Best Laid Plans

In today's episode, Sarah shares an update for the listener seeking high-contrast planner options, with products mentioned including the Marjolein Delhaas Planner from Wms&Co, Rad & Happy, and Passion Planner.

Then, she shares a listener's story of ordering the Personal Planner from Sweden -- and being extremely surprised by fees (over 4x the value of the planner!).

Following, Sarah gets into the concept of an Analog Fall (or an Analog 2026?) inspired by Julianna Salguero's Keepsake substack post: https://juliannasalguero.substack.com/p/how-to-have-an-analog-fall

She adds to Julianna's ideas with several fun analog activities...

In today's episode (and inspired by her recent girls' trip!), Sarah shares 6 practices to help you think through your big picture goals and dreams as we gear up for Reflection Season and starting to think about annual planning for 2026!

These include:
- Inspiring reading (or audio)
- 100 Dreams List
- 10, 5, or 1-year Visioning Exercises
- The gift of a notebook just for dreaming and scheming
- Deep conversion with a partner or friend
- Clean up!

A few specific items mentioned:

Laura's 100 Dreams List: https://lauravanderkam.com/2015/06/2015...

Today's episode is a very planner-centric Q&A episode (since it's that time of year!).

First, Cynthia opens with her planner peace - a mashup of prior BLP mentions, from the Passionate Pennypincher Planner to Planner Pad and a Stalogy notebook!

Then, Kristin shares a pro tip for melding her digital planning (via Google calendar) with a paper system that allows for daily notes jotted in pen and a physical representation of the weeks and months.

Susie shares a common planning conundrum - she has a life with LOTS of moving parts, but...

In today's episode, Sarah interviews Skye Waterson, ADHD strategist, host of a podcast in the ADHD space, and an expert in building systems that help entrepreneurs and execs with ADHD (or suspected ADHD) scale their businesses. Skye shares the strategies that she's currently using herself, as well as some great tips for prioritizing when everything feels urgent. She also shares ideas for procrastination and offers advice for others trying to support friends or family with ADHD.

Skye lives in New Zealand, and you can find her at unconventionalorganisation.com

Note: Best Laid Plans...

In today's episode, Sarah opens with news about upcoming courses - both Best Laid Plans at Home: Planning 2026 AND Planning By Season will be back for next calendar year! Get details about the courses at theshubox.com/courses and be sure to sign up for her newsletter for registration info (newsletter drops 10/1).
Newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletter
Then, she talks all about FUN - the case for ensuring we plan in fun, ways to figure out what kind of fun we need, and inspiration for planning in fun at every time horizon, from daily to yearly and beyond. <...

Inspired by her own recent period of feeling a bit overwhelmed and all over the place, Sarah shares 10 tips for those feeling scattered.
Please be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you'd like to receive October's edition:
theshubox.com/newsletter
Email Sarah with questions or comments at sarah hart unger @ gmail or text (305) 697-7189

Episode Sponsors:

IXL: Make an impact on your child's learning this school year with IXL! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Green Chef: Make this...

In today's episode, Sarah shares a Planner Peace submission from R, a lover of paper planners with a vision issue that makes small print and light colors difficult to work with. Please send Sarah any ideas for bright and bold planner brands to share with our listener!
Then, Sarah shares her notes on Wirecutter's picks for next year's planners!
The article can be found here:
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/our-favorite-paper-planners/
Send Sarah your own thoughts on the reviews, or submit your planning questions via email - sarah hart unger at gmail!

...

In today's episode, Sarah shares some recent planner news. She discusses price changes at Hobonichi (she compares her recent order to years prior), and then shares about the new Minimalist option available from Full Focus.
Then, she goes through Q&A, tips & planner peace submissions for September! Topics include:
- Feedback from a teacher about separating work + life into different planner systems
- Tip from Sara about using ToDoist as a way to remind her future self about upcoming tasks
- Planner Peace (mostly digital!) from SAHM Ashley
- Suggestions for compact planners designed...

In today's episode, Sarah goes through a techo kaigi -- her own assessment of how her current tools are working for her, along with some musing about what's up ahead for 2026!

Products mentioned:
Hobonichi Cousin Avec
Erin Condren B6 18 Month Softbound
Hobonichi 5-Year Journal
Erin Condren Whiteboard
Essential Calendar (affiliate link: https://www.theessentialcalendar.com/BESTLAIDPLANS + use code BESTLAIDPLANS for 10% off)
Digital: Apple Notes, YNAB, Google Sheets
Sticker printer: Canon Selphy X20

Episode Sponsors:
IXL: Make an impact on your child's learning this school year...

In today's episode, Sarah shares two things that made her (tough) week, and then answers 6 questions from the August Q&A collection!
Topics include:
- Can you use Apple Notes to include attachments + graphics
- Big projects: fewer longer sessions, or consistent shorter ones?
- Ideal week during the newborn phase: yay or nay, and suggestions for an alternative if not?
- Are there circumstances where a 'work specific' planner can make sense?
- Work & rest-of-life planning sessions: separate or together?
- How long does it take to implement the routines of...

If you've ever been curious about how you can leverage your planning and organizing skills to help you save money, this episode is for you, especially if yo love to travel. Kathleen Paley is a litigator, mother of 2, and podcast host who loves saving and having fun with her family. She joins Sarah today to share her top 5 strategies for traveling on credit card points -- everything from which cards to start with, how to maximize point earnings, and how to spend most cost-effectively.
Please note: neither Sarah nor Kathleen are affiliated with any of the companies mentioned...

In today's episode, Sarah shares her thoughts on 5 aspects of life to reflect on (other than planners!) as you head into the back-to-school season, whatever that means for you.

She provides a detailed overview of routines to think through / audit / consider tweaking, and then discusses sleep, communication strategies, mood management, and fun.

Share your favorite planners for kids/teens or best communication strategies with Sarah - email sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com or leave a comment at the show notes on theshubox.com!

