Best Laid Plans

Inspired by a podcast episode of similar title (Cal Newport's Deep Questions Ep #211), Sarah decides to offer a 10,000 foot view of how she organizes . . . pretty much everything! This episode is more about principles than tools (though of course those get a mention as well!). Sarah talks through her various horizons of planning, from daily to yearly, and her methods for keeping inputs under contr...

It's Hobonichi season, and Sarah is excited! She opens with a Planner Peace submission from Hobonichi user, and then goes into a detailed exploration of the current Hobonichi offerings, from planners to covers and more. Learn about the ordering process, the website (it's in English!) and their new offerings for 2023, as well as what Sarah is thinking of ordering herself. Episode Sponsors: Yipes: F...

In this episode, Sarah opens with a discussion of back to school energy, with a shout out to the Hobonichi 2023 releases + the new Full Focus designs. Then, she shares some listener tips related to reading journals and book tracking. In the Q&A, she answers questions in themes: 2 related to scrolling habits, 2 planner matchmaking requests, and 1 on Apple Notes. As always, detailed links/notes up c...

In today's episode, Kelly Nolan joins Sarah to talk all things digital planning and calendar management. Kelly is a lawyer, previously working as a litigator. She became passionate about helping women manage their time and thrive in busy jobs, and now teaches time management for her main career. She loves helping women to truly understand where time is going and helping them integrate work and lif...

This episode is dedicated to all things reading! In the first half, Sarah discusses her reading habits through the years, including a few habits she has embraced recently to help her read more. Then, she provides mini-reviews of 4 reading journals: My Reading Life: A Book Journal by Ann Bogel, Bibliophile Reader's Journal by Jane Mount, My Reading Adventures: A Book Journal for Kids by Ann Bogel,...

Today's episode is a deep dive into the world of a planner founder and company leader! Michelle Askin cofounded Bloom when she was just 20 years old (!), and 12 years later their products are widely available, addressing planning needs for many different stages of life. Michelle chats about the products she's using now, Bloom's mission to give back, ways she combines digital + paper, and finally s...

Today's episode is a ReAir, in part because Sarah's voice is a bit out of commission due to COVID. She records a brief intro (and promises to be back when she sounds better), and this is followed by a replay of February's episode below, inspired by a tough week on call Sarah had. She outlines 5 things she wished she had done to make life easier on herself -- things that might apply to anyone going...

In today's episode, Sarah opens with a listener tips about daily theme dressing by color, and shares some info on The Planner Wire, an online hub (created by another planner aficionados) for all things planning related. Then, she takes a deep dive into how she is using her current lineup, including some different uses for some of the pages in EC's Daily Duo and some more details about her low-key...

In this episode, a listener Beth opens with a fantastic Planner Peace submission, all about her transition to digital planning with Artful Agenda. Then, Sarah discusses her process for checking into goals midway through the year. She shares questions to think about as well as the specific products and tools she uses to capture her goals and lists. Finally, she shares her own triaged goals list for...

In this episode, Sarah shares a few listener tips! Amanda discusses her own self-care strategy for busy times, Jen shares a cautionary tale about Frixion pens, and Xoke provides some fantastic email tips. Sarah then discusses the upcoming Cultivate What Matters reading journal, and then dives into her mini-review of The Plan by Lauren Truslow. This planner is BIG but packs a lot of punch, includin...

Today's episode is an Ask Me Anything in honor of the #100 milestone! Sarah received questions from listeners and answers more than 15 of them in this fun episode -- from pencil cases to the ways planning has changed her life.   Thank you all for listening and helping bring BLP to this fun milestone! In celebration, if you are able to leave a review or share with a friend, Sarah would be grateful!...

Today's episode opens with a Planner Peace segment from Emelia, who created custom nursing school planners for herself AND shared her beautiful system with her classmates! Then, Sarah answers a question from Lori and suggests 3 options for larger family wall calandars. Finally, Sarah gives a list of suggestions for ways to cope in more stressful or transitional times, from creating a manifesto (tr...

In this episode, Sarah opens up with a Planner Peace submission from another Sarah -but that one lives in Australia! Then she quickly discusses a few product finds (Washi Tape Shop, Pilot Frixion Gel Pens). Finally, she gets into a discussion of email -- some observations she has noted over the years and things she'd like to change about her own habits! Episode Sponsors: PrepDish and the Meal Plan...

