Digital Planning for Absolute Beginners: A Simple, Friendly Guide to Getting Started
What Is Digital Planning?
Digital planning can feel complicated, but it’s actually incredibly simple once you know the basics. Think of it as a modern, flexible version of your favourite paper planner, except you never run out of pages, you can undo mistakes and everything stays beautifully organised in one place.
A digital planner is simply a PDF file with clickable tabs, designed to be used inside a note-taking app. You can write in it with a stylus, type into it like a document, decorate it with stickers, and flip through sections the way you would with a physical notebook. It works just like a paper planner, but you never run out of pages, you can reuse it year after year (for the undated planners), and you can access it from all your devices - so no carrying multiple notebooks.
If you’ve ever wished your paper planner could be easier to update, more flexible, or a little more fun… that’s exactly what digital planning gives you.
What Tools Do You Need?
The best part about digital planning is how little you actually need to get started. Here’s the simple, beginner-friendly setup:
💻 A tablet or a laptop: Most people use an iPad or Samsung tablet because handwriting feels amazing, but you can absolutely start on a laptop if that’s what you already have. Most note-taking apps work beautifully with a mouse or trackpad.
✍️ A stylus (optional but lovely): You don’t need one (typing works perfectly) but handwriting gives you that cosy, paper-like experience.
📲 A note-taking app: This is where your planner lives. (We’ll choose the best one in the next section.)
📝 A digital planner: This is the beautiful hyperlinked PDF you’ll write inside.
Choosing the Right App
Here’s a quick, simplified guide so you don’t fall into an app rabbit hole. These are the most popular choices:
💻 iPad or Macbook:
• GoodNotes 6 - easiest to learn, super smooth handwriting
• Notability - simple and fast, great for notes + planning
• Noteshelf - beautiful handwriting experience
• Xodo - a solid free option
• Acrobat Reader - free and great for beginners who only need the basics
📱 Android Tablet:
• Samsung Notes - free, smooth, and perfect for planning
• Penly - made specifically for digital planners
• Xodo - excellent free option
• Noteshelf - very planner-friendly
• Acrobat Reader - simple and works well with hyperlinks
🖥️ Windows or Surface Pro:
• GoodNotes for Windows
• Xodo
• Drawboard PDF
• Acrobat Reader
How a Digital Planner Works
Here’s where digital planning really clicks (literally and emotionally):
🗂️ Planner Tabs: Your planner is divided just like a physical notebook: months, weeks, days, goals, routines, budget… everything has a home and the fully clickable Index Page makes jumping from one section to another a breeze.
🔗 Hyperlinks: Tap any tab or button within the planner to jump to that section instantly. No scrolling. No chaos. No flipping around.
✍ Handwriting tools: Write, highlight, circle, underline - whatever feels natural.
⌨️ Typing tools: Don’t like writing? Just type into a text box instead.
🎨 Stickers: Drag and drop icons, labels, or photos onto your pages. And yes, they’re reusable forever (a digital girl’s dream).
Step-by-Step: Your First Digital Planning Setup
Let’s walk through your first setup. This part is easier than making a cup of tea.
Step 1. Download your planner: Save the PDF file on your device.
Step 2. Open your planning app: GoodNotes, Samsung Notes, Penly, Xodo… whichever you’re using.
Step 3. Import the planner: Most apps will have an “Import” or “Open File” button. Choose your downloaded planner, and it will appear instantly.
Step 4. Explore the tabs: Tap through the sections and see how everything is organised. This helps you understand the layout and realise how intuitive it all is. Most note-taking apps have two different modes: Writing mode and Read Only mode. When you're in Writing mode you can use all the writing tools, but you won't be able to click on the hyperlinked buttons. In order to make the buttons clickable again, you need to switch to Read Only mode (the switch between these modes is usually a pen/pencil icon).
Step 5. Create your first weekly page: Write your plans, type your to-do's, or decorate your layout with stickers.
Step 6. Save + Back up: Most apps auto-save, but backing up to iCloud or Google Drive is always smart.
💕 Ready to Start Digital Planning the Easy Way?
If you want a simple, stress-free digital planner that’s perfect for beginners with clickable tabs, clean layouts, and everything organised for you - you’ll love the Girls Got Goals planners. They’re designed to make digital planning feel intuitive, inspiring, and fun… even if this is your very first time.
And take your first step into a more organized, intentional life 💖
