Pros and Cons of a Digital Planner
So what are the pros and cons of digital planners. For many years, I was a die-hard paper planner person. I love notebooks, journals, pens, markers and planners. In fact, when I get stressed, I like to go to my nearest office supply store for some “office supply therapy”. Not even kidding! So when I heard about digital planners I was like “WTF is THIS?!” and how can it be a good thing?
I have been researching digital planners and I have a list of pros and cons for you to consider. I hope this information is helpful as you decide whether or not digital planning might be a good thing for you.
PROS of Digital Planners
#1 – Going digital is great for the environment
- If you are concerned about the amount of trees that are sacrificed to create the paper we love going with a digital planner might be worthwhile.
#2 – Digital Planners are super affordable
- Digital planners are very affordable especially if you buy an UNDATED planner that you can use multiple years in a row. You can find a digital planner on Etsy anywhere from $5 – $40-ish dollars. According to my research, the average price is around $15 and you are getting A LOT for your money. Especially if you find a bundle that also includes digital stickers and other special options.
#3 – Digital stickers are UNLIMITED!!!!
- Yes, you read that correctly. The digital stickers that are available to decorate and customize digital planners are unlimited because they are essentially PNG files that you copy and paste with your note taking app. So you can decorate, embellish and customize your digital planner endlessly.
#4 – You always have your planner with you
- One great perk of digital planners is that most note taking apps allow you to access from your laptop, phone and tablet. This means that you will always have it with you to reference and update.
- Lastly, you no longer have to lug around a paper planner while you are on the go – everything is now at your fingertips.
#5 – Many digital planners can be customized by YOU
- Many digital planners out there are customizable. You can move pages around and set up the planner exactly how you want.
- Many sellers offer digital stickers, widgets, inserts and other graphics to help you modify layouts that don’t like.
- You can also choose to delete or ignore pages you don’t use without much guilt. A word of caution, digital planner pages are often hyperlinked so delete pages thoughtfully.
#6 – Hyperlinks make digital planners make them super efficient
- Many digital planners have hyperlinks (and linked indexes) in the interactive PDF file. This makes the planner super efficient so you can navigate easily to and from the pages you want.
#7 – Digital planners are more secure
- If you like to keep everything in your planner, a digital planner might be a better option. Because the digital planner works inside of an app, someone would need the passcode to your tablet or phone to look at the contents.
- Using a digital planner means no more worrying about leaving your planner behind in an office meeting room accidentally.
CONS of a Digital Planner
#1 – If you LOVE paper planners the switch to digital might be tough
- If you love your paper planners it can be very challenging getting used to a digital planner. You have to learn new things like how to use the note taking app, how to use a stylus, how to navigate, how to add stickers etc. It can also be tough getting used to writing on a tablet vs. a piece of paper.
- If you are interested in dipping your toe in, I suggest starting with a simple digital journal or notebook just to get a feel for it.
#2 – Digital planning requires technology
- To use your digital planner in a tablet you need a tablet or other device. Also, the tablet needs to be charged and you need a digital stylus which also needs to be charged. You also need to learn how to use the note taking app. Wherever there is technology there are lots of things that can be annoying or go wrong.
#3 – Digital Planning can be addictive
- Digital planning and digital stickers can be just as addictive as paper planning. Once you see all of the options that are available to you in the digital planner world you might lose your mind. So many different styles, graphics and options to choose from. You will want to buy them all.
#5 – Digital planners can be “laggy”
- Expect that most digital planners to have some lag when flipping through pages. It depends how “graphic heavy” the planner is and how much the planner was able to be “compressed” during creation.
- Be aware that it can be annoying when you click on the “January” tab and have to wait 5 seconds for the page to “flip”.
- There are planner creators out there who design their planners to have as little lag as possible – read the descriptions carefully before buying if that is something that might bother you.
