Why I Do Digital Planning

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Abstract

on one for the Bullet Journal — while there is a kind of system for future planning, it’s not as flexible as I needed it. I had tasks that needed to be done every week, every month, or every year, and remembering to write those tasks down from a previous page of my BuJo was just a little annoying.I found Todoist as my next step on the journey, and that’s how I began my current phase (of 7 years and counting) of being nearly exclusively a digital planner. My (free!) Google Calendar keeps track of where I need to be and when, and my task manager keeps track of what I need to do during the day. My life revolves around these two on my phone, always at hand.Here are the advantages as I see them:<ul><li>Flexibility. I can change how I organize my information very easily. I can group tasks into different projects. I can change calendar colors and decide who to share that with. I can make adjustments to my system quickly without needing to tear out pages or print out new ones. Much less mess!</li><li>Cost-efficient. I pay a subscription for Todoist and will continue to do so, but there are other apps that are free that can serve a similar purpose. I don’t need to buy new notebooks, pens, binders, stickers, washi tape, clips, etc. Since I see so many in the Planner Community buy new supplies on a quarterly basis for whatever new system they’re trying out, I am relieved that my $35 or so a year for a task management app is really all that’s needed. And everyone has access to a free calendar app. (There are apps that can combine everything — just another option for you.)</li><li>Reminders. Since I have my smartphone at hand at most

Options

times, I can set my task management app to send me to push notifications to remind me of certain tasks, either whenever at a location or at a certain time. It’s a relief to know that even if I get sidetracked with a conversation, meeting, or another task, my app will work for me and remind me it’s time to switch gears. You can have your calendar app do the same thing for events.</li><li>Updated. One problem I’ve had with paper planners is that… plans change! Information changes! In order to have the most updated system at my disposal, digital planning syncs everything across all devices and the web. I can easily move tasks from one project or day to another without clogging up my view. If I need to change my system to work better for me, I still have all the information there, I just need to shift how I see it or find it.</li><li>Efficient. I don’t need nearly as much time to “plan” when I can input items as they come to me. I don’t have anything to decorate. Everything is already in its place and ready to be addressed. I can make a scrapbook look pretty, or a photo album, but those are separate from my day-to-day planning system. I just need to quickly put in the task or event, and move on, knowing that it’s where it needs to be for when I need it.</li></ul>I still go down the rabbit hole of the Planner Community on YouTube and Instagram. I admit there is something satisfying about decorating a spread for the week and setting aside time for yourself to design out your week. But for me, I’d rather spend that time getting things done. I enjoy the convenience and ease and minimalism of my digital system and don’t see a need to change.</article></body>

Why I Do Digital Planning

A few years back I fell down the YouTube rabbit hole of the Planner Community. The Bullet Journal was becoming a thing, and I was recognizing that I needed to up my organization and productivity game since I had taken on a new position in my career and needed to have a better system in place. I was overwhelmed with color-coding, washi tape, stickers, and all the different binders and folios that could be bought to fulfill this need.

I started a Bullet Journal in a grid Moleskine notebook as a cautious start and felt like I had been saved. I could enthusiastically check off boxes of tasks I had completed, remember smaller details, and had a ready place for all the things I had accomplished when it came time for monthly progress reports. I had a plan for the day when I arrived at work.

I ended up trying adding in washi tape, making some cute calligraphy headers, color-coding different tasks, and I even found a small leather goods shop and bought a traveler’s notebook cover for my Bullet Journal. I was solidly a BuJo convert and sang its praises as often as I could. This lasted for well over a year. (And having a productivity system last that long is a great sign!)

The problem I encountered was a common one for the Bullet Journal — while there is a kind of system for future planning, it’s not as flexible as I needed it. I had tasks that needed to be done every week, every month, or every year, and remembering to write those tasks down from a previous page of my BuJo was just a little annoying.

I found Todoist as my next step on the journey, and that’s how I began my current phase (of 7 years and counting) of being nearly exclusively a digital planner. My (free!) Google Calendar keeps track of where I need to be and when, and my task manager keeps track of what I need to do during the day. My life revolves around these two on my phone, always at hand.

Here are the advantages as I see them:

Flexibility. I can change how I organize my information very easily. I can group tasks into different projects. I can change calendar colors and decide who to share that with. I can make adjustments to my system quickly without needing to tear out pages or print out new ones. Much less mess!

Cost-efficient. I pay a subscription for Todoist and will continue to do so, but there are other apps that are free that can serve a similar purpose. I don’t need to buy new notebooks, pens, binders, stickers, washi tape, clips, etc. Since I see so many in the Planner Community buy new supplies on a quarterly basis for whatever new system they’re trying out, I am relieved that my $35 or so a year for a task management app is really all that’s needed. And everyone has access to a free calendar app. (There are apps that can combine everything — just another option for you.)

Reminders. Since I have my smartphone at hand at most times, I can set my task management app to send me to push notifications to remind me of certain tasks, either whenever at a location or at a certain time. It’s a relief to know that even if I get sidetracked with a conversation, meeting, or another task, my app will work for me and remind me it’s time to switch gears. You can have your calendar app do the same thing for events.

Updated. One problem I’ve had with paper planners is that… plans change! Information changes! In order to have the most updated system at my disposal, digital planning syncs everything across all devices and the web. I can easily move tasks from one project or day to another without clogging up my view. If I need to change my system to work better for me, I still have all the information there, I just need to shift how I see it or find it.

Efficient. I don’t need nearly as much time to “plan” when I can input items as they come to me. I don’t have anything to decorate. Everything is already in its place and ready to be addressed. I can make a scrapbook look pretty, or a photo album, but those are separate from my day-to-day planning system. I just need to quickly put in the task or event, and move on, knowing that it’s where it needs to be for when I need it.

I still go down the rabbit hole of the Planner Community on YouTube and Instagram. I admit there is something satisfying about decorating a spread for the week and setting aside time for yourself to design out your week. But for me, I’d rather spend that time getting things done. I enjoy the convenience and ease and minimalism of my digital system and don’t see a need to change.

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Why I Do Digital Planning