Starting something new can feel overwhelming, but digital planning is one of those things that clicks surprisingly quickly. Within your first week, you will wonder how you ever managed without it. Whether you are drawn to the creativity of decorating your planner with stickers, the satisfying structure of a well-organised week, or simply the joy of keeping everything in one beautiful place — this guide will get you there. Let us start from the very beginning.
What Makes a Digital Planner Beginner-Friendly?
Not all digital planners are created equal, especially for those just starting out. A beginner-friendly planner has a few key characteristics:
- Hyperlinked navigation: Clickable tabs and buttons that let you jump between sections instantly — no scrolling through hundreds of pages.
- Clear, intuitive layout: Sections that are easy to understand at a glance. You should not need a manual to figure out where to write your tasks.
- Undated or flexible format: Undated planners let you start any day of the year without feeling behind. No wasted pages, no pressure.
- Variety of layouts: Daily, weekly, and monthly views that work together rather than in isolation.
- Visual warmth: A design that you genuinely enjoy looking at — because you will be opening this planner every single day.
The best beginner planner is one that lowers the barrier to entry as much as possible, so your focus stays on building the habit rather than figuring out the tool.
The Best App for Beginners: GoodNotes vs Notability
You will need a PDF annotation app to use your digital planner. The two most popular choices are GoodNotes and Notability, and both are available on iPad and iPhone.
GoodNotes is the go-to recommendation for beginners and experienced planners alike. It has:
- A library interface that organises your notebooks like a digital shelf
- Smooth, natural-feeling handwriting with excellent palm rejection
- Robust hyperlink support — essential for navigating tabbed planners
- A lasso tool for moving and resizing stickers and images
- Cross-device sync via iCloud and auto-backup to Google Drive or Dropbox
Notability is also excellent and has a more streamlined interface. It shines for note-taking alongside audio recording. However, GoodNotes is the stronger choice specifically for digital planning due to its organisational tools and sticker workflow.
Our recommendation for beginners: GoodNotes. It has the largest community, the most tutorials, and the most planner-focused features.
What to Look for When Buying Your First Digital Planner
Shopping for your first digital planner can feel a little daunting with so many options available. Here is what to look for:
- Hyperlinked tabs: This is non-negotiable. Without clickable tabs, navigating a digital planner is tedious. Always check that the planner description confirms hyperlinks are included.
- Dated vs undated: Dated planners have specific months and dates pre-filled — great if you are starting at the beginning of a year or month. Undated planners are more flexible and are usually a better first purchase.
- Page count: More pages usually means more sections — goal trackers, habit logs, note pages. Beginners often benefit from a comprehensive planner so they can explore what works for them.
- Sticker compatibility: Check whether the shop also sells matching sticker packs, which makes decorating your planner easy from the start.
- Support and tutorials: Some creators include setup guides or video tutorials. As a beginner, this can make a real difference to your first experience.
Browse the Milamalu shop for a curated collection of beginner-friendly digital planners designed with warmth, clarity, and everyday usability in mind — each one ready to import and start using today.
Setting Up in Under 10 Minutes
Once you have your planner and GoodNotes installed, getting started takes less time than you might think:
- Download your planner PDF from your purchase email or download page.
- Save it to iCloud Drive or your preferred cloud storage.
- Open GoodNotes and tap the + button, then select Import.
- Navigate to your PDF in iCloud Drive and tap to import it.
- Tap any tab in the planner to confirm the hyperlinks work.
- Enable Auto-Backup in GoodNotes Settings for peace of mind.
That is genuinely all it takes. Your planner is now ready to use. Spend a few minutes exploring the different sections before you commit to using any of them — getting familiar with the layout first makes daily use much smoother.
5 Tips for Building a Daily Planning Habit
Having a great planner is only the beginning. The magic happens when using it becomes a natural, enjoyable part of your daily routine.
- Anchor it to an existing habit. Open your planner immediately after your morning coffee, before you check your emails, or as part of your evening wind-down. Attaching it to something you already do consistently makes it easier to remember.
- Keep it realistic. Do not try to fill every section on day one. Start with just the daily task list. Add weekly reviews in your second week. Gradually expand as the habit solidifies.
- Make it visually enjoyable. Add a sticker or two. Use a colour you love for your pen. When your planner feels like a joy to open, you will open it more often.
- Review the day before bed. A two-minute review each evening — what got done, what carries forward — makes your mornings more intentional and your days more productive.
- Give yourself grace. Missing a day does not mean failing. Digital planners are forgiving — undated pages are always waiting for you, no guilt attached. Simply pick up where you left off.
Common Beginner Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)
Learning from the experience of thousands of digital planners before you can save a lot of early frustration:
- Buying too many planners at once. It is tempting to snap up multiple designs, but start with one and use it fully before adding another. Too much choice creates paralysis.
- Making it too perfect before using it. Decorating before planning is fun, but it can become procrastination. Write your first task list before you add your first sticker — then decorate as a reward.
- Forgetting to back up. Set up GoodNotes Auto-Backup on day one. You never want to lose weeks of planning because of a device issue.
- Using writing mode instead of reading mode when tapping links. In GoodNotes, switch to the hand/pointer tool (reading mode) to activate hyperlinks. Many beginners stay in writing mode and wonder why tapping tabs is not working.
- Setting unrealistic planning goals. Planning for 30 tasks when you can realistically do 5 leads to a demoralising list at the end of the day. Start with your top 3 tasks and let everything else be a bonus.
FAQ
Do I need an Apple Pencil to use a digital planner?
No — you can navigate and even type into your planner using just your finger. However, an Apple Pencil makes the handwriting experience far more natural and enjoyable. If budget is a concern, start with finger-only use and invest in a stylus when you are sure digital planning is right for you.
Can I try a digital planner before committing to buying one?
Many shops offer free sample planners or free sticker packs that let you get a feel for the format before purchasing a full planner. This is a great way to test whether you prefer the layout style, link navigation, and aesthetic before investing.
What if I make a mistake in my planner?
One of the greatest joys of digital planning: mistakes disappear instantly. Use the eraser tool in GoodNotes or Notability to remove any mark, or simply undo with a two-finger tap. Nothing is ever permanent, which makes your planner a genuinely stress-free space to think and plan.