Where to Get Meal Planners

Free Printable Meal Planners

All you need to do is Google "free meal planners" and you will find plenty of choices: PDF's, Word files, image files. The big advantage, of course, is that they are inexpensive.

Meal Planner Templates

Digital PDF Meal Planner Templates

Digital Meal Planner Templates are sold in PDF format. After you download, use a notetaking app, like Goodnotes, to be able to write your plan directly on your device using a pen/stylus and save. 

Until recently, these were predominantly available only for iPads, but with the recent release of Goodnotes for Windows, the PDF can be used on android tablets and on PC's with touchscreens and a pen.

Online Meal Planners

Advantages

Convenience: You can access your meal plan and shopping list from anywhere, as long as you have your phone or computer.

Automation: Some apps can generate shopping lists for you, making it easier to stay organized.

Customization: Many digital meal planners allow you to input your dietary preferences and restrictions, making it easier to find recipes that fit your needs.

Disadvantages

Cost: Many digital meal planners require a subscription fee or in-app purchases.

Learning curve: It can take some time to learn how to use a new app or website.

Screen time: If you're already spending a lot of time on your phone or computer, using a digital meal planner may not be the healthiest option.

Printable Meal Planner Templates

Advantages

Cost: Most printable meal planner templates are available for free online.

Flexibility: You can customize your planner however you like, using your favorite pens and paper.

Minimal screen time: If you're trying to reduce your screen time, using a printable meal planner template can be a good option.

Disadvantages

Limited automation: You'll need to manually generate your shopping list and calculate your calorie intake.

Limited customization: You won't be able to input your dietary preferences and restrictions as easily.

Physical clutter: If you're someone who doesn't like keeping a lot of paper around, using a printable meal planner template may not be the best option.

Self-care and wellness are closely related concepts, and they both play a crucial role in your overall wellbeing. When you practice self-care, you are taking steps to support your wellness by prioritizing your physical, emotional, and mental health.

Benefits of Self-Care Journaling

1. Improve your self-care routine
2. Practice mindfulness
3. Reduce stress and anxiety
4. Develop a deeper understanding of yourself
5. Create a personalized self-care routine

How to Start a Self-Care and Wellness Journal

Choose a journal that suits your needs. You can choose a printable journal or a physical notebook. Make sure it's something you enjoy using and will feel motivated to write in.

Decide on a routine that works for you. You can write in your journal every day, every week, or whenever you feel like it. Consistency is key, so find a routine that you can stick to.

Set some self-care and wellness goals. Think about what you want to achieve with your journal. Do you want to develop healthy habits, reduce stress, or improve your mental health? Write down your goals and refer to them often.

Use prompts to get started. If you're not sure what to write about, use prompts to help you get started. There are many free resources online that offer self-care and wellness journal prompts. Choose ones that resonate with you and give them a try.

Make it a habit. Starting a journal is easy, but sticking to it can be challenging. Make it a habit by incorporating it into your daily routine. Try writing in your journal at the same time every day or every week.

Benefits of Using a Printable Self-Care Journal

Helps You Stay Organized

One of the biggest benefits of using a printable  self-care and wellness journal is that it helps you stay organized. With a journal, you can keep track of your daily self-care and wellness practices, including things like meditation, exercise, healthy eating, and more. By tracking your progress, you can see where you're doing well and where you want to improve.

Encourages Self-Reflection

Another benefit of using a printable self-care and wellness journal is that it encourages self-reflection. When you take the time to write down your thoughts and feelings, you become more aware of your emotions and how they impact your overall well-being. This can help you identify patterns in your behavior and make positive changes to improve your mental and physical health.

Provides Accountability

Using a printable self-care and wellness journal can also provide accountability. When you make a commitment to track your self-care and wellness practices, you're more likely to stick to them. When you see your progress over time, you'll feel motivated to continue making positive changes.

Flexibility

Printable self-care and wellness journals offer flexibility. You can choose from a variety of free printable templates or digital journal templates to find one that works best for you. You can customize your journal to fit your unique needs and preferences. Whether you prefer a simple layout or something more detailed, you can find a printable journal that works for you.

Maintaining Consistency in Journaling

Establish a routine and stick to it. Turn journaling into a healthy habit.

Set aside a specific time each day or week for journaling. This can be done by adding it to your calendar or planner, making it a non-negotiable part of your routine.

Using prompts helps with consistency. Prompts can help you focus on specific areas of your life, such as mindfulness, self-love, exercise, or productivity.

Incorporate your journaling into other healthy habits. You can journal after your morning yoga practice or write down your moods and workouts in a fitness journal.

Approach journaling with a calm, present mindset to help you declutter your mind, relax, and focus on your goals.

There are many advantages to digital planners. By creating your own, you are able to have one that is specifically tailored to your needs.

Choosing the Right Tools

When it comes to creating a simple digital planner, choosing the right tools is key. Here are some options to consider:

Digital Planner Apps

There are many digital planner apps available that offer a range of features and customization options. Some popular options include:

GoodNotes: This app is great for creating handwritten notes and includes a variety of templates for creating digital planners.