Episode Sponsors

IXL: Learning doesn't have to stop...

Sarah reviews two planners specifically designed to help those with different planning needs.

First, she discusses the Order Out of Chaos Planner, designed by ADHD parent and ADDItude Magazine columnist Leslie Josel. This planner is designed for students and might be particularly helpful for those with ADHD, though it could definitely serve other students well, too!

Link to the planners: https://ooocplanner.com/collections/academic-planners

Second, she reviews the Fast Brain Friend Daily Productivity Planner, described as "an intentional design for the neurodivergent mind" by creator Alanah Purtell. These are Australian monthly planners...

It's not QUITE back to school season, but depending on where you live, it may be closer than you think! In today's episode, Sarah interviews Sarah McConnell, a professor of anatomy and histology for undergrads, graduate students and med students. Professor Sarah McConnell shares own current planner peace lineup and functional system, and then provides some fantastic tips for others in academic, from using templates to leaving helpful breadcrumbs so that each year builds on past experience without friction.

Planner Sarah mentions: Proaction Planner https://www.alifemadesimple.com/proaction-planner/

BLP Review of Proaction Planner:
...

In today's episode, sociology professor Allison Daminger joins Sarah for a fascinating discussion about mental load, division of labor, and the role of planning! She answers three great questions from listeners, tackling challenging questions about a partner not interested in long-range planning, a partner with little predictability to his job, and a partner with ADHD.

Find more from Allison and her book, The Mental Workload of Family Life, at her website: https://www.allisondaminger.com/book, and she can also be found on substack at https://allisondaminger.substack.com.

Submit your questions for Allison on...

In today's episode, Sarah shares some real behind-the-scenes podcast talk with listeners. She chats about how Best Laid Plans came to be, how she chooses guests, how she tracks podcast logistics, what she outsources, how she handles listener emails, and much more!

Visit her website, theshubox.com, if you haven't been for links to all of her prior episodes.

Newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletter
Courses: theshubox.com/courses
Books Read in 2025: theshubox.com/2025-books

Episode Sponsors

IXL: Learning doesn't have to stop in the summer!  Best Laid Plans l...

In today's episode, Sarah answers accumulated questions for July!

Topics include:

In today's episode, Sarah shares rationale and ideas for completing your own mid-year check in session, where you take stock of where things are, look at annual goals, and decide how you'd like to move forward. She provides ideas for the setting/scope of this session, and then shares her very own mid-year check in - processing her own progress on the air!

If you are interested in a guided mid-year check in video that takes you through the process step by step, Sarah is offering this as part of BLP at Home: Planning 2026 this year! You...

It's a Q&A podcast! Topics include:

- Ways to plan/manage tasks when your time is unpredictably chopped up (gig worker)?
- How to move into a new planner midyear?
- How to talk with a partner who feels your planning systems are over the top (and you feel like they are absolutely necessary for a functional family life)?
- How to handle a close friend or relative who refuses to make firm plans?
- Planner recs for a child with ADHD entering middle school

Keep your questions coming...

Today's episode centers around strategies for travel planning, from super-long range (5-10+ years) to daily planning while on vacation! Sarah shares her favorite strategies at each time horizon to craft travel plans that reflect your values and highest priorities, while meeting your actual real-life needs (budget, kids' ages, etc!).

Mentioned:
Kelsey's "The Years Are Short" sheet:
https://www.risingshining.com/2022/10/the-years-are-short-family-spreadsheet.html

Cameras (idea from Sarah Jedd, prior guest who blogs at harrytimes.com):
https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/hybrid/camp-snap-screen-free-digital-camera

EPISODE SPONSORS

IXL: Make an i...

Lizzie Post is the great-great-grandaughter of famed etiquette expert Emily Post and serves as co-president at the Emily Post Institute along with her cousin Daniel Post Senning. In today's episode Sarah interviews her on all things planning AND etiquette adjacent! First, Sarah inquires about Lizzie's current favorite planning tools and rituals, and then she asks questions that get at some of the stickier parts of planning: how to manage making plans in a group, how to handle planner fatigue, how to deal with managing forms of communication, and how to get past barriers to planning social things.

In today's episode, Sarah welcomes listeners into summer (and southern hemisphere listeners into winter!). Then, she shares 10 less common (possibly quirky!) planning habits that work for her, from her tracking methods to her use of "defaults" and strategic use of break times, and more. She also shares a listener follow up to the new mom wondering how to deal with tasks that come to mind when she isn't with her planner!

EPISODE SPONSORS

IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now.  BLP listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL...

Today's episode is dedicated to monthly planning rhythms! Sarah discusses why the monthly planning level can be a challenging one, but then provides reasons to try giving it some attention!

Elements Discussed:

- Ways to add to the "fresh start" energy - screen backgrounds + monthly tracking
- Monthly work plan (new element for Sarah!)
- Monthly goal setting (middle piece of the Nested Goals method - great way to break up big seasonal projects), including a look back / forward / within, and a calendar landscape review
- Monthly "extras" - might include budget...

In today's episode, Sarah shares a detailed Planner Peace submission (from a listener who listened to all 250 episodes of the BLP back catalog!) and provides a mini-review of Kendra Adachi's The Playbook, designed to be planner companions for each season, rather than planners themselves!

Find The Playbook here: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/merch/p/the-playbooks-bundle or here for a page by page overview: https://otterpine.com/the-playbooks/

Next, a listener with a new baby wonders whether it makes sense to carry her paper planner up and down the stairs vs make the switch...

In today's episode, Sarah share the strategies that got her feeling much less "in the weeds", including airtight task capture and inbox cleaning, plus monthly work planning!

Then, she shares a Planner Peace segment from Ross in NZ, who uses mostly digital tools plus a paper daily and has an incredibly well-thought-out and organized overall ecosystem!

