There is something truly special about opening a beautiful digital planner on your iPad for the very first time.
The crisp, vibrant display. The smooth glide of your Apple Pencil across the screen. The satisfying feeling of writing your first goal, scheduling your first week, and seeing your life organized in one beautiful, always-accessible place.
Digital planning on iPad has taken the world by storm — and for incredibly good reason. Millions of students, professionals, entrepreneurs, parents, and wellness enthusiasts have made the switch to iPad digital planning and transformed the way they organize their time, achieve their goals, and live their lives.
But when you are picking up your iPad for the first time and stepping into the world of digital planning, knowing exactly where to start is the hardest part.
That is exactly what this guide is here to solve.
By the time you finish reading, you will know everything you need to confidently use a digital planner on your iPad — from the very first setup steps all the way through to building a powerful, consistent daily planning routine that sticks.
Let's get started.
Why iPad Is the Best Device for Digital Planning
Before we dive into the how-to steps, let's talk about why the iPad has become the undisputed king of digital planning devices — and why millions of planners around the world choose it above all other options.
The Perfect Screen Size
The iPad's screen size — particularly the standard iPad and iPad Air models — strikes the perfect balance between being large enough to display a full planner page beautifully and compact enough to carry comfortably in a bag. You can see your entire daily or weekly planner layout at a glance without needing to scroll, zoom, or squint.
The Apple Pencil Experience
The Apple Pencil is widely considered the best stylus available for any tablet device. Its pressure sensitivity, tilt detection, and incredibly low latency make writing on an iPad feel remarkably close to writing with a real pen on real paper. When paired with a matte screen protector, the experience is genuinely outstanding.
Access to the Best Planning Apps
The iPad has access to the best digital planning apps in the world — GoodNotes, Notability, and Noteshelf — which are either iPad exclusive or significantly better on iPad than on any other platform. These apps are specifically designed to make your digital planning experience as smooth, beautiful, and functional as possible.
iCloud Sync Across All Your Apple Devices
Everything you plan on your iPad automatically syncs to your iPhone and Mac through iCloud — meaning your planner is always up to date on every device you own. Review your daily plan on your iPhone on the way to work, add notes on your Mac at your desk, and do your deep planning sessions on your iPad at home.
Endless Aesthetic Possibilities
The iPad's high resolution Retina display makes every beautifully designed digital planner PDF look absolutely stunning — with vivid colors, crisp text, and gorgeous details that simply cannot be replicated on any other device.
What You Need to Get Started
Here is everything you need to use a digital planner on your iPad for the first time:
1. An iPad
Any iPad model that supports the Apple Pencil will work beautifully for digital planning. Here are the most popular options:
- iPad (10th Generation) — the best value entry level option, great for beginners
- iPad Air — excellent performance and a stunning Liquid Retina display
- iPad Pro — the premium choice with the most powerful performance and display
- iPad Mini — compact and ultra portable, perfect for on the go planning
If you already own an iPad, you are ready to go. Any iPad released in the last several years is more than capable of delivering an outstanding digital planning experience.
2. An Apple Pencil
The Apple Pencil is your digital pen — the tool you use to write, draw, highlight, and annotate in your digital planner. Here are the current Apple Pencil options and which iPads they are compatible with:
- Apple Pencil 2nd Generation — works with iPad Air (4th gen and later) and iPad Pro (3rd gen and later). Magnetic charging, double-tap gesture support, pressure sensitivity
- Apple Pencil 1st Generation — works with iPad (6th through 9th generation) and iPad Mini (5th generation). Lightning connector charging
- Apple Pencil USB-C — works with iPad (10th generation) and newer USB-C models. More affordable option
- Apple Pencil Pro — works with iPad Air (M2) and iPad Pro (M4). Most advanced option with squeeze gesture and barrel roll support
Check your iPad model in Settings → General → About to confirm which Apple Pencil is compatible with your specific device.
3. A Matte Screen Protector (Highly Recommended)
While not strictly essential, a matte screen protector is one of the single best investments you can make for your iPad digital planning setup. Matte screen protectors give your iPad's glass screen a paper-like texture that makes writing with your Apple Pencil feel remarkably close to writing on real paper — reducing the slippery, glassy feel that some new digital planners find uncomfortable.