Notability: Similar to GoodNotes, Notability also offers handwriting capabilities and a range of templates.

OneNote: OneNote is a versatile app that can be used for note-taking, planning, and more. It offers a range of customization options and is available on multiple platforms.

Graphic Design Tools

If you want to create a more visually appealing digital planner, graphic design tools can help. Some popular options include:

Canva: Canva is a user-friendly graphic design tool that offers a range of templates and customization options.

PowerPoint: Not just for making slide presentations, PowerPoint is fairly easy to learn for making digital planners

Adobe InDesign: This professional-level design tool offers more advanced customization options but has a steeper learning curve.

Affinity Publisher: A more affordable alternative to Adobe InDesign, Affinity Publisher offers many of the same features and is easier to learn.

Note-Taking Apps

If you prefer a more minimalist digital planner, note-taking apps can be a good option. Some popular options include:

Evernote: Evernote is a versatile note-taking app that can be used for planning, task management, and more.

Google Keep: Google Keep is a simple note-taking app that allows you to create to-do lists and reminders.

Simplenote: As the name suggests, Simplenote is a minimalist note-taking app that is great for creating simple to-do lists and notes.

Ultimately, the tools you choose will depend on your needs and preferences. Consider what features are most important to you and try out a few different options to find the one that works best for you.

Creating Your First Digital Planner

If you're new to digital planning, creating your first digital planner can seem daunting. However, with the right tools and a little bit of creativity, you can easily create a simple digital planner that meets your needs.

The simplest digital planners consist of a single page. Here is a tutorial from Creative Fabrica that shows you how to make one on an iPad: Get Started With Digital Planning.

If you don’t have a subscription to Creative Fabrica, get yours here:

Designing the Layout

The first step in creating your digital planner is to design the layout. You can start by deciding on the number of pages you want your planner to have. For example, you may want a monthly calendar, weekly planner, and daily planner pages. Once you have decided on the number of pages, you can start designing the layout of each page.

You can use a tool like Canva or PowerPoint to create your digital planner pages. These tools offer a wide range of templates that you can customize to meet your needs. You can also create your own templates from scratch if you prefer.

Adding Interactive Elements

One of the benefits of digital planners is that they allow you to add interactive elements to your planner pages. For example, you can add clickable links to your planner pages that take you to other sections of your planner or to external websites. You can also add checkboxes, dropdown menus, and other interactive elements to your planner pages.

To add interactive elements to your digital planner, you can use a PDF editor like Adobe Acrobat or GoodNotes. These tools allow you to add interactive elements to your PDF files easily.

Customizing the Appearance

Another benefit of digital planners is that you can customize the look of your planner to match your personal style. You can choose from a wide range of colors, fonts, and graphics to create a planner that is uniquely yours.

When customizing the appearance of your digital planner, it's important to keep in mind the overall theme and purpose of your planner. For example, if you're creating a planner for work, you may want to choose a more professional and minimalist aesthetic. On the other hand, if you're creating a planner for personal use, you may want to choose a more colorful and playful aesthetic.

Testing Your Digital Planner

Now that you have created your digital planner, it's time to test it out to make sure it's functioning properly. Here are a few things you can do to test your digital planner:

1. Check the hyperlinks: Make sure that all the hyperlinks in your digital planner are working correctly. Click on each link to ensure that it takes you to the correct page or section.

2. Test the functionality: Go through each page of your digital planner and test out the functionality of each element. Make sure that you can add and delete entries, change the font size and color, and navigate through the planner easily.

3. Check for errors: Look for any spelling or grammatical errors in your digital planner. These can make your planner look unprofessional and may confuse users.

4. Get feedback: Ask a friend or family member to test out your digital planner and provide feedback. This can help you identify any issues or areas for improvement.

Sharing Your Digital Planner

Once you have created your digital planner, you may want to share it with others. There are a few ways to do this, including publishing platforms and social media promotion.

Publishing Platforms

One option is to publish your digital planner on a platform that allows others to download and use it. Some popular options include:

Etsy: You can create a listing for your digital planner on Etsy and sell it to others. This is a great option if you have put a lot of time and effort into your planner and want to earn some money from it.

Gumroad: Gumroad is a platform that allows you to sell digital products, including planners. You can set your own price and keep a percentage of the profits.

Dropbox: If you want to share your planner for free, you can upload it to Dropbox and share the link with others. This is a simple and easy way to share your planner with a wide audience.

Social Media Promotion

Another way to share your digital planner is through social media promotion. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Use hashtags: When you post about your planner on social media, be sure to use relevant hashtags. This will help others find your post and your planner.

Share images: People are more likely to engage with your post if it includes images. Share screenshots of your planner and include a link to where others can download it.

Collaborate with others: Reach out to other digital planner creators and see if they would be willing to share your planner with their audience. This can be a great way to get your planner in front of new people.

By using publishing platforms and social media promotion, you can share your digital planner with others and help them stay organized and productive.

