3 easy ways to use digital planners every day

Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime - Lao Tzu

I truly believe in this saying. Planning is the bedrock for all things to happen. While life is unpredictable, and things can happen even when you plan down to the nitty gritty details, not planning makes it worse. When you don't plan, you lose focus of what you must do, and you might find yourself trapped in endless side quests (like me in Stardew Valley, ha!) So, in today's post, let me tell you 3 easy ways I use my digital planner every day, and you can try these tips out, too!

1. Prioritise Your Daily Tasks

I want to do a lot of things every day. In addition to managing my clients' projects, I want to pursue other personal and creative endeavours. How can I prioritise my tasks?

I segment my time into morning work, noon creative projects, and evening rest. Of course, it's never so neat; a client's work spills into the noon, and I have to shelf my creative pursuits. But this is a loose, abstract version of time-blocking. Yes, you can use Google Calendar, but I get stressed when I see things piled on my Google Calendar. My Google Calendar is for red-letter dates like "Time to upload my client's Tiktok video". The idea is straightforward, you can see me drawing out time blocks in my free digital planner available in the store here:

Oh by the way, grab this layout free in my online store.

2. Keep it simple, stupid (KISS)

To me, a digital planner is like a dumping journal. Instead of piling it with multiple appointments (that goes into Google Calendar for me), I use it to write the 3 main things I need to do daily. Whether it's my clients' work or my own creative pursuit, I make sure that I have to do a total of 3 CRITICAL ITEMS. This rule helps me a lot because it keeps me uber-focused, and once I am done, I do other things. So, the first thing I do daily is brain-dumping these 3 main items. As I work throughout the day, sub-tasks may pop up (For example, when I decided to paint watercolours only to realise I ran out of paper), which I dump into my digital journal. The best thing about a digital journal is that you can clean up as much as you like, especially if you use apps like GoodNotes or CollaNotes. (Note to self: I'll write a comparison between the two one day)

What's a brain dump journal?

A dumping or brain dump journal is a way to write down everything occupying your thoughts to declutter your mind and improve focus. It's a method of capturing ideas, worries, or any mental clutter on paper rather than letting it clutter your brain. This technique can help reduce stress, enhance clarity, and even boost creativity by creating space for new thoughts. (PS: I didn't write this. Google AI did. I wanted a short explanation without killing my brain cells.)

But anyway, if you want the psych of brain dumpling, I think Psych Central does a great job.

3. Reflect and Adjust

A digital planner also serves as a tool for reflection. At the end of each day, you can take a moment to review what you accomplished and where improvements can be made. Many digital planners have a built-in journaling feature that allows users to note their achievements and setbacks. This habit can nurture a culture of continuous improvement, enabling you to fine-tune your daily practices. You can adapt your planning strategies and enhance productivity by reflecting on your progress. If you download my free copy of a digital planner, you'll see that I've left a big box uncluttered. I think some days are more for doodling and writing reflections. Use it however you like it!

In conclusion, digital planners offer simplified methods for streamlining daily activities. You can unlock a more organised lifestyle by prioritizing tasks, keeping things simple (never stressing about how you use your digital planner!), and reflecting on your progress. Investing time in digital planning will enhance productivity and lead to more significant personal satisfaction from achieving goals efficiently.

And that, my friend, is the key to teaching a (wo)man to fish wisely for herself.