Today, I want to share a surprising shift in my planning routine that even caught me off guard. Yep, I’m making a move back to paper planning! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I’ve been an advocate for digital planning since the COVID days of 2020. So why the sudden change? Let’s dive into it.
From Digital Dreams to Paper Plans
For the last four years, I was all about digital planning:
- Created digital planners
- Made tons of videos about it
- It worked great for me… for a while
During the height of the pandemic, everything went digital—kids were on Chromebooks, and my entire business and blog were online. Digital planning seemed like the perfect solution:
- Custom layouts
- Hundreds of pages without bulk
- Synced across all my devices
The Digital Dilemma
However, as time went on, I noticed some downsides:
- Endless distractions: Opening my digital planner often led to mindless scrolling on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.
- Redundancy: I was already using ClickUp and Apple Calendar for scheduling.
- Inefficiency: Quick notes became cumbersome processes—open iPad, open GoodNotes, open planner.
When out and about, I found myself relying more on my Apple Calendar for events. My digital planner wasn’t fulfilling its purpose anymore.
Why Paper Planning?
This realization led me back to paper planning, where my organizational journey began. I pulled out my trusted A5 Filofax—something you’ve probably seen in my older videos. It just made sense to revisit what originally worked for me.
You might have seen glimpses of this transition on my Instagram with my Filofax and cloth and paper subscription boxes. It’s been a gradual shift, but here’s why I love it:
- Hands-On: There’s something incredibly satisfying about writing on paper.
- Reliable: When my iPad dies, my Filofax never lets me down.
My Hybrid System
But don’t think I’ve ditched digital completely. I’m balancing both worlds:
- Paper Planner:
- Daily planning
- Weekly planning
- Brain dumps
- Digital Planner:
- Memory keeping
- Quarterly, yearly, and weekly reviews
- Long-term storage
Why It Works for Me
Paper planning keeps me grounded and productive. Every night, I jot down my plans for the next day—an easy, uncluttered way to manage my tasks. On the other hand, my digital planner:
- Backs up important information
- Acts like a digital scrapbook for cherished memories
- Avoids the need for physical markers, printed pictures, and decorations
Final Thoughts
Switching back to paper planning wasn’t a decision I anticipated, especially after being a digital planner for so long. But ultimately, this hybrid approach is perfect for me. If you’re easily distracted like I am, paper planning could be your savior.
Remember, it’s all about finding what works for you, not just following trends. If digital planning is your jam, stick with it. But if you’re looking for a change and need simplicity and focus, give paper planning a try.
Let’s learn and grow together! If you found this helpful, give it a thumbs up and subscribe for more planner content—paper, digital, or both. Until next time, happy planning!