Popular matte screen protector options include:
- Paperlike — the original and most popular matte screen protector for iPad
- Bellemond — a highly rated alternative at a more affordable price point
- Zugu — another well regarded option with excellent paper-like texture
4. A PDF Annotation App
To write on your digital planner PDF, you need a PDF annotation app installed on your iPad. Here are the best options:
- GoodNotes — the most popular digital planning app for iPad, outstanding for beginners
- Notability — powerful, clean, and feature-rich with audio recording capability
- Noteshelf — beautiful handwriting experience, works on both iPad and Android
- XODO — completely free, works on all platforms
For most iPad beginners, we recommend starting with GoodNotes — it is the most intuitive, most beginner-friendly, and most widely used digital planning app in the world.
5. A Digital Planner PDF
This is where Paperless Essentials comes in. Browse our collection of beautifully designed digital planner PDF templates — daily planners, weekly planners, monthly planners, work planners, wellness planners, and complete bundle sets — all available as instant downloads, ready to use on your iPad today.
Step 1 — Set Up Your Apple Pencil
Before you start planning, let's make sure your Apple Pencil is properly set up and ready to write.
Pairing Your Apple Pencil 2nd Generation:
Step 1 — Make sure your iPad is unlocked and the screen is on Step 2 — Attach your Apple Pencil 2nd Generation magnetically to the flat side of your iPad Pro or iPad Air — it snaps on automatically Step 3 — A pairing prompt will appear on your iPad screen — tap Pair Step 4 — Your Apple Pencil is now paired and will begin charging magnetically at the same time Step 5 — You can check the battery level of your Apple Pencil in your iPad's Battery widget or in the Today View
Pairing Your Apple Pencil 1st Generation:
Step 1 — Remove the cap from the lightning end of your Apple Pencil Step 2 — Plug the Apple Pencil directly into your iPad's Lightning port Step 3 — A pairing prompt will appear on your screen — tap Pair Step 4 — Once paired, remove the pencil from the port and replace the cap Step 5 — Your Apple Pencil is now paired and ready to use
Pairing Your Apple Pencil USB-C:
Step 1 — Use the USB-C to USB-C adapter included with the pencil Step 2 — Connect the Apple Pencil to your iPad's USB-C port to pair and charge Step 3 — Tap Pair when the prompt appears on screen Step 4 — Once paired, disconnect and your pencil is ready to use
Apple Pencil Settings to Customize:
Go to Settings → Apple Pencil on your iPad to customize these important settings:
- Double-Tap — set what happens when you double-tap the flat side of a 2nd generation Apple Pencil. We recommend setting this to Switch Between Current Tool and Eraser for the most convenient planning experience
- Pencil vs Finger — in most planning apps, you can set your finger to scroll and pan while your Apple Pencil writes. This prevents accidental marks when you rest your hand on the screen
- Only Draw with Apple Pencil — enable this setting in GoodNotes and Notability to ensure only your Apple Pencil creates marks, not your fingers
Step 2 — Download and Set Up Your Planning App
Now that your Apple Pencil is ready, let's get your digital planning app set up on your iPad.
Downloading GoodNotes (Recommended for Beginners):
Step 1 — Open the App Store on your iPad Step 2 — Tap the Search tab at the bottom of the screen Step 3 — Type GoodNotes in the search bar and tap Search Step 4 — Tap on the GoodNotes app in the search results Step 5 — Tap Get to download and install GoodNotes — it is free to download Step 6 — Once installed, tap Open to launch GoodNotes for the first time Step 7 — Follow the brief onboarding tutorial that GoodNotes presents to new users — this covers the basic interface and navigation Step 8 — Your GoodNotes app is ready to use
Setting Up GoodNotes for the Best Planning Experience:
Once GoodNotes is open, take a few minutes to customize these settings for the optimal digital planning experience:
Enable iCloud Backup: Go to GoodNotes Settings → iCloud and make sure iCloud sync is turned on. This backs up all your planning pages automatically and syncs them to your other Apple devices.
Set Your Default Pen: Go to GoodNotes Settings → Default Tool and set your preferred default writing tool and color. We recommend the Ball Pen at medium thickness as a great all-purpose starting tool.
Enable Only Draw with Pencil: In GoodNotes Settings, find the option to enable Apple Pencil only writing — this ensures your palm resting on the screen does not accidentally create unwanted marks on your planner pages.
Step 3 — Download Your Digital Planner from Paperless Essentials
Now that your app is set up and ready, it is time to choose and download your digital planner PDF from Paperless Essentials.