Topics for the Q&A:

- Finding planners with affordable shipping to AUS and NZ
- Handling incoming papers without letting them overcrowd your desk
- Planner suggestions for a daily with decent-sized...

In today's episode, Sarah gets real: she shares her current feelings of being "in the weeds", how she got there, and the strategies she hopes to employ to climb out.

Additional Notes:
Best Laid Plans LIVE in Florida: Planning 2026 has very few remaining slots - grab yours now at theshubox.com/blplive

Sign up for the newsletter at theshubox.com/newsletter

Share your own tactics for getting out of the weeks - send Sarah an email or text at sarah.hart.unger at gmail or (305) 697-7189

Episode Sp...

Allison Schaaf is the creator and owner of PrepDish (longtime BLP sponsor!) and her business is based on planning, specifically around meals! But she also has plenty of wisdom to share around planning the rest of life, from long term goals to handling emails and managing a team. She is also highly interested in streamlining tasks as she is a mother of 4 (including a baby!).

Shared by Allison:

- Clever Fox planner

- Superhuman email

- Traction

- Die with Zero

<...

In today's episode, Sarah reflects on routines, noting that her recent episode on morning routines is already obsolete (as it applies to her own morning routine, anyway!). She shares thoughts about being flexible as you set your routines, and the need to continually re-evaluate, as well as her new morning routine.

Then, she pivots to all things weekend planning, as inspired by her friend noting that weekends were feeling . . . unsatisfying at times (Kae blogs at gratefulkae.com).

Sarah shares her rationale for why you should dedicate time to plan...

In today's episode, Sarah reflects on where we are in the year and offers encouragement and ideas to help you start thinking through summer.

She also provides an overview of some fun planner releases for spring, including new editions from Erin Condren, Simplified, and Laurel Denise.

Episode of Amanda's Favorites where she describes designing a planner with Laurel Denise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZnWjf0qdWM

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce...

Sometimes there is vast space (and struggle) between planning and executing on our plans. In this episode, Sarah delves into why that might be an offers some solutions.

She also mentions Lisa Woodruff's Medical Binder and Carolyn Cohen's Wellness While Walking podcast.

Episode where Carolyn was a guest: https://theshubox.com/2025/01/blp-ep-232-planning-and-goal-setting-for-health-with-carolyn-cohen.html

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE<...

Some might think the purpose of planning is to get more done. That may be true in some cases, but there is so much more to the story than that. In this episode, Sarah shares 10 benefits of planning that have nothing to do from productivity, from stress reduction to anticipation to creativity to having more fun.

Other news:

BLP Live is open for registration!! Join Sarah and Laura Vanderkam in South Florida this November for 3 days of planning, reflection, relaxation, community, and fun. Visit theshubox.com/blplive for details!

<...

In today's episode, Sarah shares an update on how her recovery is going in addition to some great wisdom on the idea of a "recovery routine" from a listener. Then, she shares a planner mini-review and new additions to her 2025 Stack:

- Full Focus Spiral-Bound

- Excello Essential Weekly + Monthly (https://excellobrands.com/calendar-year/essential-monthly-weekly-planner-7-x-9-cy-2025-frosted/ or via Amazon (search for ESSENTIAL 2025 Monthly & Weekly Planner with Tabs, 7"x9": 14 Months)

Then, she shares some fantastic listener-sent solutions for M, the listener stressed out by her many...

Sarah checks in + introduces the show. Then, the main part of the episode is a re-air from 2024. Sarah hopes it is helpful as we approach the spring season!

Sarah opens with a discussion of the idea of planner page as "outside observer" and how seeing her day laid out in physical form can help alleviate stress and provide some helpful objectivity. (She is curious if this is a familiar feeing for anyone else!).

In the main portion of the show, she provides a step by step planning guide for...

A common question sent into BLP is about planning in the face of hard things or uncertainty. This episode is a raw/current one about some challenges Sarah is going through now and how she is going to try to handle them. Please note: this episode was recorded from a hospital room with no special mic so the sound quality might be a little different.

Episode Sponsors:

Green Chef: Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green Chef. Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidfree and use code bestlaidfree for free salads for 2 months pl...

Today, Sarah has a really fun and conversational chat with Azizi Williams and Malika Amandi, otherwise known as the Happier Ladies! These sister started a podcast inspired by the work of Gretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft, and share a love for planning, experiments, goal setting, and accountability (to each other, as well as their listeners). Azizi and Malika share their favorite tools, planning rituals, and more.

Their podcast can be found here; https://happierladies.wixsite.com/mysite

Episode 60 + 61 (Festival of Planning!) is here: https://happierladies.wixsite.com/mysite/episodes/episode/6b09e00f/festival-of-planning-60 and...

In today's episode, Sarah answers questions accumulated in the month of February! Topics include:

- How do you deal with planning events for family members (ie camp, bday parties, etc!)

- How do I integrate goals lists into my planning when I feel like I have endless detailed lists dedicated to complicated projects?

(Nested Goals ep: https://theshubox.com/2024/01/episode-182-nested-goals-explained.html)

- Advice for planning in pregnancy + the postpartum period?

- How does Sarah use the calendar pages in the Hobonichi Weeks?

- How do you...

In today's episode, Sarah shares her top 10 (plus maybe a bonus!) Planning + Planning Adjacent Tools! For specific links, visit https://theshubox.com/organize!

1) Kokuyo Campus Notebooks

2) Uniball Jetstream Pens (0.5 and 0.38 size)

3) Zebra Mildliners in pastel colors - especially used to create little squares for checkboxes!

4) Apple's Screen Time App + Widget

5) Stalogy Short Sticky Notes (plus bonus mention: Midori Sticky Notes Monthly Block)

6) The Essential Calendar (Sarah is an affiliate, so you can use code BESTLAIDPLANS or visit https://www.theessentialcalendar.com/BESTLAIDPLANS for 10% off)

7) Apple...

