How to Use Your Digital Planner to Organize Your Days and Life

At some point in our lives we have all used a planner or a journal because either we’re determined to take control of our lives, or because they look so pretty and tempting.  

But planning your life with paper planners feels cute until you forget it at home, run out of space, or rip out a page because you changed your mind. 

That’s where a digital planner can be really helpful. And there's no going back once you get the hang of it.

A digital planner is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a planner that lives on your tablet or iPad, and instead of flipping physical pages, you swipe, tap, and write directly on your screen using a stylus. 

You can think of it as your notebook, calendar, journal, vision board, and to-do list, all in a single place. You can highlight, color-code, drop in digital stickers, and jump between pages like you’re navigating a mini website. It’s pretty cool.

What this really means is you get to carry your entire life plan on your iPad without the bulk or the mess. And you don’t have to maintain different planners and journals. 

Depending on the kind of digital planner you’re using, they can help you organize your days, plan your goals, track habits, or reflect on your days and your life. 

And if you're someone who loves making things pretty and personal, the possibilities are endless.

Let’s try to understand how to use a digital planner and if it’s actually worth it but first let’s take a look at what is a digital planner.

What Is a Digital Planner?

A digital planner is basically a modern version of a paper planner that is made for your tablet or iPad. It’s usually a PDF file that you open in a note-taking app like Goodnotes or Notability. 

From there, you can write on it with a stylus just like you would on paper. But the fun part is that you also get hyperlinked tabs, pages that link to each other, and all the colors, pens, and stickers you could ever want without needing a whole drawer of supplies.

It looks and feels like a regular planner, but it works like an app. You can plan your days, make to-do lists, set goals, journal your thoughts, track your habits, plan meals, and even build vision boards. 

And since it’s digital, you can carry everything with you, sync it to your phone, and never worry about losing pages or running out of space.

If you already love organizing your life on paper, switching to a digital planner just makes it easier and way more fun. And if you’ve never used a planner before, this is a really simple and flexible way to start.

How Do You Use a Digital Planner?

Using a digital planner might seem a little techy at first, but once you set it up, it’s honestly super simple. Here’s how it works, step by step:

Step 1: Pick your digital planner

You can buy one online or even make your own. There are so many designs out there, minimal, colorful, aesthetic, functional, whatever suits your vibe.

Step 2: Download a note-taking app

Most people use Goodnotes (especially if you’re on an iPad), but apps like Notability, Noteshelf, or even free ones like Notes Plus also work.

Step 3: Import your planner into the app

It’s usually just a tap or two. Most digital planners come with a quick-start guide to help you do this.

Step 4: Grab your stylus

An Apple Pencil works great, but there are also budget-friendly alternatives. This is what you’ll use to write and draw, just like a regular pen.

Step 5: Start planning

Write your tasks, add appointments, highlight stuff, drop in stickers, track your habits. Do whatever you like and make it your own.

Once you’ve done it a couple of times, using a digital planner feels just like second nature. 

How to Use a Daily Planner on a Daily Basis?

If you want to be regular with your journaling habit and create a routine that helps you stay consistent, you’ll have to create a routine around it that you already enjoy. 

Pair your journaling with something that you already enjoy doing. Maybe it’s your morning or evening tea, or your quiet time on the balcony or out in the garden. 

When you sit with your planner, think about what you’re trying to achieve with this practice. If it’s to organize your day and life, start by writing down your 3 priorities for the day. 

You don’t have to write the whole list, just the things that actually matter or need to be done. 

Fill in any appointments, classes, or reminders, color-code them if that helps you see things clearly.

Next, check your to-do list. Move any leftover tasks from yesterday to today if they still matter. Cross out the ones that don’t, and most importantly, be honest with yourself. The goal is to help you, not pressure you.

If you want, you can take out a few minutes at night as well to reflect. You can write about what went well, what needs shifting tomorrow, etc. 

That’s it. There are no rules, and you shouldn’t be feeling any pressure. Just take small steps every day.