How to Choose Your First Digital Planner:
Think about how you like to plan:
- Do you prefer planning one day at a time? → Choose a Daily Planner
- Do you like seeing your full week at a glance? → Choose a Weekly Planner
- Are you a big picture monthly thinker? → Choose a Monthly Planner
- Want all three? → Choose a Daily and Weekly Bundle or a comprehensive Life Planner
Think about what you want to track:
- Work schedule and meetings → Work Planner
- Health and wellness habits → Wellness Planner with Habit Tracker
- Personal and financial goals → Monthly Life Planner
- Everything together → Complete Planner Bundle
Think about the aesthetic you love:
- Clean and minimal → Minimalist Neutral Planner
- Feminine and elegant → Pink Bow Planner
- Cute and playful → Kawaii Planner
- Cozy and warm → Teddy Bear Planner
- Bold and modern → Monthly Work Planner
Browse the full Paperless Essentials collection, find the planner that makes you genuinely excited to plan every day, and complete your purchase. Your PDF will be available for instant download immediately after checkout.
Downloading Your Planner on iPad:
Step 1 — Complete your purchase on the Paperless Essentials website on your iPad's Safari browser Step 2 — Tap the download link in your purchase confirmation Step 3 — Your PDF will download and save to your iPad's Files app → Downloads folder Step 4 — You are now ready to import it into GoodNotes
Step 4 — Import Your Digital Planner into GoodNotes
With your planner PDF downloaded, it is time to import it into GoodNotes and bring it to life.
Quick Import Steps:
Step 1 — Open GoodNotes on your iPad Step 2 — Tap the + button on the main library screen Step 3 — Select Import from the menu Step 4 — Navigate to Files → Downloads and find your Paperless Essentials planner PDF Step 5 — Tap the PDF file to select it Step 6 — Choose New Document to import it as a standalone planner document Step 7 — Select or create a folder to save your planner — we recommend a folder called My Planners Step 8 — Your planner is now imported and ready to open
For a detailed walkthrough of every import method — including importing from Google Drive, iCloud, email, and Safari — read our complete guide: How to Import a PDF Planner into GoodNotes Step by Step.
Step 5 — Learn the Basic GoodNotes Tools
Now that your planner is open in GoodNotes, take five minutes to familiarize yourself with the essential tools you will use every time you plan.
The GoodNotes Toolbar
At the top of your GoodNotes screen, you will find the main toolbar with all your writing and editing tools:
The Pen Tool 🖊️ Tap the pen icon to activate the writing tool. This is what you will use to write in your digital planner with your Apple Pencil. Tap the pen icon again to adjust the pen type, color, and thickness.
The Eraser Tool 🧹 Tap the eraser icon to switch to the eraser. Use it to erase mistakes from your planner pages. Tap and hold the eraser icon to choose between stroke eraser and pixel eraser modes.
The Lasso Tool 🔄 Tap the lasso icon to activate the selection tool. Draw a loop around any writing or content on your planner page to select it — then move, resize, copy, or delete the selected content.
The Highlighter Tool 🎨 Tap the highlighter icon to switch to the semi-transparent highlighter. Use it to highlight important tasks, dates, or sections in your planner in any color you choose.
The Typing Tool ⌨️ Tap the text icon to switch to the typing tool. This lets you type text into your planner using the iPad keyboard — useful for sections where you prefer typed text over handwriting.
The Undo Button ↩️ Tap the undo arrow in the top left corner of the screen — or double-tap with two fingers anywhere on the screen — to instantly undo your last stroke or action.
The Page Thumbnail Panel 📄 Tap the small page preview panel on the left side of the screen to open the full page overview, where you can navigate between pages, reorder them, and duplicate blank template pages.
Step 6 — Write in Your Digital Planner for the First Time
Everything is set up and ready. Now it is time for the most exciting moment — writing in your digital planner for the very first time.
Your First Digital Planning Session:
Step 1 — Open Your Planner Tap on your imported Paperless Essentials planner in GoodNotes to open it. Take a moment to appreciate how beautiful it looks on your iPad's Retina display.
Step 2 — Select Your Pen Tool Tap the pen icon in the GoodNotes toolbar to make sure your pen tool is active. Choose a color that feels right for your first planning session — many planners love starting with a classic black or dark brown for a clean, elegant look.
Step 3 — Pick Up Your Apple Pencil Hold your Apple Pencil the same way you would hold a regular pen or pencil. Rest the side of your hand on the screen naturally — your iPad and GoodNotes will recognize the Apple Pencil and ignore your palm, so there is no need to keep your hand lifted off the screen.
