The Advantages of Digital Planning 🤩
The advantages of planning are clear to everyone, but when this activity is done with an electronic device, these advantages multiply and become even more evident:
1. You only need 1 or 2 accessories to write, draw, color, add stickers, and much more.
2. Everything is easily portable in a backpack or handbag, and it's easy to use anywhere.
3. The space is reusable! Say goodbye to correction fluid or unsightly lines; breathe a sigh of relief: you can erase your mistakes as many times as you want without wasting space or time, and with just a tap.
4. You can integrate your planning with 1000 different apps and tools that will help you remember and organize every little thing.
5. And finally, our favorite advantage: you can sync and transfer your commitments, plans, and changes to other devices. Thanks to the cloud and the right application, what you do will appear exactly the same on your smartphone without any effort. This advantage is incredibly useful in case of low battery, a broken device, or if you forget it.
You’ve Convinced Me: Where Do I Start? 🤔
The first thing to consider is the choice of device. In this case, there’s not really a wrong choice. It depends on what you’re used to. If you have an Android smartphone, you might prefer a Samsung Galaxy TAB. If you have an iPhone, you might lean towards an iPad, or perhaps you already own another type of device like a Remarkable. Both the iPad and Samsung are excellent choices due to their large screens and many features (not just for digital planning), and they can also be easily understood by beginners. Remarkable, on the other hand, doesn’t have all the functions of a tablet, but it has much longer battery life, while its minimalist design aids concentration. Of course, budget plays a role too: Apple, Samsung, and Remarkable all offer different models at various prices, so choose the one that suits your needs best.
The Best Apps for Digital Planning 🤓
One piece of advice is to explore a bit. There are tons of tools, apps, and platforms available in different app stores, and the one that suits you best might not even be in this guide. However, the top-rated and most comprehensive apps for digital planning generally boil down to three:
🟡 GoodNotes: This is an iOS app known for its intuitive interface, making it great for beginners. It offers numerous tools like highlighters, lasso tools, shapes, and various colors to customize notes and digital planners. You can import any PDF file and annotate it easily, allowing you to transfer your favorite personal planners into the app. Lastly, it allows you to sync notes and planners across Apple devices such as iPads, iPhones, and Macs. For iOS users, the only downside might be the price: It’s free up to three notebooks, after which a one-time purchase of around $8 is required. It’s important to note that this is a one-time purchase.
🟡 Notability: This is also an app exclusively for iOS. It stands out for its ability to combine audio and written notes, making it ideal for those who take notes during lectures or meetings. You can record and replay audio notes synchronized with what you’ve written. The writing experience with Apple Pencil is very smooth (similar to GoodNotes), and again, you have access to many creative tools, cloud synchronization, and the import of PDFs. While there is a free version, unlocking premium features (such as unlimited notes or the use of stickers) requires an annual subscription (around $15), which may not be suitable for everyone. Compared to GoodNotes, Notability offers less flexibility in organizing notes into folders or subfolders.
🟡 Penly: The Penly app is one of the most comprehensive apps available on Android. It offers a range of planning tools, such as the ability to use a lasso tool to move dates and objects, as well as tools for writing and drawing on PDF planners. You can add custom text, stickers, and shapes to highlight events and tasks. It is also possible to import custom fonts, duplicate objects, edit colors, and create visual effects like text shading. In addition to PDF import, Penly offers undated digital planners that can be reused year after year. Compared to Notability and GoodNotes, it is more affordable: available as a one-time purchase (around $7) without the need for recurring subscriptions. However, while it offers a good handwriting experience, it may not be as smooth or precise as GoodNotes or Notability on Apple devices. Additionally, as it’s less well-known than GoodNotes and Notability, it has fewer tutorials or support resources available online.
In conclusion, GoodNotes is ideal for those looking for a versatile and powerful app on Apple devices, with excellent organization and annotation features. Notability is perfect for those who want a writing app that combines audio and written notes, especially for lectures and meetings. Penly is the best choice for Android users, offering great flexibility in planning and customization at an affordable cost.
The Best Digital Planners 📅
Choosing the right planner depends on your planning style. There are several digital planners, all worth trying at least once to find the one that suits you best:
🟡 Dated planner (annual or monthly): A planner with preset dates for the entire year, divided into days, weeks, and months. It’s ideal for those who love traditional structure and long-term planning. It offers clear organization, but it’s less flexible and not reusable, as it’s tied to a specific year.
🟡 Undated planner: A planner without fixed dates, to be filled in manually. It offers great flexibility and can be reused year after year, adapting to personal needs. However, it requires more time to organize and can become disorganized without a predefined structure.
🟡 Weekly planner: Organized on a weekly basis, it offers a simple and concise overview of the week. It’s perfect for those who prefer to plan one week at a time, but it’s not suitable for detailed or long-term planning.
🟡 Daily planner: Dedicated to each day, this planner offers plenty of space for detailed notes. It’s ideal for those who need precise planning, but it can be time-consuming and cumbersome to manage on a daily basis.
🟡 Weekly dashboard planner: A planner that provides an overview of the week on a single page. It’s compact and flexible for key commitments, but the limited space isn’t ideal for detailed or long-term planning.
Useful and Cute Accessories 💛
Doodroo offers a wide variety of accessories for digital planning enthusiasts, as well as for beginners. The paper-like screen protector, for example, is essential: it transforms your tablet screen into a sheet of paper. It’s perfect for those transitioning from paper to digital planning or for those who want maximum comfort when writing on a tablet. It’s available for many models of Apple, Onyx BOOX, Samsung, Microsoft Surface, and also for Remarkable2. The skins and grip holders personalize and improve the grip of your Apple Pencil, offering an unmatched writing experience. You’ll also find replacement tips for Apple Pencil, a convenient tablet stand, the doodroo digital stylus, and a multi-purpose spray to keep your device’s display clean. You can find them all below!
