+ What is digital planning?
Digital planning is super popular now because it allows you to get a paper and pen planning experience right on your iPad without harming a single tree. Digital planning is using a special PDF document (your “planner”) that has clickable tabs inside a note-taking app like GoodNotes or Notability on an iPad. Instead of turning a tab in a paper planner, you just click a link to open a section. Unlike paper planners, you can erase your text in a digital planner, move it around, make it bigger or smaller. You can add photos and digital stickers and washi tape to decorate your digital planner if you wish.
+ What supplies do I need for digital planning?
An iPad or tablet, an Apple Pencil or stylus, a digital planner (like the ones found in my Shop, and a note-taking app like GoodNotes. Notability or ZoomNotes. (I use and recommend GoodNotes.)
+ I'd like to try digital planning before I commit. Do you have any free digital planners?
Stay tuned.... I have a free digital notebook coming soon!
+ How do I download the digital planner (or digital product) I purchased from your shop?
Click HERE to see a video tutorial.
+ How do I upload my digital planner into GoodNotes?
Click HERE to watch a video tutorial or follow these instructions:
After you have saved your planner to either your iPad or cloud storage:
- Open the GoodNotes app on your iPad
- In DOCUMENTS tap the +NEW icon
- Tap IMPORT
- Go to the location you have the file stored (your iPad, Apple Cloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.)
- Tap on the PDF file you want to import
Alternate way:
- Find the file you want to upload and tap on it
- Tap the SHARE icon (rectangle with an upward pointing arrow)
- Tap "open in GoodNotes"
- Select "save as new document"
+ How do I unzip a zipped file?
If your purchase consists of multiple files they may be zipped together. This means you will have to unzip the files which is a simple process.
To unzip all the contents of the zipped folder in WINDOWS:
- right-click on the folder
- select “Extract All”
- make sure the checkbox for “Show Extracted Files When Complete” is checked
- click “Extract”
- You will then see all of the files
To unzip the files on a MAC COMPUTER:
- simply double-click on the zipped file
- You will then see all of the files
Unzipping on Smart Phones/Tablets:
- On Apple devices, simply tap on the file you want to unzip and it will do so automatically.
+ What is the difference between a digital planner and a digital notebook?
When I say "digital planner" I am referring to a PDF with dated or undated calendar pages, tabs for each of the 12 months, and either weekly or daily planning pages. THIS is the digital planner I currently use.
A "digital notebook" is like a paper notebook but better! It has tabs that you can label to create your own custom notebook and you can use it for many things like meal planning, note-taking, bullet journaling, making Christmas lists, doodling, brain dumps, journaling, and much more. All of my digital notebooks come with dotted paper, plain paper, graph paper and lined paper. Most also have other custom pages so check each listing to see what is included.
+ What app do you use for digital planning?
I use and recommend GoodNotes 5. All of my digital tutorials are filmed using GoodNotes 5.
+ How do I add text and photos in GoodNotes?
Check out my video tutorials that demonstrate how to do digital planning functions like using the pen tool, adding photos, using text, etc.
+ Can I use text in my digital planner or do I have to use handwriting?
You can use both! I use text almost exclusively (because I have messy writing!) but many people love to use their handwriting. With the new iPadOS 14 update you can use Apple Scribble to write in to-do's or tasks and they will automatically be converted to text. See the video tutorials for how to use Apple Scribble.
+ What are digital stickers and do I need them to plan?
Digital stickers are simply images, like clip art, to decorate your planner. Any image can be used in your planner, like photos from your camera roll, or pictures you find online. You do not need any digital stickers to plan unless you want your digital planner to be more colorful or decorative. A minimalist digital planner is good too!
See the Video Library for a detailed tutorial on working with digital stickers.
+How do I add inserts into my digital planner?
See the video tutorialslibrary. I have a video on how to add inserts to a digital planner in GoodNotes.
+ My "clickable tabs" aren't working!
For the planner tabs to work:
- Use the READ ONLY mode (Click the pen with a slash through it in the upper right side of the navigation bar) - or -
- Have the LASSO TOOL selected, then tap and hold on the tab you want to use. It will say "open link" - click on it.
+ Can I add custom fonts to GoodNotes to use in my planner?
Yes! GoodNotes recognizes custom fonts you install on your iPad. You can install those fonts using an app like AnyFont which is a paid app. See the Video Tutorials library for how to install custom fonts.
If you are new to digital planning, Google is your best friend! You can always find answers to your questions by googling them. The GoodNotes Help Center is extremely helpful too.
+ I don't use GoodNotes, how do I do {insert the thing you can't do} in Notability, ZoomNotes, Xodo or other program?
I only use GoodNotes so that is the app I am familiar with. If you choose to use a different program, just do a Google search, check their Support page, or search on YouTube for an answer.
- An iPad Pro 10.5 inch. This iPad is a more recent version for digital planning.
- The GoodNotes app, found in the Apple store.
- An Apple Pencil
- Apple Pencil pink silicone cover (so it doesn't slip and my hand doesn't tire as easily).
- The 12 month undated Digital Planner found in my Planner Store.
