Pros of Paper Planners:
You can easily write down any thoughts/ideas that come to you without having to worry about battery life or device availability.
You can organize your tasks and plans more easily with paper planners since they are more tactile and visually represent the tasks and plans you have.
Visually seeing important tasks and to-dos helps with your memory since they serve as a daily visual cue. So when you write things down, you have a better chance of remembering them.
Paper planners are often more affordable than digital planners.
Cons of Paper Planners:
You can’t access your planner from any device, so it can be harder to keep track of tasks and plans when you’re on the go. You might not want to carry around a bulky planner when you're running around for the day.
Paper planners are not as secure as digital planners and can easily be lost or misplaced. I tend to keep my planners on my desk at home or in my work bag when they're not in use. Occasionally, I leave them out on my desk at work but I'm not as concerned about people seeing what I've written down. I don't typically write highly sensitive information in my planners for this reason.
It can be difficult to keep all your plans and tasks organized in a physical planner. As a result, you may have multiple planners that serve different purposes. Currently I'm using 4 planners, and while that may seem like a lot to some, this system works well for me.
Pros of Digital Planners:
Digital planners are much easier to access from any device, meaning you can always keep track of your tasks and plans no matter where you are.
Digital planners are more secure and are less likely to be lost or misplaced.
Digital planners often have more features such as reminders and alarms that can help you stay on top of your tasks and plans.
Cons of Digital Planners:
Digital planners are usually more expensive than paper planners since they require you to access them via an electronic device such as a cell phone, tablet, or computer.
They may require a subscription or be tied to a specific platform, which can be inconvenient.
Digital planners may require recharging, and if you’re not near an outlet, you won’t be able to access your planner.
There are situations where a digital planner may be less secure than a paper planner. For example, your work computers may be able to monitor your activity and what you're accessing. If you're accessing your planner on a work computer or network, it may be viewable by your employer and ultimately less secure.
5 Tips For Maximizing a Paper Planner
Prioritize: designate time in your planner to tackle the most important tasks first.
Set reminders: use your planner to set reminders for upcoming deadlines and tasks.
Utilize colors: color coding can help you easily distinguish between different tasks and priorities.
Keep it organized: make sure to keep your planner organized and updated with the latest information.
Review regularly: take a few minutes each day to review your planner and make sure you are on track with your tasks.
My 2023 Planner Stack:
Makse Life Daily Intentions Notebook/Evening Reflections + Gratitude Notebook (not shown in photo): I love these journals and use them as part of my morning and evening routine. They help me start and end my day with gratitude, focus on how I want my day to go, and reflect on how my day went.
Day Designer Mini Weekly Planner: I use this for basic project planning for the planner company. The layout in this planner is ideal for short to do lists and keeping track of smaller tasks. I can keep track of what projects I plan on working on each day and what my top 3 business priorities are for the week.
Erin Condren Life Planner Weekly Vertical: This is my primary planner and I use it for keeping track of my FT job work schedule, health appointments, fitness planning, and memory keeping.
The Content Planner: I use this for brainstorming and social media planning. I love this planner for tracking social media posts across platforms, designing a cohesive monthly theme across platforms, and tracking growth. Currently these planners aren't available for sale, and I'm not sure if they will be available again in the future.