Today's episode is dedicated to all things morning routine! Sarah shares her own (in detail) and discusses all of the questions to ask yourself if you're looking to add a bit more to your mornings (or not!).

And, she shares some exciting book news -- Best Laid Plans: A Simple Planning System for Living a Live That You Love will be out in January 2026!!

Episode Sponsors:

Prose: Custom skin and haircare that works! For an exclusive trial offer of 50% off your first haircare subscription order, visit prose.com/plans.

We all have to get dressed, right? This is just one more area rife for planning an organizing strategies, and stylist Gab Saper (aka The Wardrobe Editor) is here to deliver! She chats with Sarah about all things wardrobe curation and organization, and Sarah also gives a brief update on recent organizing wins in her closet!

Ways to find and connect with Gab:

Website: https://wardrobeeditor.com

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/wardrobeeditor/

Free guide: https://wardrobeeditor.myflodesk.com/hotagain

Episode Sponsors:

Prose: Custom...

In today's monthly Q&A ep, Sarah shares a Planner Peace vignette, 2 stationery shop recs, and answers 4 listener questions:

Planner Peace comes from a healthcare provider who has cut her documentation time in half after reflecting and listening to Sarah's Efficiency Tips ep. She uses Google products for almost everything, plus a daily paper planner (filled out fresh each day, referring to her digital lists!) for her schedule and tasks.

Stationery shop recs: Both in Chicago: Atlas Stationers and Paper and Pencil.

Question topics:

1) Recommendations for Commonplace Books?<...

If you have any kind of organizing or decluttering goals on your 2025 goals list, today's episode is for you. Sarah interviews Tyler Moore (known as Tidy Dad), a teacher and author with a passion for organizing and curating spaces to meet the needs of life as they ebb and flow through the seasons - and his current season is 3 young kids in a small NYC apartment!

This interview offers plenty of inspiration and great ideas from Tyler, including the idea of an annual decluttering calendar, thoughts on building household routines, and what to start with FIRST if...

In today's episode, Sarah checks in with a January energy report and provides some words of caution about this high-motivation time -- it's fun and you should enjoy it, but be prepared for it to be transient!

She shares her thoughts on 3 essential systems for life management: a comprehensive and accurate Master Calendar, Airtight Task Management, and her Nested Goals framework.

Resources/other episodes mentioned:

1) Seasonal Planning Example: https://theshubox.com/2024/03/blp-episode-189-diving-into-quintile-2.html

2) All About Nested Goals: https://theshubox.com/2024/01/episode-182-nested-goals-explained.html

3) Second Brain concept (credit to...

Carolyn Cohen is a health coach passionate about helping others reach their wellness goals, and she chats with Sarah today about how planning and goal-setting intersect with health and wellness. She discusses the pros and cons of having a separate wellness planner, effective habit tracking, the benefits of data from wearables, and more. She also introduced the idea of a health planning retreat!

Find more from Carolyn at wellnesswhilewalking.com, or check out the Wellness While Walking podcast in your favorite player!

Sponsors:

Green Chef: The #1 Meal Kit for Eating W...

In today's episode, Sarah shares her goals for 2025 in 4 domains: personal, work, relationships, and household! If you love listening to others share their plans and dreams for the year, this episode is for you :) Topics include fitness and health goals, goals related to kids, work goals, organizing aspirations, and more.

Thank you for listening this year, and wishing you a wonderful start to 2025!

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use...

In today's episode, Sarah goes through her setup of her 2025 Goals/Lists planner, a Hobonichi Weeks she will use for tracking and various collections. Then, she answers additional questions sent in the past month.

Topics discussed:

- Request for planner shop recs around the world + recommendation of Good Postage in Charlotte, NC

- Ways to track continuing education data + resources - Sarah recommends going digital for this using a tool like Apple Notes, OneNote, or Notion

- Listener tip: a Taylor Swift-inspired planner!? Meet the Mastermind!

https://www.etsy...

Shunta Grant is the creator of the Best Today Guide and associated communities, and is passionate about helping people find the best version of "today" that they can, and the intentional stewardship of time. She is also vocal and honest about her journey with social media, which is what especially Sarah to her work! In this conversation, Sarah chats with Shunta about what cultivating your "Best Today" means, overcoming challenges, as well as Shunta's social media experiments, challenges, and current practices.

Find Shunta at: https://besttoday.co

Additional Notes:

Planning By Season: almost...

In today's episode, Sarah shares her Planner Stack (all of her physical planning tools) for 2025! She's going more streamlined this year with a couple of changes and many old favorites.

She would love to hear about the tools you have decided on for 2025! Share via theshubox.com or email sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com.

She also discusses a bit more about Planning By Season 2025, which just opened for registration! Learn more about this year-long experience at theshubox.com/courses

TOOLS MENTIONED

* BLP Live/Home Workbook

* BLP...

In today's episode, Sarah kicks off an "organizing special topics" series with Jen Smith, cohost of the Frugal Friends podcast and author of Buy What You Love Without Going Broke, out this January. Sarah and Jen chat intentionality around spending, saving, and how to tackle both short- and long-term financial goals. Get inspired to think about budgeting in a different way by focusing on spending on what matters, not deprivation.

Sarah is releasing Planning By Season! Find out more at theshubox.com/courses (or check out details in the December newsletter - visit theshubox.com/newsletter to...

In this episode, Sarah shares her annual planning framework, essentially a mini-version of her BLP at Home course! Components include reflection, visioning, goal setting, specialty planning, and more.

She has added one weekend option for BLP at Home: Planning 2025! If you'd like to join, visit theshubox.com/courses for more info.

Episode Sponsors:

Cozy Earth: Amazing sheets, pajamas, and other gifts! Visit cozyearth.com/plans for 40%+ off!

Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first...

In the past couple of weeks, there has been more discussion of becoming more intentional about your social media habits. If you'd like more encouragement to see what life is like without "the scroll", this episode has lots of it.

