made, PDF planners to use with your planning app, then we can definitely help! There are several versions you can select from:
PORTRAIT – these are planners in a vertical orientation. Portrait planners provide ample space for writing and can include tabs both up top and on the side, depending on the planners you download.
LANDSCAPE – if you’re looking for more writing space, then these horizontal planners might be a better fit for you.
LANDSCAPE SPLIT – we find that split-type landscape planners are best for the paper planner lovers who recently switched over to digital. It mimics exactly how a paper planner looks like, and we gotta admit, it looks pretty nifty!
BULLET JOURNAL – another paper planner turned digital planner fave! If you’re the type who’s a fan of traditional BuJo, and listing down things free-hand, then this is perfect for you.
DATED – very straightforward, these are dated planners so you don’t have to input the dates manually. Saves you time + effort when planning. Just a note: these are naturally not reusable, since each year, dates usually fall on different days.
UNDATED – if you’re looking to use just 1 planner each year, then the undated option is perfect for you. You can keep reusing this, as all you need to do is import the same blank planner every time, and voila! Your forever planner is born.
Knowing what these elements are will help you out in your digital planning journey! (trust us, you’ll hear these a lot)
Step 4: Start planning!
Are you ready? There are a lot of digital planning shops online, and you can easily find us on Etsy or Creative Market. Visit us on our Etsy Store or Website, and start selecting the best one that suits your style and preference! Once you’ve gotten used to it, you’ll start downloading inserts (can link to a Digital Planning Insert blog post) and sticker bundles (link to a sticker bundle blog post) in no time… and trust us when we say, this can get really addicting when you get the hang of it!
Happy Planning!
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