Step 4 — Write Your First Entry Start simple. Write today's date in the date field. Write one goal in the goals section. Add one task to your to-do list. Take a deep breath and enjoy the experience of your Apple Pencil gliding across your planner page.
Step 5 — Explore and Enjoy Take your time getting comfortable with the writing experience. Try different pen colors for different sections. Try the eraser if you make a mistake. Zoom in on a section for more precise writing. There is no rush and no pressure — this is your planner and your planning journey.
Step 7 — Build Your Daily Digital Planning Routine
The true power of digital planning comes not from a single session but from building a consistent daily routine around your planner. Here is how to build a digital planning habit that genuinely transforms your life:
The Morning Planning Routine
Starting your day with five to ten minutes of intentional planning sets a clear, focused tone for everything that follows. Here is a simple morning planning routine to follow every day:
6:00 — 6:10 AM → Open your daily planner The first thing you do when you wake up — before checking social media, before emails, before anything else — is open your Paperless Essentials daily planner in GoodNotes and spend ten focused minutes planning your day.
Write today's date Fill in the date field at the top of your daily planner page. This simple act of dating your page anchors you in the present moment and signals to your brain that planning time has begun.
Set your daily goal Write one clear, specific goal that you want to accomplish today. Not a list of ten things — just one main goal that will make today feel successful if you achieve it. This becomes your north star for the entire day.
Fill in your schedule Look at your calendar and fill in any appointments, meetings, calls, or fixed commitments in your hourly schedule section. This gives you a realistic picture of how your day is actually structured.
Write your to-do list Add the tasks you need to complete today to your to-do list section. Keep it realistic — three to five meaningful tasks is far better than an overwhelming list of twenty items that you will never finish.
Check your top priorities If your planner has a top priorities section, use it to identify the two or three tasks that absolutely must happen today above everything else.
The Evening Review Routine
Ending your day with a brief planning review closes the loop on your day and sets you up perfectly for tomorrow. Spend five minutes each evening on this simple routine:
Review your to-do list Look at what you accomplished today. Check off completed tasks with a satisfying tick mark. Acknowledge your wins — no matter how small.
Carry forward incomplete tasks For any tasks that did not get completed today, decide whether to carry them forward to tomorrow, reschedule them for another day, or remove them entirely if they are no longer relevant.
Set up tomorrow's planner page Take two minutes to duplicate a fresh daily planner page for tomorrow and fill in any known appointments or tasks. This means that when you wake up tomorrow morning, your planner is already partially set up and ready to go.
The Weekly Planning Session
Once a week — most digital planners do this on Sunday evening or Monday morning — spend fifteen to twenty minutes on a full weekly planning session:
Open your weekly planner page Duplicate a fresh weekly planner template and fill in the week dates or week number.
Review last week Briefly look back at your previous week's planner. What did you accomplish? What carried over? What do you want to do differently this week?
Plan your week ahead Fill in all known appointments, deadlines, and commitments for the coming week across your weekly schedule. Identify your top priorities for the week — the three to five things that will make this week a success.
Set your weekly goal If your planner has a weekly goal or main focus section, write one powerful, specific goal for the week ahead.
The Monthly Planning Session
At the start of each new month, spend twenty to thirty minutes on a full monthly planning session:
Open your monthly planner page Duplicate a fresh monthly planner template and fill in the month name.
Add all important dates Fill in birthdays, anniversaries, appointments, deadlines, events, and any other important dates for the month ahead.
Set your monthly goals Use your monthly goals sections to set meaningful personal, professional, financial, and wellness goals for the month. Keep each goal specific, measurable, and genuinely important to you.
Review last month Before you start planning the new month, take a few minutes to look back at last month's planner. Celebrate what you accomplished and carry forward anything that needs to continue into the new month.
Step 8 — Personalize and Make Your Planning Setup Uniquely Yours
One of the greatest joys of iPad digital planning is how deeply personal and customizable the experience can be. Here are some wonderful ways to make your digital planning setup feel uniquely yours:
Create a Color Coding System
Choose specific colors for different areas of your life and use them consistently across all your planning pages. For example:
- 🔵 Blue — work tasks and professional commitments
- 🟢 Green — personal goals and self improvement
- 🩷 Pink — wellness, health, and self care
- 🟡 Yellow — important reminders and deadlines
- 🟣 Purple — creative projects and personal passions
A consistent color coding system makes your planner easier to read at a glance and adds beautiful visual organization to your planning pages.