Sarah shares her own story of quitting various forms of social media and then offers 10 compelling reasons to give yourself a break from the scroll.

The scroll is endless; your life is not.

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com...

Today's episode opens with a Planner Peace segment from Sarah's friend and coworker Kathleen who uses a medium-sized At-A-Glance Weekly and Monthly (available here: https://a.co/d/5tnHJZ5). This planner may appear basic but it packs a punch in terms of features (and the paper is nice, too!).

Then, Sarah provides a review of the Just Scribble Plans Vertical Weekly A5 Planner (available here for preorder: https://www.shopjustscribble.com/products/plans-vertical). It's a 2-volume set and a LOT of planning real estate.

Sarah then shares some ideas...

Today's episode is all about Q5 - the last two months of the year! Sarah shares her thoughts on why this time period feels "special", the inherent fun parts and challenges, and her approach to goal setting in this celebratory season.

Info on BLP at Home: Planning 2025 is at theshubox.com/courses

Episode Sponsors:



Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout.

Duration: 00:22:21

In today's episode, Sarah reviews 3 new planner offerings you might be considering of 2025! Products reviewed/discussed:

Full Focus Wellness Planner, a new version of the classic Full Focus Planner

https://fullfocusstore.com/pages/wellness-planner/

Ashley Shelly's Sewn Undated Daily, a compact versatile daily layout

https://ashleyshelly.com/product/daily-notebook-planner-undated/

Organize 365's intriguing rainbow planning products - tear-off pad + spiral bound

https://member.organize365.com/product-category/planning

Note: Full Focus and Ashley Shelly products...

In today's episode, Sarah shares an extensive Planner Peace from a listener who plans "99% on paper" and then shares some Hot Tips + Q&A!

Planner Peace Segment

Products mentioned:

- Plotter: https://plotterusa.com/leather-binders

- Raymay-Davinci: https://yosekastationery.com/search?q=raymay

Hot Tips:

Apps mentioned: OneSec , Forest

Essential Calendar: https://www.theessentialcalendar.com/BESTLAIDPLANS - use BESTLAIDPLANS for 10% off

Note: Sarah is an affiliate and earns a small commission...

In today's episode, host Sarah interviews Sarah Jedd, who works full time as teaching faculty at UW (Faculty in Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture), and is the mother of 5 amazing kids ages 4 to 18! She's also been blogging (old school style) at harry times.com since 2006! Sarah Jedd does a lot, manages a lot, and has fun while doing it.

Sarah (J) shares her planning and life management tactics, from her personal daily planning ritual to her incredibly simple-yet-effective family management technique plus some discussion of her favorite budget and goal setting tactics.

<...

Highlights of this episode:

- Sarah opens by sharing details about BLP at Home: Planning 2025 (visit theshubox.com/courses for details)

- A listener (Bridget) shares her experiences with a display showing Google calendar - her setup, impact on kids, husband, etc!

- Discussion of screen time consciousness and the app Aro, which gamifies putting away your phone (into their special lockbox or otherwise)

- Lots of inspiration if you are starting to think about (yes already) setting up...

It's (almost) a new month, and today's episode is all about THE MONTH! Sarah shares her love for the 12 natural outpoints in our year and discusses ways she loves to mark the start of a new month. She shares her monthly goal setting tactics, and how the month slots into the Nested Goals framework. She also advocates for planning in FUN on a monthly level and reveals her own very practical monthly rituals.

Jenni Kayne:Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS...

In today's episode, Sarah shares some listener tips + answers questions that came in through email or text (305-697-7189)!

Topics include:

- Fun tip for using stickers/etc acquired on vacation

- Unique Quintiles use case from Emily (http://pfforphds.com/podcast/)

- Discussion of annual planning recommendations

(note - for those that want a guided annual planning experience, BLP at Home: Planning 2025 will open for registration in October)

- Recs for...

In today's episode, Kendra Adachi joins Sarah to chat about all things planning-adjacent including her new book, The Plan! Kendra is a NYT Bestselling author and podcaster at the Lazy Genius, and she brings her compassion and unique perspective to planning, goal setting, and time management in her latest book, The Plan. Sarah and Kendra discuss goals, compassionate planning, planning challenges women face, planning along with hormonal swings, and so much more.

Preorder The Plan wherever books are sold, and you will receive a free Pep Talk series from Kendra (either written or audio...

It's a Mixed Bag Ep!

In part 1, Sarah shares a Planner Peace segment from Meredith that covers multiple facets of planning - personal, family, goal setting, and life! Products mentioned are Laurel Denise, Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets, a Family Teams wall calendar, and a Hemlock & Oak Daily.

Family Teams: https://shop.familyteams.com/products/family-plan-calendar

Laurel Denise:

Hemlock & Oak:

Part 2: Planner News!

Sarah discusses some new trends in planning, including planner minimalism - as evidenced by Rochelle In...

In today's episode, Sarah explores the concept of intentionality. She discussed examples and ways we can unknowingly live without much intention and then suggests strategies (large and small) to promote more intentional living.

Things to think about:

- Career autopilot/drift

- Responding to others' expectations

- Saying yes to everything

- Failing to set boundaries

- Consuming media that is served to you via algorithms

- Setting intentions for the day

- Regularly re-evaluating routines and habits

...

It's August's Q&A episode! Join Sarah as she tackles listener questions and comments. Topics include:

- an inbox zero success story

- approaching nebulous//large projects such as book writing

- what does it mean to "work faster" compared to others

- thoughts on the Organize 365 Sunday Basket system (Sarah has one!)

- teaching planning and organizing to school-aged kids

- mindfulness! How do you stay present in the moment if you're always planning the next thing?

Request...