In this episode, Sarah opens with an all-digital Planner Peace submission from Catherine, who organizes everything in various Outlook/Microsoft Products (calendar, tasks, to-dos, and email). Then, Sarah answers a listener asking for work notebooks. Sarah then delves into a discussion of vacation planning, with some notes about packing. If you've never tried planning your outfits on a trip day by d...

In this episode, Sarah shares a long but incredibly impressive planner peace submission from Heather, who has built an amazing custom system primarily using Agendio. Then, Sarah dives into her review of the Erin Condren A5 Daily Duo! This is her first time trying out this system which launched ~2 years ago to great enthusiasm in the planner community. Links: Agendio: https://agendio.com Sarah's Er...

In this episode, Sarah opens with a Planner Peace voice memo sent in by Tara! Then she moves to listener Q&A (plus a tip!). Question topics include: 1) Current planner lineup 2) Tip from a listener - idea and resource for planning and long-term vision-building with a partner 3) Fixing mistakes/rescheduled events in your planner 4) Question about ring-bound planner options 5) Feeling anxious about...

In this episode, Sarah opens with a Planner Peace segment from Cindy, who uses MakseLife and Passion Planner currently, and also explains why she prefers her weekly planner separate from her daily. Then, she gets into all things summer planning! Topics include: - choosing a time to plan - summer reading & media - summer wardrobe - bathing suits, sandals, etc - childcare - summer work schedules - s...

In this episode, Sarah delves into a listener email sent about planning as stress relief. Then, she shares Peggy's Planner Peace submission, which combines use of the Monk Manual, google calendar, todoist, and Organize 365! Then, she goes into an in-depth review of the Hemlock & Oak Weekly Undated Planner. If Planner Peace is eluding you this year - it might be one to consider! Episode Sponsors: P...

Today's episode is a veer away from our usual planning topics - stylist Lani Inlander joins Sarah to answer some great listener questions received regarding planning your wardrobe + style! Lani discussed ways one might consider planning outfits for the week, a different way to think about identifying your style, ways to budget for a wardrobe upgrade, and tips and inspiration for closet declutterin...

In this episode, Sarah opens up with a new Planner Peace segment, and then shares several listener questions (and answers!). Q1 - Tips for planning to help share the mental load with one's partner Q2 - Recommendations for a hobby planner, such as for gardening Q3 - Ways to capture ideas from books you have read Q4 - Planning out reading with kids (or kids "to be read" lists!) Q5 - Planning for som...

In this episode, Sarah opens with a Planner Peace submission from Lynn, a fellow doctor-mom and planner lover! Lynn uses a combination of MakseLife, Midori Traveler's Notebooks, and a Hobonichi Cousin. Next, Sarah mentions a listener tip for those looking for outside accountability - an app system called Shelpful. Then, Sarah gets into today's main topic - a step by step system for digging yoursel...

Sarah opens this episode with some follow ups -- thanking those who reached out to listener E, and discussing possible platforms for sharing more together. Then, she shares listener Amye's version of imperfect planner peace! Finally, she provides some details and her perspective on some big spring/academic planner launches (Simplified + EC). Episode sponsor: PrepDish! Go to PrepDish.com/plans for...

This episode opens with a listener question about eco-friendly planners and also communication your plans with a childcare provider. Another listener writes in looking for ideas for a project to commemorate her 25 years of marriage (awwww!). Then, Sarah discusses all forms of tracking -- anything from nutrition to books read and beyond. She dives into the positive and negatives that that can come...

A listener writes in searching for a planning accountability partner, and Sarah discusses ways that perhaps the BLP community could come together and share lists (preferably without the temptations of social media platforms). Then, she goes into a review of the Inamio 24 Hour Weekly Planner - a very similar option to Hobonichi, but with some key differences, including the paper and the price! Lear...

Nir Eyal is a former Stanford Business and Design School professor and most recently author of Indistractible: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Sarah greatly enjoyed the book and her interest was piqued even further when she heard Nir on another podcast essentially summing up his strategy as PLANNING as the best defense against a distracted life. In this conversation, Nir dives...