Best Laid Plans

By Sarah Hart-Unger

What's Best Laid Plans about?

Welcome to Best Laid Plans -- a podcast all about planning and the planning tools we love. From planning techniques and organizing philosophies to planners and notebooks, we cover it all. Host Sarah Hart-Unger is a mother of 3, physician, podcasting pro, and a lover of lists and all things paper! Listen in weekly for conversations about planning and productivity as well as product reviews and interviews with planning experts!

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LAST EPISODE

Fall Planner Reviews: Arche...

09.25.2023

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 ...

Best Laid Plans episodes:

09.25.2023 Fall Planner Reviews: Archer & Olive, Cal Newport's Time Block V2, and What I'm Using Now EP 165 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 ...
09.18.2023 September Q&A: Planning "Syllabus", Planner Conferences, Teaching Kids to Use Planners, Pregnancy Planners, Daily Planners without Timeslots + More! EP 164 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 ...
09.11.2023 How Teachers Plan + How Can Students Plan from a Teacher's Perspective EP 163 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 ...
09.04.2023 Top Work Tips (Planning-Adjacent!) EP 162 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 ...
08.28.2023 Hobonichi 2024 + Best Laid Plans Academy Round 3 EP 161 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 ...
08.21.2023 Planning x Crafts: Planning to Enjoy the Hobbies You Love with Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life EP 160 Sherri McConnell shares her patterns, techniques, and so much more at A Quilting Life -- and one of her passions is to help those who love quilting to find time to truly enjoy their hobby and craft! She chats with ...
08.14.2023 Quintile 4: Guide to Planning and Thinking Through the Season EP 159 In this episode, Sarah provides a guide to planning + thinking through Quintile 4! She touches on all aspects of planning this back-to-school season which can be jarring and a lot of moving parts for many! Consider listening to this ...
08.07.2023 August Q&A: Planning in Challenging Life Phases, Planner Rec for 2 Teen Boys, Big Weekly Planners, Dangling Task Management, Planner-Shy, and More! EP 158 In this Q&A episode, Sarah provides her take on listener questions: Q1: Planning during challenging life phases Q2: Back to school planner recs for a pair of teen brothers Q3: Planner matchmaking for a WFH mother seeking a BIG planner ...
07.31.2023 Organize 365 x Best Laid Plans: Lisa Woodruff Interviews Sarah for the Back to School Blitz EP 157 Today's episode is a little bit of a departure from the regular format - Sarah shares an interview Lisa Woodruff did with her for the Organize 365 Back to School Blitz! She discusses some of her favorite basic tips for ...
07.24.2023 Daily Rituals + 3 Mini-Reviews: Passion Planner, Rad & Happy, and Performance Lab's Focus Planner EP 156 In part 1 of today's episode, Sarah presents 3 mini-reviews -- clearing out her to-be-reviewed stash! 1) Rad & Happy undated weekly planner 2) Passion Planner academic weekly + erasable pens 3) Performance Lab's Focus Planner (Australia) Visit the show ...
07.17.2023 Decluttering, Organizing, and Stuff: Past, Present, and Future EP 155 In today's episode, Sarah discusses the planning-adjacent topic of organizing and curating our spaces and stuff. She shares her history with organizing (being organized + clearing clutter has not always been a personal strength!) and prior influences, from Marie Kondo ...
07.10.2023 July Q&A: Getting Started with Longer-Team Goal Setting, Paper 101, Planner for a Nontraditional Student, Erasable Pens & More EP 154 In this Q&A, Sarah answers questions about: 1) Becoming more comfortable with setting longer term (monthly, seasonal, yearly) goals Interested in setting your 2024 yearly goals with Sarah in FL? Visit: https://theshubox.com/courses 2) Paper sizes, weights, and pen types! (Paper ...
07.03.2023 Real-Life Planner Interview: Stacy Mellem and her Franklin-Covey Journey EP 153 In today's episode, Sarah interviews Stacy Mellem, a devoted Franklin-Covey user for over 30 years! Stacy shares how she's made the system work for her over the years, and why she believes planning is still important in retirement (or what ...
