How to Use a Digital PDF Workbook in Notability and Other Note-Taking Apps

A digital PDF workbook gives you the structure of a traditional planner without requiring you to print a new copy every time you want to use it.

Once the PDF is imported into a note-taking app, you can write directly on the pages, type responses, highlight important information, add images, and keep your completed workbooks organized on your device.

This guide will show you how to use your Agile Life Management workbook in Notability, along with a few alternative PDF annotation apps.

What You Need

Before getting started, you will need:

• Your digital workbook PDF

• A compatible tablet, computer, or mobile device

• A PDF annotation or note-taking app

• A stylus, such as an Apple Pencil, if you prefer handwriting

A stylus is helpful, but it is not required. Most note-taking apps also allow you to type directly onto the PDF using text boxes.

What Is a PDF Annotation App?

A PDF annotation app allows you to open a PDF and add your own content without changing the original page design.

Depending on the app, you may be able to:

• Write or draw with a digital pen

• Type inside text boxes

• Highlight important information

• Add checkmarks and shapes

• Insert images or stickers

• Duplicate, rearrange, or bookmark pages

• Export your completed workbook as a new PDF

Apps such as Notability and Goodnotes are designed for handwritten notes and PDF annotation. Adobe Acrobat can also be used to type, draw, highlight, and add comments to PDF documents.

How to Import Your Workbook Into Notability

Notability allows you to import PDF files and write or type directly on top of them. The imported PDF becomes a note inside your Notability library.

Step 1: Download the PDF

After purchasing or downloading your workbook, save the PDF somewhere you can easily access it.

On an iPad or iPhone, this will usually be:

• The Files app

• iCloud Drive

• Google Drive

• Dropbox

• Your Downloads folder

Avoid opening the workbook only inside your web browser. Saving it to the Files app first usually makes it easier to locate and import.

Step 2: Open Notability

Open the Notability app and navigate to the folder where you want to store your workbook.

You may want to create a dedicated folder called:

• Agile Life Management

• Sprint Workbooks

• Completed Sprints

• Personal Planning

• Business Planning

Keeping each workbook in a folder will make it easier to find previous sprints and compare your progress over time.

Step 3: Import the PDF

From the Notability library:

1. Press and hold the + New button.

2. Select Import.

3. Select Files.

4. Locate your downloaded workbook.

5. Tap the PDF to import it.

Notability will create a new note containing all of the workbook pages.

You may also be able to import the workbook directly from the Files app:

1. Locate the PDF in Files.

2. Tap the Share icon.

3. Select Notability.

4. Choose the folder where you want to save it.

The exact Share menu options may vary depending on your device and app settings.

Rename Your Workbook Before You Begin

After importing the PDF, rename the note so that you can easily identify the sprint later.

For example:

Sprint Workbook — August 3–16, 2026

You could also include the area of your life the sprint supports:

Business Sprint — Product Launch
Personal Sprint — Health and Routine
Career Sprint — Portfolio and Applications

Clear naming becomes especially useful after you have completed several workbooks.

Writing by Hand

To write directly on the workbook:

1. Open the imported PDF.

2. Select the pen tool.

3. Choose your preferred pen thickness.

4. Begin writing with your stylus or finger.

You can use different pen styles for different purposes. For example:

• Use a standard pen for answers.

• Use a thicker pen for headings.

• Use a highlighter for priorities.

• Use a different color for updates or completed items.

Try zooming into the page when writing in smaller spaces. You can zoom back out when you want to review the full page.

Typing on the Workbook

You can also complete the workbook without handwriting.

In Notability:

1. Select the text tool.

2. Tap the area of the page where you want to write.

3. Begin typing.

4. Resize or move the text box as needed.

Notability supports movable text boxes that can be placed throughout the page.

Typing may work especially well for:

• Longer sprint goals

• Detailed achievement summaries

• Retrospective notes

• Action items for the next sprint

• Entries completed with a keyboard

Choose a font size that remains readable without covering the workbook prompts.

