digital planning and digital journaling are creative yet productive hobbies that changed my life. as someone with ADHD, i struggled for years to make paper planners “stick.” i loved the aesthetic of handwriting, but every time a planner expired, i felt guilty for abandoning another half-finished book. four years ago i switched to digital planners and journals on my iPad… and i’ve barely looked back.

digital planning is exactly what it sounds like: instead of a physical notebook, you use a tablet (like an iPad), an app (Goodnotes, Notability, or even Apple Notes), and a stylus (hello Apple Pencil) to write, doodle, highlight, and plan your life. digital journaling works the same way — only it’s more free-form, like a diary that never runs out of pages. small bonus: tools like the Lasso make moving plans a tap-and-drag thing, and modern apps can even search your handwriting, so “that one note from last month” is findable.

why digital works (especially if you’re neurodivergent)

for ADHD brains, digital planning feels like a soft safety net. life gets busy, routines slip, energy dips… but unlike paper, your digital planner is perpetual. there’s no wasted pages, no outdated months. you can always jump back in, copy last week’s layout, or duplicate a page you loved. it’s forgiving, searchable, and backed up — which lowers the pressure to be “perfect.”

• stay organized without the guilt of “ruining” a paper planner
• back up files to iCloud/Drive so nothing gets lost — and restore if needed
• link pages, tag entries, and even search handwriting for fast recall
• keep planners, stickers, and journals in one cozy hub

what you’ll discover

finding your planner/journal unicorn is half the fun. you’ll learn your rhythms, habits, and energy cycles. this isn’t about perfection — it’s about creating a soft structure that actually supports you and grows with you.

it doesn’t always have to be one or the other. hybrid systems can be magical.

paper = presence. brain dump, pen squeak, crinkle joy.

digital = receipts. everything is backed up, searchable, shareable, and linked.

together = soft structure. write on paper when you need to feel. open the iPad when you need to remember.

tip: snap a pic of your handwritten notes and drop it into your digital planner, or insert the image into notes and tag it so future-you can actually find it.

• Goodnotes — best for hyperlinked planners, handwriting, and sticker play. use .goodnotes bundles or PNGs; the Lasso tool is your BFF for moving plans between days.
• Apple Notes or iBooks — great for fast capture: typed lists, sketches, photos, and simple stickers. perfect when you just need to “get it down.”

Files you’ll see:
• PNG stickers: transparent, drag anywhere.
• PDF planners/pages: locked layout, quick import.
• .goodnotes bundles: open inside Goodnotes to install sheets + stickers.

Little tech nudge: if your app ever feels crashy or slow, try force-quitting, updating the app/iPadOS, and restarting. if you see a “disk/database full” message, free device storage — your planner needs breathing room.

Pro tip: keep a “Nikki Plans” folder in iCloud Drive with /Planners, /Stickers, /Scrap, /Exports so everything syncs across devices.

1. Open one page. Daily, Blank, or Grid — whatever your brain can open without resistance.
2. Drop one sticker. a date, a mood, a ribbon — one cute anchor that makes you want to come back.
3. Write one line. “If all I do is ____ it’s enough.” or “Today I need…”. done is the win.

new here? grab a free starter from #freebies and test your preferences before you buy…