Add Digital Stickers
Digital stickers are decorative elements that you can add to your planner pages to make them more beautiful, expressive, and personal. Search for free digital sticker packs in the digital planning community, or browse premium sticker sets from digital design shops to find stickers that match your aesthetic perfectly.
Experiment with Different Writing Styles
Try different pen types, sizes, and colors to find the writing style that feels most natural and satisfying to you. Some planners love neat, precise printing. Others prefer flowing cursive. Some use a mix of both depending on the section. There is no right or wrong — just what feels right for you.
Create a Cover Page
Many digital planners love creating a beautiful personalized cover page for their planner notebook in GoodNotes. Use the drawing tools, text tools, and stickers to design a cover that reflects your personality and makes you smile every time you open your planner.
Common Mistakes First-Time iPad Digital Planners Make
Here are the most common mistakes beginners make when using a digital planner on iPad for the first time — and how to avoid them:
Mistake 1 — Trying to Make Every Page Instagram Perfect
The most beautifully aesthetic planner pages you see on Instagram and Pinterest represent hours of decorating and styling. Your planner does not need to look like that to be effective. Focus on using your planner consistently and functionally first. The aesthetics will naturally improve over time as you get more comfortable with the tools.
Mistake 2 — Over-Scheduling Every Hour
When you first discover the hourly schedule sections of a digital planner, it is tempting to fill in every single hour of your day. This leads to an unrealistic, overwhelming schedule that creates stress rather than relieving it. Leave buffer time between tasks and appointments — life never goes exactly to plan.
Mistake 3 — Not Duplicating Template Pages
Many beginners write all over their original blank template page and then have no clean template to duplicate for future sessions. Always keep your first blank template page pristine and never write on it. Always duplicate first, then write on the copy.
Mistake 4 — Giving Up After the First Week
Building any new habit takes time. If your first week of digital planning feels awkward or inconsistent, that is completely normal. Most people find that it takes two to three weeks before digital planning starts to feel truly natural and automatic. Stick with it — the payoff is absolutely worth it.
Mistake 5 — Not Backing Up Your Planner
Always make sure iCloud backup is enabled in GoodNotes. Losing months of carefully written planning pages because you forgot to enable backup is an entirely avoidable heartbreak.
Mistake 6 — Choosing the Wrong Planner for Your Style
If you find yourself not using your planner consistently, it might simply be because it does not match your planning style or aesthetic preferences. Do not be afraid to try a different layout or design from the Paperless Essentials collection until you find the one that you genuinely love opening every single day.
iPad Digital Planning Tips for Beginners
Here are our top expert tips to help you get the absolute most out of your very first iPad digital planning experience:
Tip 1 — Use Split Screen for Reference
iPad's split screen feature lets you have GoodNotes open on one half of your screen and your Calendar, Reminders, or email app open on the other half simultaneously. This makes it incredibly easy to transfer appointments and tasks from your digital calendar into your digital planner without switching back and forth between apps.
To use split screen: open GoodNotes, then swipe up from the bottom of the screen to bring up the Dock, and drag your second app to the side of the screen.
Tip 2 — Use the Today Widget for Quick Access
Add a GoodNotes widget to your iPad's Today View or home screen for one-tap access to your most recently used planner. This makes opening your daily planner as quick and frictionless as possible — removing any barrier between you and your planning session.
Tip 3 — Set a Daily Planning Reminder
Go to your iPad's Clock app or Reminders app and set a daily recurring reminder for your planning time — whether that is first thing in the morning or last thing at night. A gentle notification reminder helps you build the habit of opening your planner consistently until it becomes completely automatic.
Tip 4 — Try the Zoom Writing Mode in GoodNotes
GoodNotes has a zoom writing window feature that lets you write in a magnified box at the bottom of the screen while your writing automatically appears at the correct size in your planner layout above. This is incredibly useful for planner sections with small writing spaces — especially helpful when you are first getting comfortable writing on a screen.
Tip 5 — Keep Your GoodNotes Library Organized
Create a clear folder structure in GoodNotes from the very beginning — separate folders for your daily, weekly, and monthly planners, and a clearly labeled archive folder for completed planning periods. A tidy digital workspace makes your planning sessions calmer, more focused, and more enjoyable.
Tip 6 — Explore the Paperless Essentials Full Collection
As your digital planning skills grow and your routine develops, you will likely find yourself wanting to add more planner types to your collection. Browse the full Paperless Essentials range to discover daily planners, weekly planners, monthly planners, work planners, wellness planners, and complete bundle sets — each beautifully designed and instantly downloadable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Using a Digital Planner on iPad
Q: Which iPad is best for digital planning as a beginner? Any current iPad model works beautifully for digital planning. For beginners on a budget, the standard iPad 10th Generation with an Apple Pencil USB-C offers an outstanding entry level digital planning experience at the most accessible price point. If your budget allows, the iPad Air delivers a significant upgrade in display quality and performance.