It's a Mixed Bag ep! Topics covered:

1- PTO Spreadsheet - inspired by my friend Kae (gratefulkae.com)

2- Vacation Postmortem! Consider doing a post-trip analysis with a partner. Can also extend to other home areas (summer, a school year, a holiday season, etc!)

3- Two upcoming books I’m excited about - Kendra Adachi’s The Plan and Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts.

4- Hobonichi Releas...

Today's episode features a discussion of all things related to Quintile 4, the season after summer! Sarah features some back to school discussion, but there she also addresses some non-school-related shifts in the season as well as future planning to think about. Then, she dives into a listener query about sticking to plans -- how do you stick to your plan, and how do you avoid being reactive when tasks are coming at you throughout the day?

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In today's episode, Sarah interviews Jodi Wellman on her work on mortality and how the concept of death / our finite lives can inspire living a life with vitality, meaning, and -- for lack of a better term, more "aliveness." Jodi holds a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and spent years exploring and applying these tough topics to help others with her work on Four Thousand Mondays and her recent book, You Only Die Once. Sarah and Jodi discuss memento mori, the darker side of habits and routines, and so much more.

You can find...

In today's episode, Sarah discusses her flagship planning course, Best Laid Plans Academy, as she prepares the launch the fourth round (the first in 2024!). She discusses takeaways from prior rounds, why this material works in a course format, and shares the course topics and logistics.

To learn more, visit theshubox.com/courses; signup information will be available first to newsletter subscribers on August 1!

Newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletter

Episode Sponsors:

Prose Beauty: Truly customized skin and haircare. Go to prose...

In today's episode, Sarah answers questions sent in the last month! First, she opens with two Planner Peace submissions. Then, she answers questions on task management on paper, email management (how long does it REALLY take to clear an inbox?), handling major schedule changes in an already complicated life, and notetaking.

Keep your questions coming! Submit yours at sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com!

Be on the lookout for information on Best Laid Plans Academy Fall 2024, coming next week.

Newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletter

<...

In today's episode, Sarah interviews Sierra Friend, creator and head of MakseLife, a major player in the planner universe today! She discusses how her line of planners came to be, what sets them apart in the market, her thoughts on goal setting, and much more!

Teen planning printable discussed in the episode (free!): https://makselife.com/collections/free-printables/products/goals-for-teens-free-printable

Where to find MakseLife: makselife.com

Sierra on IG: @plannerfriend

Episode Sponsors:

Prose Beauty...

In today's episode, Sarah talks all about one of her favorite hobbies -- reading! She discusses her own reading journey over the years and then talks about the practical side: reading routines, to-be-read list management, library holds, physical vs digital, abandoning books, and more! Finally, she shares her top 10 books (so far) in 2024!

Detailed show notes including book lists can be found at theshubox.com

Podcast episode mentioned on evening routine,

Episode Sponsors

Jenni Kayne: Find your summer aesthetic at jennikayne.com...

In today's episode, Sarah shares 10 questions to help you think through the rest of 2024! Sit back, grab a notebook and your favorite pens, and plan along with her -- or do a whole day of planning and dreaming at your own DIY retreat! Either way, this episode will get you inspired for your July 1st fresh start.

BOBW Midyear Check In Ep: https://lauravanderkam.com/2024/06/best-of-both-worlds-podcast-mid-year-check-in-2024/

Sponsors

Jenni Kayne: Find your summer aesthetic at jennikayne.com. Get 15% off your first order when you use...

In today's episode, Sarah shares thoughts on Time Block planning, a method suggested by Cal Newport, among others. She names pros, cons, and shares her own approach. She also discusses her recent decision to entirely eliminate Reddit scrolling from her life.

Resources:

Episode that inspired today's Time Block Planning Discussion is here:

https://www.thedeeplife.com/podcasts/episodes/ep-305-is-time-blocking-oppressive/

Oliver Burkeman's book: 4000 Weeks

Best Today with Shunta Grant episode mentioned:

https://besttoday.co/blogs/the-best-today™-podcast/ep-171-a-pep-talk-when-youre-leaving-social-media-temporarily-or-permanently

About Progress ep mentioned (with Catherine Pr...

In today's episode, Sarah provides a mini life update and then answers questions that have come from listeners over the past month!

Topics/questions include:

- Tips for working in distracting conditions

- Ideas for budget planning - how does Sarah use YNAB?

- What happens when when attempted morning planning sessions get derailed (by a kid, by illness, by ??)

- Listener idea: having kids cook dinners on rotation through the summer! Fun AND educational.

- Listener feedback: discussion of how with burnout and other mental health...

In today's episode, Sarah shares some ideas and inspiration for your summer -- some of it a little bit outside of the typical (summer cleaning, anyone?).

Topics discussed:

- Sharing the load of summer planning and fun-making

- Summer checklists . . . not just for kids

- Summer fun ideas for less than ideal weather

- Summer habit / routine changes

- Summer cleaning (why is this not a thing?)

- One Big Project

- Think about when you will think about the next season

In today's episode, Sarah shares her recent marathon journey, from goal-setting (a looooong time ago!) to the tools and routines that supported her training to the race itself.

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your new uniform at jennikayne.com. Get 15% off your first order when you use code plans at checkout!

Earth Breeze: Effective liquidless laundry detergent! Listeners can receive 40% off Earth Breeze by visiting earthbreeze.com/plans

Crunch Labs: Camp CrunchLabs is 12 weeks of awesome build-it-yourself fun! Go to crunchlabs.com/PLANS to sign your kids up...

In today's episode, Sarah answers questions + shares some listener tips sent during the month of May! Topics include:

- Laurel Denise Planners (question from a mom/healthcare provider with a lot going on!). Link to prior mini review: https://theshubox.com/2022/12/blp-ep-123-4-2023-planner-mini-reviews.html

- Travel -- packing list tips, Wanderlog app, and the resources Sarah uses most for travel planning

- Advice for a listener struggling with capturing and feeling like she is missing things

- Thoughts on brining margin into the day

Sarah mentions the 5/31...

