Create a Digital Planner: Easy Tips for Beginners

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 10 July 2023 6 min read

Learning how to create a digital planner can be a game-changer for organizing your daily tasks, events, and notes. Whether you're a student, a professional, or a busy parent, a well-structured digital planner can help streamline your schedule and enhance your productivity. This beginner-friendly guide will walk you through the process of creating a digital planner that suits your specific needs and style. So, let's get started!

1. Choose Your Digital Planner

Before you dive into the world of digital planning, it's important to choose the right digital planner for you. This is your first step in creating a digital planner that will work best for your lifestyle and needs. Let's break it down into three steps:

Know Your Needs

Firstly, consider what you want from your digital planner. Are you looking for a simple tool to keep track of daily tasks? Or do you need a comprehensive system to manage projects, deadlines, and meetings? Keep in mind, the right digital planner should match your needs, whether it's for school, work, or personal use. Be sure to jot down your requirements—you'll need this list when you start comparing different brands of digital planners.

Compare Different Brands

Next, time to do a bit of research. There are numerous brands out there offering a variety of digital planners—some popular ones include Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, and Google Calendar. Each brand comes with its unique set of features, so it's important to compare them against your list of requirements. Remember, your goal here is to find a digital planner that checks as many boxes as possible.

Read Reviews

Finally, don't forget to check out reviews. User reviews can provide valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of each digital planner. If a planner seems to have features that align with your needs, but has poor reviews, you might want to think twice before selecting it. Remember, the goal is to choose a digital planner that not only meets your needs but also offers a user-friendly experience.

2. Get Familiar with the Interface

Once you've chosen your digital planner, it's time to get comfortable with its interface. It's like moving into a new home — you need to know where everything is to feel at ease and function efficiently. Here are three simple steps to help you navigate your new digital planner:

Start by exploring the menu of your digital planner. The menu typically contains all the main features of the planner, such as creating a new note, setting reminders, or adding tags. Take some time to click around and see what each option does. This will give you a good idea of what your digital planner is capable of.

Learn the Shortcuts

Shortcuts are like secret tunnels—they get you where you need to go faster. Most digital planners have keyboard shortcuts for common tasks. For instance, in Google Calendar, you can press "c" to create a new event or "t" to switch to the current day. Spending a little time learning these shortcuts can save you a lot of time in the long run.

Use the Tools

Last but not least, don't be shy to use the tools provided by your digital planner. These could include color-coding, tags, labels, and more. Not only do these tools make your planner visually appealing, but they also make it easier to navigate and find information. Remember, the more you use these tools, the more you'll learn about how to create a digital planner that truly works for you.

3. Set Up Your Pages

Next up: setting up your pages. This is where you start to shape your digital planner to match your lifestyle and needs. This is the step where you'll decide what your planner needs to include and how it should look. Let's break it down:

Decide on Your Layout

First things first, you need to decide on a layout that suits your needs. Do you want daily, weekly, or monthly views? Or maybe a mix of all three? Think about your routine and what you'll be using the planner for. For example, if you're a student, you might want a weekly view to track assignments and exams. If you're a freelancer, a daily view might be more useful to manage different projects. The beauty of learning how to create a digital planner is that you get to decide what works best for you!

Customize the Design

Once you've chosen a layout, it's time to get creative. Most digital planners allow you to customize the design of your pages. You can choose different colors, fonts, and even add stickers or drawings. This is your chance to make your planner not just functional, but also fun and inspiring. Remember, a planner you love is a planner you'll use!

Add Your Content

Now, you're ready to start filling in your planner with content. This could be anything from your daily tasks and appointments to your meal plans and workout routines. The key is to make sure that everything you add is relevant and helpful to you. If you're not sure where to start, think about what you typically do in a day, week, or month and start jotting those down. You'll be amazed at how much you can manage when you know how to create a digital planner that mirrors your life.

4. Organize Your Planner

Once you've set up your pages, the next step is to organize your planner. After all, a well-structured planner is a joy to use and can save you lots of time. Here's how:

Create Sections

Start by creating sections in your digital planner. These could be for different areas of your life like work, personal, fitness, or leisure. If you're a student, you might want to have sections for each of your subjects. If you're working, you could create sections for different projects. This way, you'll have a clear view of all your tasks in one place, making it easier to navigate your planner.

Use Tags and Labels

Tags and labels are your friends when it comes to organizing your digital planner. You could tag tasks based on their priority, label them by category, or even color-code them. For example, if you have a task that's both high-priority and work-related, you might tag it as "high priority" and label it as "work". This way, you'll be able to quickly identify and prioritize your tasks. Learning how to create a digital planner that's well-tagged and labeled can be a game-changer!

Sync with Other Devices

The beauty of a digital planner is that you can access it from anywhere, anytime. To do this, you'll need to sync your planner with your other devices. So, whether you're on your laptop, tablet, or phone, you'll always have your planner at your fingertips. Just imagine: no more forgetting tasks because you left your planner at home. Now that's organization at its best!

5. Maintain Your Planner

Final step on how to create a digital planner — maintaining it! Just like a physical planner, a digital planner needs regular upkeep to stay effective. Let's dive into some strategies:

Update Regularly

Consistency is key. Make it a habit to update your planner regularly, ideally at the start or end of each day. This could mean adding new tasks, checking off completed ones, or updating your progress on ongoing projects. Regular updates will keep your planner current and help you stay on top of your tasks.

Backup Your Data

Just as you'd save your important documents, it's a smart move to backup your digital planner. Most planner apps have a backup option. Backing up your planner ensures that you won't lose your valuable data in case of any tech glitches. So, remember to hit that backup button every now and then!

Keep It Simple

When it comes to maintaining a digital planner, simplicity is your best friend. Avoid overcrowding your planner with too many tasks or details. Instead, keep it straightforward and clutter-free. A simple, clean planner is not only easier to navigate but also more enjoyable to use. After all, less is often more!

If you're excited to start creating your own digital planner and want to learn more about project planning for creatives, check out the workshop 'The Perfect Project Plan for Creatives' by Natalie. This workshop will provide you with valuable insights and easy-to-follow tips to help you create a successful digital planner from scratch.