Despite the rise of organization, schedule and calendar apps, sales of printed appointment books and planners grew to $342.7 million in recent years. In a time when digital devices can do mostly anything, phones and tablets may not be the best planning tools. Here are ten reasons fitting your schedule neatly into a paper planner may be better than relying on tech.
Speed
It’s faster and easier to open a planner to today’s date than it is to take out a device, enter a passcode, find the app, launch, etc. Paper planners are designed to do one thing – organize your schedule – and they do that well!
#GWYWF-LZGVR Classic Weekly Pocket Planner – A great portable calendar that fits easily into a pocket or purse. Includes 64 sheets with the year and foil stamp imprint on the front cover, standard.
One-Stop-Shop
If you’re using your phone, the calendar app won’t do everything. There might be a separate app for notes, to-do lists and schedules and they don’t always integrate. With a paper planner everything is collected in one place eliminating the need for switching from app to app.
Customization
The flexibility of a paper planner allows for customization that is personal and creates a planning system that is adapted to work best for the individual. Apps are limited to the installed program features and are most likely not created by planning professionals.
#MPZYF-MDQWH Adult Coloring Book Planner, Academic – Take a break and relax with these intricate and delightful designs. A useful item for keeping your schedule organized and reducing stress. Includes a 14-month July 2018 – August 2019 academic calendar.
Memory
Writing things down commits them to memory and helps recall. The ability to mentally envision your schedule and tasks will help keep them top-of-mind.
The Big Picture
Many digital planners require swiping, zooming and scrolling to get the best view and full details on appointments or lists. Open a paper planner and there is a complete view of the week or month with tasks, priorities and schedules.
#FPZAF-MDQVN Monthly Planner – This calendar grid planner has ample space for appointments and task lists making it a great choice for home, school or the office. Available in modern colors with the year and foil stamp imprint on the front cover, standard.
Less Distractions
Devices are full of distractions from social media to text and emails. Checking in with a planning app to see what’s next on the to-do list can end in distraction from what needs to be done. A paper planner doesn’t disrupt your focus with hilarious memes or news alerts.
Reliability
With a paper planner you don’t have to worry about a dead battery, apps that crash or need updated or low service signal. There is also no chance of a paper planner malfunctioning and deleting schedules and to-do lists. A paper planner is always available.
#MWAUG-LZHEE Colorful Impressions Monthly Pocket Planner – Available with 8 full-color cover design options and a monthly format that allows for long-term planning at a glance.
Planning Pretty
The practice of decorating paper planners has exploded in recent years, just search #planneraddict on Instagram for the beautiful proof. Decorating paper planners with unique style makes getting organized more fun. Just start with a basic planner, your favorite pens and a little creativity.
Achieving Goals
Choosing a paper planner with space for tracking goals keeps them visible and allows for easier prioritization of tasks. Digital options don’t usually allow enough room on the screen for tasks, priorities and goals – without swiping.
#EWYWJ-LZGVV Classic Weekly Planner – A functional planner with ruled daily entries and a two-page per week format. Also includes weights and measures, postal information and more at an affordable price point.
Healthy Balance
Paper planners are one way to go back to basics and help create balance in a digitally-saturated world. A digital calendar is just one more daily tool that requires more screen time, which can be bad for the brain.