In today's episode, Sarah shares a few Top 5s, in honor of her birthday! She opens with her top 5 reasons for planning, followed by the top 5 essential elements of a funcitonal system. Finally, she gets personal and shares her top 5 hopes + dreams for the next year of life!

If you'd like to celebrate with Sarah, she would love:

- a review

- a tip on a product to review or awesome person to have on the show (just email sarah.hart.unger at gmail!)

- if you shared this episode with...

In today's episode, Sarah shares some unexpected recent planning pivots, and then business and production coach Jade Boyd joins her to talk all things ClickUp -- in her opinion, one digital platform that can be used to organize it all. Jade also shares her love of paper as daily planning tool, the intimidation factor with digital organizing solutions, and the value of organizing work and life in one system.

More from Jade can be found at https://jadeboyd.co

Show notes: Detailed show notes + more are at theshubox.com

Newsletter: Sign up for...

Do you ever have a project that seems to pop up on your annual goals list year after year, but never gets done? This episode is an exploration of how to tackle these projects and goals. Sarah gets personal, sharing her own Big Daunting Projects and some questions that might be worth asking about things that show up again and again (and again) on yearly lists.

Questions to ask yourself when it comes to these big (and possibly scary, or emotionally difficulty) goals:

1. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IT?

2. DO YOU HAVE...

Today's episode is a planning-adjacent topic! Sarah opens with a bit about her own decorating and organizing challenges and then interviews author Myquillyn Smith, an expert on decorating and creating functional spaces within the home.

They chat about many planning-related aspects of big home projects, including how to get started when it all seems daunting, tools for tracking home projects, and an incredibly useful framework for order of operations. Myquillyn prizes functional decorating and creating a home that truly works for then ways you use it.

Her beautiful new book, House Rules: How to Decorate...

In today's episode, Sarah provides a more in-depth review of two NOLTY April-start monthly planners, and then provides updates on the latest releases from Erin Condren (some excited changes to their Daily Duo!) and Simplified (so pretty).

She then shares her own planner switchup for Spring!

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!

Factor: Delicious and fresh already-prepared meals delivered to your door. Head to factormeals.com...

Today's episode features a planner peace submission that was so intriguing that it warranted an entire episode! Our listener Erin has a lot on her plate (full time job, 2 kids, volunteer work, caring for relatives, and more!) -- and she has put together and incredibly comprehensive system that brings her to a current state of Planner Peace! Rather than a stack, she's combined digital and physical elements from her favorite tools to create a streamlined system.

Products Discussed:

1) The Remarkable2 Tablet: https://remarkable.com/store/remarkable-2

2) Day Designer Monthly: https://www.bluesky.com...

Welcome to April's Q&A/Tips episode!

Sarah shares a brief recap of her family vacation (and getting back into life!) and then brings April's Q&A + Tips.

Topics:

1) Quarters in the Southern Hemisphere - an Australian listener reports back!

2) Cool idea for repurposing an unused planner into a paper Second Brain/Collections Notebook/Master Planner

3) App rec for routine building for those with ADHD/time blindness: Brili https://brili.com

4) 5 Year Journal Recs

Midori: https://www.jetpens.com/Midori-5-Year-Diary-Embroidered-Beige/pd/29115

Hobonichi...

Happy new quarter or quintile!!

Today's episode is travel-inspired because Sarah will be returning from a family trip just before it airs. In today's episode, she shares her current travel planning strategies as a parent of kids who are now at ages that are pretty easy to travel with (6, 10, and about-to-be 12!).

She covers her use of Apple Notes as a useful second brain for travel and shares her appreciation for down time and reservations on vacation!

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code...

In today's episode, Sarah reviews 3 planners from small business - one of them so small it hasn't been released yet!

The planners are:

1) The Halo Planner by Rebecca Brosnan, thehaloplanner.com (shop not open yet, but will be soon) - quarterly gridded planner with a ton of features and both daily + weekly layouts

2) Biz Mom Planner by Tiffani - she describes her business as "woman, minority, and mama-owned"! Hand made small batch disc-bound planners, very open ended and undated, thick luxurious-feeling paper. Great for a fresh start and lots of space to write!<...

Today's episode is devoted to the Ideal Week exercise, a practice where you put your ideal week onto paper (or screen) using an hourly format. This can be done on paper using a template or an old vertical weekly planner, or on screen via an electronic calendar or even by writing on a pdf using an app.

Sarah discusses nuances of this exercise, components she includes, and variations on the idea (Ideal Month, anyone?).

A free ideal week template was included in the March newsletter - if you'd like a copy, feel free to send...

Sarah opens with a discussion of the idea of planner page as "outside observer" and how seeing her day laid out in physical form can help alleviate stress and provide some helpful objectivity. (She is curious if this is a familiar feeing for anyone else!).

In the main portion of the show, she provides a step by step planning guide for your Quintile 2, or spring season (fall for our Southern Hemisphere listeners!). From end-of-the-academic year activities to spring cleaning energy, she provides many useful prompts to think about and then encourages a thorough review of your annual...

Welcome to the March Q&A Episode! Topics discussed:

- Recommendations for planning and visioning during a job transition phase?

- Organizing the many layers of tasks around a big international move

- Follow up: Organizing kids' clothes - some tips from listener Sarah K!

- Quintiles - do you divide the year evenly?

- Details on morning planning sessions

- Listener suggestion: Sunday Basket system (Organize 365) for corralling tasks

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Check out their new PROTEIN BOOST menus...

Today is a departure from the typical BLP format - in today's special edition episode, Sarah joins Amanda of Amanda's Favorites both via audio and on YouTube (view the video version on Amanda's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEd0U-Hl3ZI ).

The two hosts interview each other about a wide array of topics, from daily life to designing their dream planner!

