It’s obvious that our phones, laptops, and tablets have allowed us to simplify our lives. Suddenly, we no longer need watches, alarm clocks, calculators, or cameras – we’ve got them all in one, in the palm of our hands! However, there is one “old school” item that I will never give up, and that’s my paper planner. Yes, our phones have planner apps, calendar reminders, and all the bells and whistles you could ask for, yet paper planners will forever reign supreme. Here are 6 reasons why paper planners are, and always will be, the very best.
There are no distractions.
It’s a dangerous game using a digital planner – one wrong move while you’re checking your to-do list and suddenly you’ve been sucked into the TikTok abyss. With a paper planner, there are no time-wasting distractions or buzzing notifications. Trust me, it makes all the difference.
They’re fool-proof.
As long as you use your paper planner diligently and consistently, it won’t let you down. There is no risk of a reminder notification popping up at 11:00 PM instead of 11:00 AM. Your paper planner will not run out of battery if you forget your charger during a late-night library session. You will not accidentally delete a due date from those trusty paper pages. Basically, a paper planner has your back.
Writing information by hand helps you remember it.
It’s true – research shows that when you write something by hand, you’re more likely to remember it than if you type it. It’s a slower, more intentional process that takes more effort. You have to organize the information as you commit it to the page. Handwrite your due dates, assignments, goals, and plans, and they’re less likely to slip your mind later.
You have more freedom how you organize things.
One of the things (out of 9,472 things) that I love about paper planners is how customizable they are. When you use a digital planner, you’re typically given a few fields to fill out and everyone looks uniform once it’s entered into your calendar. With a paper planner, the world is your oyster. Color code everything! Write notes in the margins! Draw a picture to help you remember something! There are no limits to what you can include in your paper planner, which means you can include anything and everything that is helpful for YOU.
You can see everything quickly, easily, and all in one place.
I love that I can quickly see what I did last Wednesday and then flip a page and see what I have coming up next month. I don’t have to click through pages, open a million tabs, or search through a trash folder. My academic, professional, and social to-do lists are all in one, organized, and aesthetically pleasing place. Most importantly, though, paper planners give your eyes a well-deserved break. You stare at glowing screens all day, and using a paper planner offers a nice change of pace.
It’s satisfying!
There is no better feeling than physically crossing off each item on your to-do list one by one – and it’s even more satisfying when you can flip through the pages to see dozens of completed to-do lists. I don’t care what any tech wizard says: there is nothing comparable to this feeling of accomplishment.
While I strongly believe that most paper planners are superior to digital planners, the Enrichery Custom Student Planner is pretty much the Rolls Royce. Featuring a Study Skills Questionnaire, goal planning sheets, and daily to-do lists, this planner was created to help students not only stay organized and efficient, but to also create enduring, positive habits. (Did I mention that it was designed with the insight gained from years of coaching hundreds of students?) Set yourself up for success this year and order your Enrichery Planner today! And, while you’re on that page, don’t forget to sign up for one of our Study Skills Workshops happening on August 21st!
