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How to Set Up a Digital Planner in GoodNotes, Step by Step

Setting up a new planner takes about fifteen minutes. Do it once, carefully, and the rest of the year is just writing.

Step 1: Import the PDF

Download the planner to your tablet, then open it from the Files app with "Open in" and choose your note-taking app. Keep the original file somewhere safe as a backup.

Step 2: Test the links

Tap three month tabs and the index. If a link opens a browser instead of jumping, switch the app to read-only mode while you test.

Step 3: Pick two pens and one highlighter

Too many tools slow you down. Save a dark pen for writing, a colour for events and one highlighter as favourites.

Step 4: Make a sticker book

Create a separate notebook for stickers and cut-outs, and use the lasso tool to copy them into your planner.

Step 5: Back up

Turn on automatic backup to cloud storage. A year of plans is worth thirty seconds of settings.

• Tip: duplicate a blank week page before you start, so you always have a clean template.