Best Laid Plans

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...

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)...

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...

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...

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 Ch...

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 In...

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...

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...

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...

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 tip...

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 the...

In today's episode, Sarah shares lessons learned from the Digital Detox program, thoughts on a word for the year (2024!), and discusses her upcoming Seasonal Planning sessions. For detailed information + registration for Digital Detox (Jan/Feb) and Planning by Season in 2024, make sure you are subscribed to her monthly newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletter -- all details will be released 12/1. Prio...

Today's planning adjacent topic is something we all have to contend with: meal planning! Meghan Splawn is an expert on this topic and she chats with Sarah about her peaceful meal planning ritual, ways to handle busy weeknights, favorite kitchen gadgets + more! Didn't I Just Feed You Amazon Shop Find more from Meghan and listen to Didn't I Just Feed You at http://didntijustfeedyou.com  Episode Spon...

Sarah opens by chatting about her experiences at BLP Live - it was an amazing weekend! Then, she goes through November Q&A - manny questions are centered around goal setting, as it's that time of year (yes, already!). Topics: 1- Abandoning certain goals around weight fitness - what to do? 2- Planning ahead of the current quintile 3- Goal-setting planner recommendations (brands mentioned: MakseLife...

There are certain things listeners (or just random people in Sarah's life) inquire about over and over again, and today she attempts to give all the answer! Find out her answers to things like: - What is the weird habit bar at the top of your planner page? - How can you use paper when things change so much? - Isn't it confusing using multiple planners? - How can use paper + still communicate with...

SHU here - hi everyone! Even though I almost never run 're-airs', I've had a really tough week (suffered some injuries, but on the mend) and decided to bring back one of my favorite and most popular episodes for this week. I hope you enjoy it! Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Listeners get 15% off the first order by using code PLANS at checkout! PrepDish:...

Sarah brings a fresh new batch of 2024 planner review with this episode, all of which were suggested by listeners! All planners were purchased by Sarah; links are not affiliate. Please keep in touch and let her know what else you'd like to see reviewed as we approach the peak of planner-buying season! 1) Passionate Penny Pincher: Is it a planner, or a lifestyle? Sarah is pretty sure it's both and...

It's a planner-adjacent episode today! Sarah muses and discusses the inputs which shape our lives and give us things to react to -- some which comes from external sources, and many which come from within! She discusses the balance between proactivity and reactivity (including the acknowledgement that some reactivity is unavoidable!), the ways we get interrupted and interrupt ourselves, and how we...

In this episode, Sarah does some planner matchmaking and answers listeners' questions! Products mentioned: - Master-sized Leuchtturm - XL Moleskine - Nuuna weekly diary L - Simplified Dapper Desk + Simplified Daily - Stalogy notebooks - Ashley Shelly Daily Question topics: 1. When do you take your planner with you? How do you avoid disaster (ie, water bottle spills)? 2. When to conduct a monthly p...

Sarah was inspired by a question she received at a presentation she was giving to discuss the feeling of overwhelm, and how (at least sometimes!) planning can be helpful during those times, even when it can feel extraneous or like something we don't have time for. She also discusses what to do if the more elaborate planning systems (such as her Nested Goals Method) feel overwhelming at the start....

In this episode, Sarah reviews two new or updated planners: 1) Archer + Olive's Dated Wellness Planner 2) Cal Newport's Time-Block Planner V2.0 She also shares her current planner -- which is a bit full circle! She also shares information on Best Laid Plans Live - Planning 2024, since registration for this live event in South Florida closes October 3rd! Visit theshubox.com/courses for more details...

In today's episode, Sarah tackles 5 listener questions and provides two pieces of listener feedback! Question topics: 1) Planners to Track/Memory-Keep in Pregnancy 2) Daily planners without a timeline 3) Teaching kids to plan 4) Planner conferences (ie, Go Wild and others) 5) Concept of "syllabus" for your planning Feedback: 1) Help for the Passion Planner user a bit embarrassed by her planner (bu...

The teacher planning episode is here! This episode opens with clips and tips from veteran teachers who share their planning tips and favorite products. Then, Sarah speaks with Hannah Taylor, an online history teacher with a passion for helping students plan well, no matter what their educational environment (virtual, home, or in-person). Hannah discusses techniques and ideas for getting middle and...

In this planning adjacent episode timed especially for Labor Day, Sarah shares her favorite work tips, from strategizing to use vacation time well to creating an effective email strategy. Also: avoid bad pens at all cost :) Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Listeners get 15% off the first order by using code PLANS at checkout! Green Chef: Clean eating with...

In today's episode, Sarah talks all about the Hobonichi 2024 release, including what she loves about these planners, changes for this year, and more. She then discusses several Hobonichi-inspired brands, including: Aura Estelle: https://www.auraestelle.com Wonderland 222: https://wonderland222.com Sterling Ink: https://sterling-ink.com She then discusses the next round of Best Laid Plans Academy,...