How I made my 2022 Digital Reading Planner (Part 1)

Hello and happy December. I am starting to get organized for 2022, which means creating a new 2022 Digital Reading Planner. To create my planner, I watched a lot of youtube videos, and I will make sure to link them all below. I am not an expert and made the planner for my personal use, so it is by no means perfect, but it works for my needs. I also have all apple products (Mac and Ipad), so I made my planner using those. In this post, I will be talking about just creating the actual planner and some tips on doing that.

What I used to create my planner:

Tablet ( I have an iPad)

Stylus, if you want to write in your planner (I have an apple pencil)

Slide show program (I used KeynKeynotet Powerpoint or Google Slides would probably work fine as well)

My computer (I used my Mac) – You can do all of this on your IPad, but I find it’s easier to use a computer, especially when using Keynote

Canva – to create the cover and pages inside my planner

Goodnotes – This is the app I use actually to use my planner

YouTube Videos I used:

There are a ton of videos out there to help you design your planner. Here are just a few that might help you out:

Using Keynote to create a Digital Planner

Using PowerPoint to create a Digital Planner

Using OneNote to Create a Digital Planner

How to create binder rings

Tips

So having created a couple of these, I have some tips for people who want to get started. First and foremost, I want people to know that this process takes a long time! Building the planner can take hours, and then inevitable, a link is off, so you have to go back and fix things. It’s frustrating at times, so if this doesn’t sound like something you’re going to like, there are a ton of digital reading planners on Etsy. However, what’s nice about creating your own it can be exactly what you want. Once you have created one, making the next one is much easier!

Have a plan

Think about what you want. Do you want it to be like a normal planner with two pages or one? Portrait or landscape? What sections do you want? How many do you need sub-sections?

Have I scared you yet? You maybe don’t have to make all of those decisions, but depending on what system you’re using to make your planner, what you create may not be completely editable in the app you’re using to do the actual planning. And trust me, it can be a pain. I’ve had to redo my 2022 planner several times. So if you start, a basic idea creating your planner will be easier. If you have a physical planner you like, model your digital planner after that. Just have some idea of what you want it to look like before you start in Keynote can add as you go certainly, but an overall vision is helpful.

Test it out

I mentioned above once your planner is imported into GoodNotes (if that’s what you’re using), you cannot make changes to the overall planner (i.e., tabs, links, etc.) So, if your link takes you to the wrong page, then that’s something you’re going to have to go back to Keynote and then re-import it, meaning anything you added after importing it to GoodNotes is gone. So before you go crazy and add your whole TBR, test the links, make sure you like the colors and the overall design.

I created my planner in July of last year, and it helped me figure out what I liked or didn’t like. If this is your first time creating a digital planner, not making your full 2022 planner right now may be a good idea. Instead, maybe make one for a month or so and see what you like and don’t like so you can adjust.

Be okay with it not being perfect

All that being said, I used my planner for the last six months that had a wrong link. Because to me, it wasn’t worth it to go back and fix it by the time I realized the link was wrong. Did it bug me every time? A little, yes, but it wasn’t the end of the world. It’s okay if your planner isn’t perfect, as long as you’re happy with it.

Do you digitally plan? Tell me about it in the comments. And come back for part 2.