Maintaining Your Digital Planner

Once you have created your digital planner, it is important to maintain it to ensure that it remains functional and useful. Here are some tips to help you maintain your digital planner:

Regularly Update Your Planner

One of the benefits of a digital planner is that it is easy to update. Unlike a paper planner, you can easily add, delete, or modify entries in your digital planner. Make it a habit to update your planner regularly, ideally at the same time each day or week. This will help you stay on top of your tasks and appointments.

Back Up Your Planner

It is important to back up your digital planner to ensure that you do not lose any data. You can back up your planner to the cloud or an external hard drive. This will ensure that you can access your planner from any device and that you do not lose any data if your device is lost or damaged.

Customize Your Planner

One of the benefits of a digital planner is that you can customize it to suit your needs. You can add sections, change the layout, and modify the colors and fonts. Take some time to customize your planner so that it reflects your personality and preferences. This will make it more enjoyable to use and help you stay motivated.

Use Reminders and Alerts

Most digital planners come with reminders and alerts that can help you stay on top of your tasks and appointments. Set up reminders and alerts for important tasks and appointments, and make sure that they are set to go off at a time that is convenient for you. This will help you stay organized and ensure that you do not forget anything important.

Keep Your Planner Organized

A digital planner can quickly become cluttered if you do not keep it organized. Use folders, tags, and categories to help you keep your planner organized. This will make it easier to find what you are looking for and ensure that you do not miss any important tasks or appointments.

Digital downloads and printables that you can buy or create online are an ongoing trend. Why? They are convenient, customizable and offer instant access. They have transformed business, education, entertainment and home life.

What Are They?

Digital downloads are media files that can be purchased and downloaded directly to your device. Digital art and designs, eBooks and sheet music are some of the possibilities. Eliminating physical production costs, inventory storage and shipping costs means they are often less expensive than physical goods.

Printable digital downloads are designed for you to download and print. Thes can include daily planners, monthly calendars, weekly to-do list, journals, party goods, school year educational materials, floral bookmarks and just about anything you can imagine.

Advantages of Digital Download Printables

Here are some of the advantages:

1. Instant Access
2. Convenient
3. Inexpensive
4. Customizable
5. Eco Friendly

1. Instant Access: In today's fast-paced world, consumers value quick and easy solutions. Digital downloads and printables are instantly accessible upon purchase, providing immediate satisfaction to the user.

2. Convenience: These files can be accessed anytime, anywhere. All you need is an internet connection and a device to download them.

3. Economical: Without the need for physical production and delivery, digital downloads and printables often cost less than their traditional alternatives.

4. Customization: Printables provide the opportunity for personalization. Whether it's a calendar, party invitation or educational worksheet, you can add your own creative spin to it.

5. Environmentally friendly: Opting for digital products reduces the need for physical manufacturing and transportation, making it a greener choice.

Consider digital download printable options when you want to save money, simplify life and have a greener lifestyle.

Just CLICK HERE to get to the offer page. Click on the calendar date and see that day's offer. Use code ADVENT2021 for the discount.

Let me tell you about my favorites. First, there's Sue's PowerPoint course on Day 1. I had never used PowerPoint before, but after this course, making planners, journals, gift tags and everything else was easy.

On Day 7 is Di's fabulous Digital Papers Alchemy. If you want to learn how to easily make beautiful backgrounds and scrapbooking papers, this is the course for you!

On Day 17, Di is offering her Digital Planner Bonanza Course, which makes creating digital planners a snap.

It's so difficult to stop here because the Pretty Printables course on Day 16 and the Activity Treasure Map on Day 21 are also great.

Remember to use COUPON CODE ADVENT 2021 to get your discount.

Looking forward to lots of creative adventures in the New Year!

Thank you and have a Happy New Year!

Kate

Disclaimer: I often recommend products and services in my emails. Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I receive a small commission at no cost to you, if you do purchase via these links. I only promote products that I feel will be helpful to you in your business. For the most part these offers are from people whom I trust or have purchased from in the past.

Please do your own due diligence before making any purchases, and only purchase those products that you feel will suit you and your business in the best way.

Click on my name, Kate McDonald, to get my FREE gift - a Goals Planner and an Undated Calendar for Commercial Use. PowerPoint files in 3 sizes. Cover. Think of all the income you can make by creating printables for Etsy or a book on Amazon KDP. The only thing you can’t do is resell or give away the PowerPoint templates.

Use the coupon ADVENT2021 if needed. Please check the download page to see if a different coupon is required.

Thank you and have a wonderful Holiday

P.S. Stay tuned for the Last Chance Day announcement tomorrow.

Disclaimer: I often recommend products and services in my emails. Some of these links may be affiliate links, and I receive a small commission at no cost to you, if you do purchase via these links. I only promote products that I feel will be helpful to you in your business. For the most part these offers are from people whom I trust or have purchased from in the past.

Please do your own due diligence before making any purchases, and only purchase those products that you feel will suit you and your business in the best way.

You may change or update your profile, or unsubscribe from these emails below. Please note, unsubscribing here only removes you from my daily emails. You will still receive emails via your account on my site, you may unsubscribe there if you wish to as well

Read the above descriptions and consider whether one of these fits your family. That is the one that will work best in your home.