Are you ready to dive into the wonderful world of planners? Whether you’re team digital or team paper (or maybe both!), I’m breaking down the pros and cons to help you find your perfect planning sidekick.
Digital Planners:
Positives:
1. Anywhere, Anytime Access: Your plans at your fingertips, 24/7! Digital planners sync across devices, ensuring you’re on top of things whether you’re on your laptop, tablet, or phone.
2. Customization Galore: Change colors, add stickers, and personalize your pages without the risk of running out of ink! Digital planners offer endless customization options for the creative souls.
3. Effortless Edits: Made a mistake? No problem! Digital planners make erasing and editing a breeze. No need for whiteout or crossing out your beautifully laid plans.
Negatives:
1. Battery Woes: The dreaded low battery warning. It happens to the best of us. Ensure you’ve got a charger handy, especially during those marathon planning sessions.
2. Tech Overload: For some, the screen time can be overwhelming. Staring at a screen all day for work and then for planning might not be everyone’s cup of tea.
3. Learning Curve: Embracing the digital planner lifestyle might take a bit of tech-tinkering at first. If you’re not tech-savvy, the learning curve might feel like climbing Mount Everest.
Recommendations:
1. Notion:
- Key Features: Notion is an all-in-one workspace that allows you to create notes, databases, task lists, and more. It’s highly customizable, making it suitable for a wide range of uses.
- Pros: Versatile, collaborative, and integrates with other apps.
- Cons: Might have a learning curve for some users.
2. Todoist:
- Key Features: Todoist is a task management tool that’s simple yet powerful. It lets you organize tasks, set due dates, and collaborate with others.
- Pros: User-friendly, available on multiple platforms, and has a free version.
- Cons: Advanced features require a subscription.
3. Trello:
- Key Features: Trello is a visual collaboration tool that uses boards, lists, and cards to organize tasks. It’s great for project management and team collaboration.
- Pros: Easy to use, highly visual, and integrates with many third-party apps.
- Cons: May lack some advanced features for in-depth project management.
- Key Features: OneNote is a digital note-taking app that allows you to create notebooks, sections, and pages. It’s excellent for organizing information and ideas.
- Pros: Integrates with other Microsoft apps, supports multimedia, and has a free version.
- Cons: Some features may require a Microsoft 365 subscription.
5. Evernote:
- Key Features: Evernote is a powerful note-taking app that allows you to capture ideas, images, and text. It’s known for its robust organization features.
- Pros: Versatile, supports multiple media types, and has a free version.
- Cons: Certain advanced features are available in the premium version.
6. GoodNotes
- Key Features: You can handwrite notes if you’re using a touch screen and stylus. Great with Apple Pencil, and has AI features to make your life easier.
- Pros: Internal hyperlinks, LaTex support
- Cons: Only 3 notebooks for free users, GN6 is new so it is buggy.
7. Google Keep:
- Key Features: Google Keep is a simple and intuitive note-taking app that syncs across devices. It’s ideal for quick notes, lists, and reminders.
- Pros: Easy to use, integrates with other Google apps, and free to use.
- Cons: May lack some advanced features found in other apps.
Paper Planners:
Positives:
1. Tactile Joy: Ah, the satisfaction of turning actual pages and putting pen to paper. There’s something magical about the tactile experience of writing in a physical planner.
2. No Tech Hiccups: No updates, no crashes – paper planners are resilient! They’re always ready to go, no Wi-Fi needed.
3. Eye Comfort: If screen glare is your arch-nemesis, paper planners are the superhero. No strain, no glare, just you and your planner in perfect harmony.
Negatives:
1. Space Limitations: Oops, ran out of room? Time to get creative with those tiny margins. Paper planners have limited space, and if your handwriting is on the larger side, it might feel like a word puzzle.
2. No Undo Button: Mistakes happen, and with paper, there’s no undo button. Enter the world of crossing out, scribbling, and the occasional sticky note patch job.
3. Bulky Buddies: Carrying around a chunky planner can be a workout in itself. If you’re always on the move, the extra weight might not be your cup of tea.
Recommendations:
1. Moleskine:
- Overview: Moleskine notebooks are renowned for their quality and variety. They come in different sizes, formats, and cover types, making them suitable for various uses.
- Best For: Versatile use, from daily journals to project planning.
2. Leuchtturm1917: (Personal Favorite!)
- Overview: Known for their high-quality paper and durable covers, Leuchtturm1917 notebooks are popular among bullet journalists. They include numbered pages, an index, and pre-printed content pages.
- Best For: Bullet journaling, note-taking, and organization enthusiasts.
- Overview: Rhodia notebooks are loved for their smooth, high-quality paper. The Webnotebook, in particular, has a hardcover and comes in various sizes.
- Best For: Fountain pen users, note-taking, and creative writing.
4. Field Notes:
- Overview: Field Notes are compact, pocket-sized notebooks with various themed editions. They’re great for on-the-go note-taking and jotting down ideas.
- Best For: Quick notes, sketches, and minimalist planning.
- Overview: The Rocketbook Everlast is a reusable, smart notebook. It’s designed to work with erasable pens and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
- Best For: Environmentally conscious users, note-taking, and frequent erasing.
- Overview: Cognitive Surplus offers beautifully designed notebooks with themed covers and high-quality paper. They often feature scientific or nature-inspired illustrations.
- Best For: Creativity, sketching, and themed journals.
7. Panda Planner:
- Overview: Panda Planner is a goal-oriented planner designed to boost productivity and happiness. It includes sections for daily, weekly, and monthly planning.
- Best For: Goal setting, productivity, and time management.
8. Passion Planner:
- Overview: Passion Planner is designed to help users align their goals with actionable steps. It includes sections for monthly and weekly planning, goal-setting, and reflection.
- Best For: Goal-oriented planning, time management, and reflection.
- Overview: The Traveler’s Notebook is a customizable leather cover with interchangeable inserts for various uses. Users can add notebooks, folders, and accessories.
- Best For: Customization, multiple uses within one cover.
10. Baron Fig Confidant:
- Overview: The Baron Fig Confidant is a minimalist, high-quality notebook suitable for various purposes. It features quality paper and a lay-flat design.
- Best For: Note-taking, journaling, and daily planning.
- Overview: Scribbles That Matter notebooks are known for their quality paper, vibrant designs, and thoughtful features. They often include numbered pages, an index, and a pen holder.
- Best For: Bullet journaling, note-taking, and creative planning.
- Overview: The Walmart Exceed notebook is an affordable yet practical option. Available in various sizes and formats, it offers quality paper for note-taking and planning.
- Best For: Budget-friendly planning, note-taking, and versatile use.
The Verdict
Whether you’re on Team Digital, Team Paper, or a proud member of both squads, the key is finding what works for you. Maybe it’s the sleek efficiency of a digital planner for work and the cozy charm of a paper planner for personal goals. Mix and match until you discover your planning paradise!
In the end, it’s not about the format but about the joy and satisfaction that planning brings to your life. So, planners at the ready, friends! Let the planning adventures begin!
Personally I love using GoodNotes 6 with the Happy Downloads Undated Planner and when I used to used a paper notebook, I used the Leutchtuurm 1917 and then the Walmart Exceed dot grid notebook. The only reason I switched from paper to digital was because I needed to lighten up my purse and backpack. I could carry GoodNotes on my phone and iPad and it would sync, but my notebook would get heavier throughout the year.