Using the Workbook During Your Sprint

Your digital workbook is most useful when you return to it regularly rather than completing every page at once.

At the Beginning of the Sprint

Complete the Sprint Goals section.

For each goal:

• Clearly define the result.

• Estimate the level of effort.

• Identify what completion will look like.

• Make sure the goal can realistically be completed during the sprint.

Try to limit the number of goals so that your attention is not divided across too many competing priorities.

During Your Daily Stand-Up

Open the workbook at the beginning of your day and answer:

• What did I do yesterday?

• What am I doing today?

• Are there any blockers?

Keep these responses brief. The purpose of the stand-up is to create direction for the day, not to write a detailed journal entry.

During Your Daily Stand-Down

Return to the workbook near the end of your day and answer:

• What did I do today?

• What am I doing tomorrow?

• Are there any blockers?

The stand-down helps you close the day intentionally and reduces the amount of time you need to spend remembering where to begin tomorrow.

At the End of the Sprint

Complete the Achievements and Recap sections.

Use the Achievements section to capture what you completed, created, improved, or learned.

Then review:

• What should I continue doing?

• What should I stop doing?

• What should I start doing?

• Which blockers appeared repeatedly?

• Were my effort estimates accurate?

• What should change during the next sprint?

The goal is not only to evaluate your performance. It is to collect information that will make your next plan more realistic and predictable.

Duplicate a Blank Copy Before Writing

Before beginning your first sprint, keep an untouched copy of the original PDF.

You can do this by:

• Keeping the original file in your Downloads or Files folder

• Importing a new copy for every sprint

• Duplicating the blank note inside your annotation app

Name the untouched version something clear, such as:

Agile Life Management — Blank Master Copy

Then create a separate working copy for each sprint.

This prevents you from accidentally overwriting the blank workbook and makes it easy to begin again every two weeks.

Organize Completed Workbooks

Over time, your completed sprint workbooks become a valuable record of your progress.

Consider creating folders such as:

• Current Sprint

• Completed Sprints

• Quarterly Planning

• Business Goals

• Personal Goals

• Archived Workbooks

You can also bookmark pages you review frequently. In Notability, the Content Manager provides page thumbnails and includes views for bookmarked and annotated pages.

This can be helpful when you want to quickly return to your:

• Sprint goals

• Current daily check-in

• Achievements

• Retrospective

• Next sprint plan

Exporting Your Completed Workbook

At the end of the sprint, you may want to export a finished copy for backup, printing, or storage.

Notability allows notes to be shared in formats including PDF, JPEG, PNG, and its native note formats.

To preserve the workbook as a document that can be opened in most PDF readers, export it as a PDF.

You might name the exported file:

Completed Sprint — August 3–16, 2026.pdf

Save it to a reliable location such as:

• iCloud Drive

• Google Drive

• Dropbox

• OneDrive

• A folder on your computer

Exporting completed workbooks gives you an additional backup outside of the note-taking app.

Using the Workbook in Goodnotes

Goodnotes is another popular option for using digital PDF workbooks.

Goodnotes supports PDF imports from within the app, from external apps, and through drag and drop. Once imported, the file can be marked up and annotated.

A common import method is:

1. Open Goodnotes.

2. Tap New or the + button.

3. Select Import.

4. Locate the workbook PDF.

5. Tap the file to import it.

You can then write, type, highlight, add images, and organize the workbook inside your Goodnotes library.

The overall workflow is similar to Notability:

1. Keep a blank master copy.

2. Duplicate or import a fresh copy for each sprint.

3. Rename the working copy.

4. Complete it throughout the sprint.

5. Export the completed version as a PDF.

Goodnotes is available across several platforms, although features and interfaces may differ between Apple, Android, Windows, and web versions. PDF documents are supported for importing.

Using the Workbook in Adobe Acrobat

Adobe Acrobat may be a good choice if you primarily want to type, draw, highlight, or add comments rather than use a full digital notebook system.

