How long has it been since you used a paper diary? 10 years, 15, maybe even 20. Can you remember the year it was or the brand of diary? Was it when you were in school, and you had to write down your homework? Long gone for me. Or was it your first job, and you used a Filofax to keep track of your meetings and action points? Or maybe you still use one to keep a note of everyone’s birthdays. For me, there’s something strangely nostalgic and surprisingly grounding about flicking through a paper planner. I remember buying a new one each year, around Christmastime or January, if I’d completely failed at staying organized. Being able to discard an older diary and embrace a fresh one felt like a new start, a moment to turn my back on the difficulties of the previous year and embrace the opportunities ahead. But it’s no surprise that digital diaries and online planning tools have made paper alternatives all but obsolete. Digital apps are available 24/7 on any device and have more features than you can shake a stick at. I think that’s a little bit of a shame, but one app trying to bring together paper and digital planning is Ultimate Planner . Homescreen heroes
This is part of a regular series of articles exploring the apps that we couldn’t live without. Read them all here . Okay, Ultimate Planner is still a digital tool (sorry), but it replicates the paper diary experience in ways that I’ve never seen before. With paper diary-inspired layouts, Filofax-esque tabs, and stylus compatibility, it’s as close to a paper diary as you’re ever going to get without actually going to the shops and buying one. (Image credit: Future / Paul Hatton) The complete planning package
Ultimate Planner, according to its creators, is “the most customizable digital planner app" available. And after just five minutes of use, you’ll probably be inclined to agree. With it, you can plan your day, organize tasks and actions, manage goals, and even track habits. The journey begins by picking a planner type. Your choice customizes the features, tabs, and tools you access. If you choose ‘Ultimate Planner,’ as I did, then you’ll be able to use everything the app has to offer without restriction…