Q: Do I need the most expensive Apple Pencil? No. The Apple Pencil USB-C and Apple Pencil 1st Generation both offer excellent writing experiences for digital planning at more affordable price points than the 2nd Generation or Pro models. Any Apple Pencil will transform your digital planning experience significantly compared to writing with your finger.
Q: How long does it take to get comfortable using a digital planner on iPad? Most beginners feel comfortable with the basic tools within the first day or two. Building a consistent daily planning routine typically takes two to four weeks. By the end of your first month of digital planning on iPad, most people find the experience feels completely natural and deeply satisfying.
Q: Can I use my digital planner on both my iPad and my iPhone? Yes. Because GoodNotes and Notability sync through iCloud, your digital planner is automatically available on both your iPad and your iPhone. The iPad is ideal for your main planning sessions, and your iPhone is perfect for quick to-do list checks and on-the-go task additions throughout the day.
Q: What if I do not like the first digital planner I try? That is completely okay and very common. Finding your perfect planner style is part of the digital planning journey. Browse the Paperless Essentials collection and try a different layout or aesthetic design. Different planners suit different personalities and planning styles — keep exploring until you find the one that feels perfectly right for you.
Q: Can I use a digital planner without an Apple Pencil? Technically yes — you can type into most digital planner sections using the iPad keyboard, or use your finger for basic annotations. However, for the full, authentic, and most enjoyable digital planning experience, an Apple Pencil is strongly recommended. The handwriting experience it delivers is what makes digital planning on iPad truly special.
Q: How do I make sure I do not lose my planning pages? Enable iCloud sync in your GoodNotes or Notability settings immediately after downloading the app. This automatically backs up every planning page you create to iCloud — meaning your planner is always safely stored and recoverable from any device, even if your iPad is lost, damaged, or replaced.
Q: Are Paperless Essentials planners compatible with all iPad models? Yes. All Paperless Essentials digital planner PDF templates are compatible with every iPad model and every major PDF annotation app — including GoodNotes, Notability, Noteshelf, XODO, Samsung Notes, and Kindle Scribe. Every planner includes an iPad-optimized PDF size designed specifically for the best possible display on your iPad screen.
Your iPad Digital Planning Journey Starts Right Now
You now have everything you need to use a digital planner on your iPad for the very first time — and to build a planning practice that genuinely transforms the way you organize your time, achieve your goals, and live your life.
Let's recap everything you have learned:
✅ Why iPad is the best device for digital planning
✅ What you need to get started — iPad, Apple Pencil, app, and planner
✅ How to set up your Apple Pencil for the best writing experience
✅ How to download and set up GoodNotes for beginners
✅ How to choose and download your perfect digital planner from Paperless Essentials
✅ How to import your planner into GoodNotes
✅ How to use the essential GoodNotes tools
✅ How to write in your digital planner for the very first time
✅ How to build a daily, weekly, and monthly planning routine
✅ How to personalize your planning setup and make it uniquely yours
✅ The most common beginner mistakes and how to avoid them
The only thing left to do now is take the first step.
Browse the full Paperless Essentials collection of beautifully designed digital planner PDF templates, find your perfect planning companion, and download it today. Your most organized, intentional, and productive life is waiting — and it starts with one beautiful planner page on your iPad.
Quick Start Checklist for First-Time iPad Digital Planners
Check your iPad model and confirm which Apple Pencil is compatible
Purchase and set up your Apple Pencil
Consider adding a matte screen protector for a paper-like writing feel
Download GoodNotes from the App Store
Enable iCloud backup in GoodNotes settings
Browse Paperless Essentials and choose your perfect digital planner
Complete your purchase and download your PDF instantly
Import your digital planner into GoodNotes
Keep one blank template page pristine for duplicating
Set up your folder structure in GoodNotes
Write your first planning entry with your Apple Pencil
Set a daily planning reminder on your iPad
Build your morning and evening planning routine
Enjoy your beautiful new paperless planning life on iPad
Published by Paperless Essentials — Your home for beautifully designed digital planner PDF templates for iPad, GoodNotes, Notability, Noteshelf, XODO, Samsung Notes, and Kindle Scribe.