Best Digital Planners for iPad and Goodnotes

There are so many digital planners out there, and honestly, there’s no one-size-fits-all. Each creator has tried to create something meaningful by adding their own style, layout, and intention into what they’ve made. 

Some are super minimal, some are colorful and fun, some are super detailed. It really depends on what works for you. Take your time to browse, explore a few, and choose the ones that actually feel good to use.

I’ve also created a few digital planners and journals that I genuinely think could improve your day-to-day life by making it feel a little more organized and intentional. 

You’re more than welcome to check them out and see if any of them resonate with you:

Meal Planner and Recipe Tracker

Helps you plan your meals, keep a grocery list, and store your favorite recipes in one place.

Reading Journal and Book Tracker

You can track the books you’re reading, rate them, write short notes, and see your reading progress over time.

Mindful Living Daily Planner

Perfect for planning your day, writing down tasks, setting priorities, and staying organized.

Morning Journal

A journal to start your day with intention, where you can write what you’re grateful for, set a focus, or simply clear your mind.

Night Journal

To Help you reflect at the end of the day. You can write what’s on your mind, how the day went, and anything you want to let go of.

Health and Wellness Journal

Useful for tracking things like sleep, mood, exercise, and water. It helps you stay in touch with how you’re feeling.

Student Planner and Notebook

Made for students who want to plan their assignments, manage schedules, and take notes digitally.

Benefits of Using a Digital Planner Every Day

If you’ve been reading my previous blogs, you would know that I have been using journaling as a form of self-therapy for more than a year now. 

Journaling sounds like such a simple practice but the benefits of journaling are incredible. 

Same goes for planning and digital planners as well. It might seem like a very simple thing from a distance but doing it consistently can seriously change your life.

We all lead a very hectic and fast paced life every day and everything feels so chaotic at times, a digital planner or any planner for that matter can really help with that. 

Even a few minutes of planning every day can make things less overwhelming and more manageable.

You stop running around reacting to things and start actually owning your day.

That’s the benefit of daily planning in general, but if you use a digital planner every day, it just makes the whole experience more smoother, prettier, and honestly way more fun.

You don’t have to keep flipping through pages or scribbling things out when plans change. You can drag and drop, erase, move things around, and color-code your entire day if that’s your thing. 

Also, it’s always with you even when you’re on the move, on your iPad, your phone, even your laptop. 

When you’re planning your day with a digital planner or a physical one, you’re becoming more intentional with your everyday choices. You’re giving your time a direction. 

That adds up over time and you become a more focused person. You’re more in control of your life. 

Practical Tips for Using Your Digital Planner Effectively

First, get yourself acquainted with the different tools available in the app you’re using. Try out different pen styles, colors, highlighters, and see what’s working for you. 

Don’t try to do everything at once, just play around a little bit and see what feels natural to you. 

Next, make use of the hyperlinks available in your planner. Although you can quickly flip through the pages of a physical journal and go to the page of your choice, I think it is much easier in a digital planner because all you need to do is tap on the hyperlinks.  

If you love stickers, which I’m sure you do, create a little sticker bank in your app. Most apps like Goodnotes let you save your favorite elements so you don’t have to upload them again. 

Most importantly, try to make it yours. The more your digital planner reflects your personality, the more likely you’ll actually use it. Otherwise it will just be another app on your iPad. 

Wrapping Up – How to Use Your Digital Planner to Organize Your Days and Life

Learning how to use a digital planner isn’t about doing everything perfectly or having an Instagram-worthy setup. It’s just about creating a space where your thoughts, plans, and ideas can live. 

Somewhere that’s easy to open, easy to update, and feels like yours.

Some days you’ll plan out for more than an hour. Other days, you’ll scribble down one reminder and move on. That’s okay. 

The goal isn’t to be perfectly productive, it’s to feel a little more in control, a little more clear, and a little more calm as you go through your day.

If you’re just getting started, take it slow. Give yourself time to explore, try things out, and figure out what works. 

You can use your digital planner to organise your day, track habits, or just write things down so they’re not all stuck in your head.

And if you ever forget to use it for a few days, just come back when you’re ready. It’ll still be there, waiting. Namaste!