I’ve tried it all—planners with tabs, digital styluses, pretty journals, endless sticky notes. I even had a phase where I swore I was going to make my own planner from scratch (spoiler: I did not). The truth is, no matter how good my intentions are, my planner never seems to be where I need it when I need it. And if I do find it, chances are my toddler has already claimed it for doodling.
I’ve been a longtime reader of the Productive Mama blog, and that’s actually where I first discovered Artful Agenda. After seeing it mentioned here and doing some digging, I finally decided to give it a try, and I’m so glad I did. This is my first time sharing about it, but it has already made such a difference in how I stay organized in a way that feels both practical and pretty. If you’re looking for a digital planner that actually makes planning enjoyable, this might be it. Artful Agenda—a digital planner that works across my phone, computer, and tablet. And since my phone is pretty much glued to me, it made total sense.
It’s been a game-changer. Here’s why.
It’s Pretty Without Needing to Be “Perfect”
Let’s be real—I love when things are aesthetically pleasing, but I don’t always have the time (or energy) to color-code my entire week or add washi tape borders. Artful Agenda has that cute, styled look baked in. You can pick your cover, change the fonts, and if you want to play with stickers or use a stylus, go for it. I usually just type everything in, because it’s faster and I don’t have to worry about making it look “Insta-worthy.”
No More Copying Events Like It’s 1999
I have a ton of Google Calendars—one for work, one for personal stuff, one for my business, and even one for family events. Artful Agenda syncs with them all, so I don’t have to spend hours copying and pasting. Everything shows up across the monthly, weekly, and daily views instantly. I can also toggle which calendars I want to see, which helps me stay focused without getting overwhelmed by ALL the things at once.
And yes, you can set up repeating events. So if your life runs on routine like mine does (meal prep Sundays, anyone?), it’ll remember all of that for you.
Tasks That Don’t Disappear When I Forget About Them
One of my favorite features? Tasks that don’t get lost in the void. If I don’t finish something and forget to move it, Artful Agenda just rolls it over to the next day automatically. It’s like a gentle nudge saying, “Hey, don’t forget this,” without making me feel behind.
Lists That Actually Make Sense
I still use Microsoft Notes for messy brain-dumps, but for actual lists I want to use, Artful Agenda is where it’s at. The formatting is flexible—I can bold, highlight, use checkboxes, and create cute gift trackers, shopping lists, or even project plans. I even made a list of date night ideas I always forget about (why is that so hard to remember in the moment?) and now I can just drag them over into my planner when it’s time to actually plan something fun.
Make It Yours
One of the coolest things? You can rename the daily sections to fit your actual life. “Meals” became “Big Wins” so I can jot down something good that happened each day. You can also collapse sections when you don’t want to look at them, which is honestly kind of therapeutic.
Feels Like a Desk Buddy
Sometimes I’ll open Artful Agenda on my second screen or tablet and keep it next to me while I work. It gives me the same visual reminder as a paper planner, without worrying that a cup of tea will take it out.
One Thing I Wish It Had
The only feature I really miss is time-based reminders for tasks. I can get calendar alerts, but for smaller daily to-dos, I still use a separate reminder app when I need that little “ping” to get moving. But I’ve heard that feature’s on their development list, so fingers crossed it’s coming soon.
Final Thoughts from a Productive Mama
Artful Agenda has brought some much-needed calm to my busy mom/work/life schedule. It’s pretty, it works with my tech, and it doesn’t expect me to be perfect. It gives me enough structure to stay on track but enough flexibility to roll with the unexpected—which, let’s be honest, is just part of the deal.
If you want to try it, they offer a FREE two-week trial. And if you use my referral code RR1299973 when you sign up, you’ll unlock a premium cover and travel sticker pack for free.
Let me know if you give it a try—I love hearing what other moms think (and swapping planner hacks is basically my love language).