06.26.2023 Summer Adventures in Disc-Bound Planning - Inkwell Press EP:152 Sarah discusses her prior hesitancy around planners with rings and discs, and then delves into her current unexpected love for the Inkwell Press Disc Bound Planner with 2023-24 inserts, as well as the advantages that come with a planner where ...
06.19.2023 Summer Goals Revisited, Review of Mark's Monthly, and Photo Management Follow Up EP 151 In today's episode, Sarah revisits her own summer planning and discusses how she shifted her goals to reflect current priorities and time pressure. She reminds listeners that sometimes planning can mean downshifting in one area to focus on another, and ...
06.12.2023 2023: Life + Planning Updates (Where It Started / How It's Going) EP 150 Life update episode! Sarah shares what is going well this year, and things that have been more challenging -- plus an update on which of her 2023 planners are still in use at the almost-6-month mark! Episode Sponsors: Earth Breeze: ...
06.05.2023 Q&A: Keeping Track of Health-Details, Photo & Memory Organization, Planners for Kids, and Planning on the Fly EP 149 It's a June Q&A episode! Questions: 1- Small portable planner to track migraine-related details? 2- Ways to deal with photos + memory keeping (esp with a newborn)? 3- Planner/collection system to deal with family's increasingly complex medical needs? (Mentioned: https://www.jetpens.com/Lihit-Lab-Bloomin-Pocket-Folder-A4-8-Pockets-Pure-Blue/pd/33404; ...
05.29.2023 Summer Planning: From Travel to Reading to Special Summer Vibes, plus Introducing the Digital Detox Mini-Course EP 148 This episode is all about the ways we might think about planning and curating our summers, from travel to reading lists to work projects to media and more. In addition, Sarah announces the launch of her Digital Detox Mini-Course! This ...
05.22.2023 Habits, Intention and Overcoming Perfectionism with Monica Packer EP 147 In this month's guest episode, Sarah chats with Monica Packer about habit formation, perfectionism, self-compassion, and more. Monica is the host of the About Progress podcast as well as a coach and mother of 5, from ages 3 months to ...
05.15.2023 Erin Condren + The Productivity Planner: Two Spring Planner Reviews! EP 146 This episode starts with two follow ups: 1- Follow up to the listener wanting a potentially custom planner with to do/timeline on left and notes on right: Passion Planner Daily: Etsy as a great place to purchase custom sheets or ...
05.08.2023 Efficiency Tips for Health Care Providers EP 145 In today's episodes, Sarah shares tips + tricks she's learned over the years (from residency training to her current role as practicing physician) to help increase efficiency in her healthcare role. From charting to managing synchronous chat messages to communicating ...
05.01.2023 Q&A: Custom Planners, Sarah's Ideal Planner, Podcast Recs + More! EP 144 It's a Q&A episode! 1- A listener is looking for a custom planner that has schedule on the left / space on the right. Options Mentioned: Agendio, Personal Planner, Plum Paper, and Golden Coil, plus Full Focus as a non-custom ...
04.24.2023 Heart to Heart Screen Time Talk. EP: 143 Sarah brings her honest thoughts about screen time to this heart-to-heart episode. First, she shares two valuable listener perspectives: 1) Rachel in Wales, who spent a month without a smartphone and was converted permanently: http://www.rachelinwales.com/2022/10/analogue-august-month-or-14-without.html 2) Leslie, a self-described "mid/later-life" ...
04.17.2023 Mini-Q&A (Sleep + Biological Rhythms) + Product Review: Flame Tree Midi Notebooks, Karst Stone Paper, and EC Meal Planning Petite Planner EP 142 In today's episode, Sarah provides a follow up to Vickie's planner conundrum, and then delves into two listener question: one on evening routines to allow for early mornings, and one on various hormonal cycles (applicable to those who menstruate) and ...
04.10.2023 Outside-the-Box Travel Planning Tips from the Road EP 141 Sarah opens this episode with a request for help with planner matchmaking for her dear friend and planning co-conspirator Vickie, who is looking for: " . . . a relatively portable/lighter (ideally smaller than 5x8in), hardbound (no spiral!) planner, w ...