The Acrobat mobile app is available on Android and iOS and supports viewing and managing PDF files. Its annotation tools can be used to add comments, highlights, underlines, and freehand drawings.

To begin:

1. Save the workbook PDF to your device.

2. Open Adobe Acrobat.

3. Locate and open the PDF.

4. Select the available text, comment, drawing, or annotation tool.

5. Add your responses to the workbook.

6. Save or export your completed copy.

Acrobat may be especially useful for customers who do not use an iPad or who prefer a traditional PDF editor.

Can I Use the Workbook on a Computer?

Yes. You can use the workbook on a desktop or laptop with a PDF annotation application.

Depending on the program, you may be able to:

• Type with your keyboard

• Add text boxes

• Draw with a mouse or trackpad

• Highlight content

• Add checkmarks

• Save a completed copy

For the best experience, use an application that supports PDF annotation instead of opening the document in a basic browser preview.

A tablet may feel more natural for handwriting, but a computer can work well for users who prefer typing longer responses.

Can I Print the Digital Workbook?

A PDF can generally be printed, but the final result depends on the page size, printer settings, and version of the workbook you purchased.

Before printing:

• Confirm that the workbook license permits printing for personal use.

• Check the intended page dimensions.

• Review the print preview.

• Choose the correct portrait or landscape orientation.

• Avoid automatically stretching the pages unless necessary.

• Print one test page before printing the entire workbook.

A digital workbook may be optimized primarily for screens, so printed margins and sizing may differ from a dedicated printable edition.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

The PDF Does Not Appear in the Import Menu

Make sure the file has fully downloaded and has a .pdf file extension.

Try saving it to the Files app first and importing it from there.

The Workbook Opens in a Browser

Use the browser’s Share or Download option to save the PDF to your device. Then open it from your note-taking app.

I Cannot Write on the PDF

Make sure you have selected an annotation tool, such as the pen, pencil, text, or drawing tool.

Some apps open documents in a read-only viewing mode by default.

The Pages Look Blurry

Allow the document a moment to finish loading. You can also close and reopen the app or reimport the original PDF.

If a PDF displays incorrectly, the app’s official troubleshooting guidance may recommend recreating, flattening, or reducing the file depending on the issue. However, flattening a PDF can reduce features such as selectable or searchable text.

My Writing Disappeared

Confirm that the app has finished saving or syncing before closing it.

You should also periodically export completed versions as PDFs and store them in a separate cloud folder.

I Accidentally Wrote on My Blank Copy

Return to your original downloaded file and import it again. This is why keeping an untouched master PDF outside of the annotation app is recommended.

Tips for a Better Digital Planning Experience

Use Consistent Colors

Assign a simple purpose to each color.

For example:

• Blue for plans

• Green for completed work

• Yellow for important notes

• Red for blockers

A consistent color system makes your workbook easier to scan.

Keep Daily Entries Short

Your daily check-ins should help you take action. They do not need to become lengthy journal entries.

Review Previous Sprints

Before planning a new sprint, open the previous workbook and review your estimates, blockers, achievements, and retrospective.

Export Important Versions

Create a PDF backup after completing each sprint.

Avoid Overdecorating

Stickers, images, and colors can make digital planning more enjoyable, but too many visual additions may distract from the goals and actions that matter most.

Final Thoughts

Using a digital PDF workbook gives you a flexible way to plan, write, reflect, and track progress without carrying a physical planner.

Apps such as Notability, Goodnotes, and Adobe Acrobat allow you to turn the workbook into an interactive planning space where you can write by hand, type responses, highlight priorities, and preserve a record of each sprint.

The most important part is not which app you choose.

It is creating a consistent rhythm:

1. Import a fresh copy.

2. Define your sprint goals.

3. Complete your daily check-ins.

4. Record your achievements.

5. Review what worked.

6. Apply what you learned to your next sprint.

Each completed workbook gives you more information about your habits, capacity, estimates, and recurring blockers.

Over time, that information can help you plan more realistically, work more intentionally, and become more predictable in the pursuit of your goals.