Maximize Your Goodnotes Productivity with These 10 Hidden Digital Planning and Note-taking Tips

Goodnotes is a powerful note-taking and PDF mark up app that helps you create, organize, and share your notes and documents seamlessly. If you're new to digital planning and notetaking with Goodnotes, you may be interested in learning some hidden digital planning and note-taking tips that can take your productivity to the next level. In this article, we'll share with you ten Goodnotes tips and tricks that you may not know about yet.

1. Double Tap on the Apple Pencil

Did you know that you can quickly switch between your current tool and the eraser by double-tapping on the Apple Pencil? This shortcut saves you time and allows you to focus on your work without interruption. To use this function make sure you check in setting on the iPad [Settings > Apple Pencil > Double Tap > Switch between Current Tool and Eraser]

2. Bookmark Your Pages

To quickly access your frequently used pages, you can bookmark them in Goodnotes. To do this, tap on the bookmark icon at the top right hand side of the menu bar right besides the undo & redo buttons. You can access all your bookmarks by tapping on the "Four Squares" button in the toolbar to bring up the thumbnails window and tap on Favorites in the middle.

3. Utilize the Split-screen Function

Goodnotes has a split-screen function that allows you to work on two documents simultaneously. To activate this feature, with other programs, swipe up from the bottom of your iPad screen to bring up the Dock. Then, drag Goodnotes to either side of the screen to open it in split-screen mode. This feature is particularly useful if you need to reference another document while taking notes. To use split screen between two Goodnotes documents, press and hold one of the document tabs from the menu bar until it sticks then move it across to one side of the screen.

4. Use Digital Stickers to Make Tasks & Text Stand Out

Goodnotes comes with some default digital stickers that you can use to highlight important tasks and text in your notes. But they may not be your cup of tea so to speak, to add a sticker, tap on the "Elements" icon in the toolbar and create a new collection by clicking the plus symbol. Name your collection, and then either add stickers from your photos app or import them from your files or google drive. Depending on the type of sticker you import, you can also customize the color, size, and position of the sticker to suit your needs.[JPG's & PNG's cannot change color]

5. Use the Search Function to Quickly Find Information

Goodnotes has a powerful search function that allows you to quickly find information within your notes. To use this feature, tap on the "Search" icon in the toolbar [beside the share icon] and type in your search query. Goodnotes will highlight all instances of your search term within your notes, making it easy for you to find what you're looking for, even if it was handwritten! Now I don't have the best handwriting in the world, - after 3 broken arms I am only neat if I write slowly and I usually don't have time for that - and Goodnotes can still find what I am looking for!

6. Save Color Presets

If you frequently use the same colors in your notes, you can save them as presets in Goodnotes. To do this, tap on the "Colors" icon in the toolbar, choose the color you want to save, and hold down on the color swatch. Goodnotes will save the color as a preset that you can access anytime by tapping on the "Colors" icon.

7. Text in PDF’s Can be Copied

If you're working with PDFs in Goodnotes, you may want to copy text from them into your notes. To do this, tap and hold on the text you want to copy and select "Copy." You can then paste the text into your notes or another document.

If you're looking for PDFs with color palettes and their HEX codes, there are many resources available online. Alternatively, you can create your own PDFs with color palettes using a tool like Adobe Illustrator or Goodnotes itself. Create a page and organize your HEX codes neatly, use the share button and share as PDF. Open in Goodnotes and you then have a Color Palette you can reference and easily copy HEX codes when you need them. I am currently working on my own color palette PDF, I'll update you when I am done.

8. Organize Your Content with Outlines

Outlines are a great way to organize your notes and documents in Goodnotes. To create an outline, tap on the "Four Squares" icon in the toolbar, Select a page you want to organize with Outlines and choose "Add Page to Outline." Name the outline to help you easily find a section in your planner or notes.

9. Lasso Tool Hidden Tips

Have you ever found yourself needing to move one thing but multiple objects keep moving around on your digital notebook? It can be frustrating to try to select just one individually, especially if they are small or close together.

But did you know that the Lasso Tool has some hidden tips and tricks? For example, if you press and hold the lasso tool a drop down menu will appear and you can toggle on or off types of content the lasso can select. This can save you a lot of time and frustration when you're trying to move something and everything keeps moving around at once.

10. Use a Hyperlinked Planner & Notebook

Last but certainly not least, consider using a planner or notebook that is already hyperlinked by way of tabs and navigation. Hyperlinked notebooks have links built in that allow you to easily navigate between pages and sections. This can save you a lot of time and frustration when you're trying to find a specific piece of information.

If you're interested in trying out a hyperlinked planner or notebook, be sure to check out my collection of Goodnotes Hyperlinked Digital Planner Dividers sets. Our sets include a Cover page and a variety of dividers that are designed to help you organize and your planning beautiful.

Conclusion

Goodnotes is a powerful tool for digital planning and note-taking, and these ten hidden tips and tricks can help you get the most out of it. From using the Apple Pencil to utilizing digital stickers and hyperlinked planners, there are plenty of ways to make your digital notebook work for you.

By incorporating these tips into your workflow, you can save time, stay organized, and create notebooks that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. So why not give them a try and see how they can improve your digital note-taking experience?

FAQs

1. What is Goodnotes? Goodnotes is a note-taking and digital planning app that allows users to create and organize digital notebooks.
2. Can I use Goodnotes on my Android device? No, Goodnotes is currently only available on iOS devices.
3. How do I search for specific content in my Goodnotes notebooks? To search for specific content in your Goodnotes notebooks, simply use the Search function and enter keywords related to the content you're looking for.