Planners: Digital vs. Paper

[AnnPerkins]

I start my nursing program this fall and I'm wondering which planner people prefer when it comes to keeping assignments, tests, etc., together. I'm a tech girl who uses Google calendar and iCal for my personal life, but I was wondering if a tangible paper planner (like an Erin Condren or whatever) would be better for classes. Which kind of planner do you like to use?

[alexis_xoxo]

If you're not comfortable with technology, then I wouldn't suggest starting now with your important assignments, quizzes, etc. Personally, I love a paper planner. I like not only being able to write it down, but there's just something about having a physical copy as opposed to a digital copy that I love. It can't get accidentally deleted or something. Lol. And I just use the one my school provides every semester and it gets the job done. It has both a weekly and monthly view but I found myself primarily using the monthly view pretty early on in the semester because we mainly had exams and only few assignments. I wanted an Erin Condren calendar as well but its just so expensive.

[Ohm108, MSN, NP, CNM]

There are pros for both paper and digital so I use both. I keep my appointments on Google Calendar but majority of the time I right down the appointment first just because I usually get asked to meet up or do something when I am talking to someone on the phone and making a date right there (shocking, I know, that I actually use my phone to talk to someone) or they text me and I need to transcribe it into my calendar so I remember and get an alarm when the appointment comes up.

[xxstarrynitesxx]

There is a YouTuber Ashley Adkins, RN who said she used an app called Planner Plus (or +) on her iPad, something she always had on her. She had used a physical planner up until a certain point but made the switch to a digital planner because she kept having dates for things like clinicals get moved around.

I always fancied myself a person who loved having a physical planner. There is just something about the feel of turning the pages and more importantly the sense of accomplishment I get from crossing things off. I would put all the important dates (assignment due dates, test dates, open labs, etc.) down for every class the moment I got my syllabus. This allowed me to pinpoint any days or weeks where I would have multiple tests or assignments due. I planned accordingly while the rest of the class was always surprised. However, I found myself on more than one occasion having test dates or assignments moved to another date. I basically gave up on a planner about January this year because I actually just stopped needing one. I had one class where we did the homework in the class together for the following week. I did not have set due dates for my second class. My third class this semester had a page of all dates online that I just printed off and crossed off as we went. If anything came up, I would write it down on some paper I kept in the front of my binder and tended to do whatever I wrote down that same day.

I think I will start looking more into the Planner Plus App this summer. I have never tried a digital planner myself, but I am looking forward to using one. As I won't be applying for my nursing program until next spring (one little prerequisite left being taken in the fall), I figured I would have plenty of time to see how the app works for me. I will probably still do a physical weekly or daily list to get my crossing things off habit in, but I need to make the leap. If you have something that works, stick to it!

[saltyninja]

I use a combination of electronic and paper to organize my life.

I've tried various electronic options and always end up reverting back to my paper planner for all things school and work related. There is something cathartic about putting pen to paper. I will admit, however, that I am one of *those* girls who really goes all out with my planner. I have copious amounts of highlighters, glitter tapes, markers, stickers, stamps, and about 72 different Staedtler & Papermate pens devoted to keeping it well organized and perfectly color coordinated. If it weren't for my sick obsession with pulling all my supplies out once a month and going to town on next month's pages, I would love to have the ease of using an electronic version for this aspect.

On the other hand, I use an app called Cozi to keep up with my boyfriend's police schedule and create our shopping lists and meal plans. It updates in real-time for each device so if I pick up a few things on the shopping list it will mark it off on his end, vice versa.

[Jesikaha]

I do both. I prefer to put pencil to paper. But I always have my phone on me and I like to have everything with me all the time so I make use of my google calendar. I love Plum Paper planners (tried EC), I have the ME Planner. I leave most of boxes blank and write in my class names. The other boxes I have printed are Home, Boys (my kids), Dinner (I write my weekly menu in there), and Work. It gives me a designated space to separate, and easily follow, each part of my life.