04.03.2023 Breaking Up Big Projects EP 140 Today's episode opens up with a great Planner Peace submission from Millicent! Products mentioned: - Simplified Daily Planner - Day Designer Monthly - Essential Calendar (www.theessentialcalendar.com/BESTLAIDPLANS and use code BESTLAIDPLANS at checkout for 10% off!) Then, Sarah discusses 11 steps ...
03.27.2023 AMA (Ask Me Anything): Morning Routine, Wardrobe Organization, Travel, and More EP 139 In this episode, Sarah comes on with answers to your questions in an AMA (ask me anything)-style format! Topics include: - Social media (or lack thereof) - Current morning routine - What Sarah would do with a year off from ...
03.20.2023 Organizing and Planning Your Budget with Allison Baggerly EP 138 Allison Baggerly of Inspired Budget joins Sarah on the show today to discuss the ways that planning can help you set up and execute on a budget that truly answers to your needs and desires, from paying off debt to ...
03.13.2023 Pens, Highlighters, Accessories + More! EP 137 In this episode, Sarah gives a run down of her favorite pens, markers, highlighters, and more! Specific items listed below + visit theshubox.com for links! Best Laid Plans LIVE Retreat - Nov 2-4! Look for registration details at theshubox.com/blpa Email ...
03.06.2023 Mixed Bag Ep! Planner Wanderlust, 2023 Ups & Downs, and Q&A from a Physician in Fellowship EP 136 Today's episode is a mixed bag! Sarah opens with a planner peace submission sent in by Liz which combines the Planner Pad with an accessory goals notebook and Voodoopad -- a wiki-creation tool. Then, Sarah discusses her current planner wanderlust ...
02.27.2023 Planning Your Passions EP 135 Planning doesn't have to be about dry work-related goals - it can add another fun dimension to almost anything in life, including passions + hobbies. After sharing a Notion-centric planner peace from listener Coree (details below), Sarah delves into how ...
02.20.2023 Feb Q&A: Planning Gender Divide, Password Management, Planning in Pregnancy, and Overwhelm with Annual Goals EP 134 In this Q&A episode, after sharing a multi-level Planner Peace segment from listener Emilie, Sarah addresses multiple questions and topics from listeners, including: Passwords + longer term lists - where to store? Planning during pregnancy - from first tri fatigue ...
02.13.2023 Planning as a Teen with Aashna Shah, Published Author, Dancer and Miss Florida Teen EP 133 Aashna Shah is a dancer, published author, and advocate for those with learning disabilities. She's also Miss Florida Teen and notes that her favorite tool for success is her planner! She and Sarah talk about all things planning, including how ...
02.06.2023 Coping During Stressful Times, Monthly Goal Planner, and Best Laid Plans Academy Details EP 132 In this episode, Sarah opens with a more detailed description of how she is using her EC Monthly Planner as an Annual Goal Setting tool. Then, she delves into how she manages (or doesn't!) stress during busy call weeks, including ...
01.30.2023 Planner Fail? Two Great Weekly Options: Haroo Planner + Roterunner Purpose Planner EP 131 First, Sarah opens with some follow up from the last Q&A episode, where a listener asked for help organizing meeting notes. Suggestions include scanning and uploading to OneNote, or just doubling down on color coding and separate binders/notebooks! Then she ...
01.23.2023 Planning for Sick Days & Illnesses EP 130 In this shorter episode, Sarah -- currently dealing with her own viral illness -- share some tips on planning ahead for illnesses that will inevitably occur! Pre-stock your favorite over the counter medications or supplements, create a resilient schedule, and ...
01.16.2023 Q&A: Keeping Track of Meeting Notes, Irregular Schedules, Erasable Pens, Tracking Ongoing Tasks + Planner Peace Gold! EP 129 Sarah shares a minor update on her 2023 planner stack, and then opens today's Q&A episode with a Planner Peace submission from a successful scientist that is packed with ideas and tips about goal-setting, handling meetings, and more. Then, the ...
01.09.2023 Bullet Journaling, Mindfulness + More with Ryder Carroll EP 128 Welcome to the first interview episode of 2023! In today's episode, Sarah interviews Ryder Carroll, best-selling author, digital product designer, TEDx speaker, and inventor of the Bullet Journal method. Ryder shares the story of how the Bullet Journal came to ...