Link to Amanda's prior interview on BLP: https://theshubox.com/2021/08/show-notes-best-laid-plans-x-amandas-favorites.html

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Now with new option for PROTEIN BOOST menus! Visit...

Today's deep dive episode was inspired by a listener question below:

"I’m so curious how you handle all the minutia and small to-dos of daily life. I have 3 kids, a full-time in-office job, and also have a side hustle crafting-based business. It seems like there are constantly people to coordinate with for kids, teacher emails that should be read, game schedules to add to the calendar, meals to plan, groceries to order, other items (household/clothing) that need to be purchased, etc. and I’m feeling suuuuuper overwhelmed with it all."

Sarah shares her task...

We all need rest. How can you ensure that you give yourself the gift of rest when you need it?

Sarah suggests planning for it can help, among other things! Today's episode is dedicated to all things rest as Sarah discusses her need for a 'down month' and discusses ways to truly rest well even with the challenges of work, kids, and more.

Books Mentioned:

Real Self Care by Pooja Lakshmin

Do Nothing by Jenny Odell

Wintering by Katherine May

Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia...

It's a Q&A episode! Sarah tackles listener questions sent in over the previous month. Topics include:

1) Update on formalizing the task management of household (vs work) projects

2) Thoughts on Atul Gawande's The Checklist Manifesto

3) "Can you talk about busyness?"

4) 100 Dream List - what is it, and where to keep?

5) Planning-adjacent ideas for managing kids' clothes

6) Inbox Zero methodology

7) Planning/task and data management for a new family medical diagnosis

8) How to balance goal setting with flexibility?

SPONSORS:<...

Sarah loves paper planners but there are so many people out there planning effectively with digital tools - and it was time to interview one of them! In this episode, Sarah interviews her friend Kaelyn Lopez (Kae, an RN working in transplant coordination and mother of 2 who blogs at gratefulkae.com ) for this episode because Kae has gradually shifted to an entirely digital planning system that is both functional and fun. She shares her system in detail in this conversational episode!

Her primary tools: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Tasks

Seconary tools: Google Keep, Google Drive...

In today's episode, Sarah shares how her year is shaping up so far, including a report on her planner choices for the year. Then, the episode is devoted to a deep dive into Nested Goal Setting - her method for setting goals and identifying tasks based on time horizon from daily to yearly. She reviews her methodology in detail and answers common questions from "wait, isn't that a LOT of time spent planning?" to those about which tools she uses and when to refer to each list.

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In today's episode, Sarah shares some listener suggestions/feedback and then delves into January's listener questions -- many around goal setting and task management (it is January, after all)!

References:

Julie Morganstern's Time to Parent: https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/time-to-parent

The Eisenhower Matrix (James Clear's take): https://jamesclear.com/eisenhower-box

Cal Newport episode: From Chaos to Calm in One Day - https://www.thedeeplife.com/podcasts/episodes/ep-277-from-chaos-to-calm-in-1-day/

Contact Info:

Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com

Voice questions: https://www...

Today's episode is all about media consumption and ways to really get the most out of the content we choose to immerse ourselves in! Sarah provides several tips for enjoying and curating media, from recording to increase awareness to partnering up to taking notes.

REQUEST: Please send guest and topic ideas! Sarah wants to make 2024's Best Laid Plans episodes the most fun and useful yet!

Contact Info:

Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com

Voice questions: https://www.speakpipe.com/bestlaidplans

Info on Best Laid Plans...

This episode airs on 1/1/24 - a new day, week, month, quintile, and year!! On this special day, Sarah discusses her own annual goal-setting processes this year, and then shares her own list of goals for 2024!

These include goals in her 5 chosen domains: PERSONAL / RELATIONSHIPS / HOUSEHOLD / CLINICAL WORK / CREATIVE WORK.

Please send your ideas for 2024 guests and topics -- hoping for a great year on the podcast!

NOTE: Planning By Season - a yearlong seasonal planning course - will be open for registration until the morning of 1/4/24.

Find details here: http://theshubox...

In today's episode, Sarah shares her 2023 favorites (book / movie / music / planning tools!) and then share which goals came to fruition and which did not. She also discusses the merits of setting goals without expecting that every single one of them will be reached.

Contact Info:

Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com

Voice questions: https://www.speakpipe.com/bestlaidplans

Info on Best Laid Plans at Home: theshubox.com/courses

Send me a text or voice memo - (305) 697-7189

Sign up for my newsletter: https://theshubox...

In today's episode, Sarah provides an overview of why annual goals make sense and why she doesn't love the word "resolutions". She delves into the different types of goals one might consider setting, and shares some of the most common goals set in 2023. Finally, she details when and how you might hold your own annual goal setting session.

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Listeners get 15% off the first order by using code PLANS at checkout!

Earth Breeze: Ditch messy liquid laundry detergent + get started with Earth Breeze...

In today's episode, Sarah shares two listener submissions for Word of the Year (one from Australia and one from Scotland!) and then dive into some listener questions!

Topics include:

1) Capture Overload

2) End-of-residency Planning - Lack of Motivation to Set Work Goals

3) Organization of weekly / monthly / quintile goals lists

4) Post-baby planning - how to divide the year?

5) Hobonichi setup tips!

Planning By Season is open for registration - this is Sarah's structured seasonal goal setting experience taking place throughout 2024! Visit theshubox.com/courses...

In today's episode, Sarah shares how she used her 2023 planners and then unveils her 2023 planner stack!!

Products Mentioned:

Hobonichi Cousin Avec

Hobonichi A6 Original

Cloth & Paper Disc-Bound Half-Letter

Hobonichi 5 Year Journal

Ashley Shelly Monthly (Amanda's Favorites Collab)

BLP NEWS:

- Planning By Season (seasonal planning sessions) and Digital Detox 2.0 are open for registration! Visit theshubox.com/courses for details!

- GIVEAWAYS on theshubox.com this week - just enter your name in the comments for a chance to win one of...