01.02.2023 A Successful + Fun Kickoff to 2023 + Sarah's 2023 Goals EP 127 Welcome to 2023!! In this episode, Sarah shares 5 tips for a successful and fun start to the new year, and then shares her own personal goals list for the new year. Interested in BLP Academy? Learn more + join ...
12.26.2022 Last 22 Q&A: Keeping Track of "On-the-fly" Tasks, Fitness Planners, Planner Move-In Rituals, Setting Goals with a New Baby + More EP 126 In this Q&A episode -- the last of 2022, Sarah tackles questions from listeners and shares 2 listener tips! Topics include: 1) Goal setting in a year with a new baby 2) Planner move-In rituals 3) Ideas for blank calendar ...
12.19.2022 Finite Lives and Infinite Goals with Oliver Burkeman In today's episode, Oliver Burkeman joins Sarah to discuss his popular and fascinating book, 4000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. Sarah delves into how Oliver plans, how he went from self-help critic to personal development authors, and how to reconcile ...
12.12.2022 Planner Stack 2023! EP 124 In today's episode, Sarah opens with a listener who had a very minimal but effective planning style, and then she shares all of the physical products (planners + notebooks) she intends on using in 2023! These include: Hobonichi Cousin A5 ...
12.05.2022 2023 Planner Review Round Up! Sterling Ink Common Planner, Laurel Denise All-in-One, Full Focus Binder & Proaction Planner EP 123 Today's episode opens with a detailed planned peace segment from Andrea, a busy physician who has embraced bullet journaling + has also discovered an easy and functional way to keep her email organized. Then, Sarah delves into four mini-reviews: Sterling ...
11.28.2022 Planner Peace with a Stack, Sticky Note Suggestions, Email, and a DIY Goals Planner for 2023 EP 122 In this episodes, Sarah shares a Planner Peace submission from Cheryl, who has found peace (and joy!) with a Planner Pad and Full Focus combo, plus lots of stickers and homemade cloth covers. Then, she discusses some daily planning sticky ...
11.21.2022 Where Planning Rituals and Time Management Collide: Interview with Laura Vanderkam EP 121 Sarah welcomes Laura back onto Best Laid Plans for this fun episode about her planning techniques. Laura recently released a book called Tranquility By Tuesday, which includes a set of 9 rules to help readers enjoy their 'regular' days even ...
11.14.2022 The Intersection of Planning & Fitness with Allison Sizemore EP 120 Allison Sizemore is a coach and head of Couture Fitness Coaching -- and she's also a long-time BLP listener who is passionate about planning! Sarah and Allison share the ways they plan in fitness, down to details about Allison's monthly ...
11.07.2022 Live from Our Planning Retreat: Interview with Joshua Unger EP 119 Sarah opens with a Planner Peace submission from listener Ursula who has kept things simple and effective with a weekly planner + a notebook! Then, Sarah's husband Joshua Unger joins in for a conversation live from one of their mini ...
10.31.2022 Planning-Adjacent: 10 Rules for Life EP 118 Sarah was inspired by a fellow podcaster (Laura McClellan on The Productive Woman) to share her own 10 rules for life! Some are planning-related, and others are more global. She also shares some upcoming topics + her surprise and gratitude ...
10.24.2022 Mixed Bag Ep! Planner Peace, Ideas, Keeping Track of Tentative Events, and Some Life Updates EP 117 It's a mixed-bag episode! Sarah opens with a Planner Peace submission from Amanda who shares what she loves about some brands never covered before on BLP: the Legend Planner + Living Well Planner. Then Sarah discusses some release news from ...
10.17.2022 Meal Planning & More with Nakita from The Mama Manual EP 116 In this episode, Sarah opens by sharing an audio Planner Peace Submission from Hannah, who shares her daily/weekly/monthly and quintile planning rituals! Then, Sarah goes into her own meal planning habits over the years and then welcomes guest Nakita Attard ...

Older episodes

Best Laid Plans

What's Best Laid Plans about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Best Laid Plans episodes:

Fall Planner Reviews: Archer & Olive, Cal Newport's Time Block V2, and What I'm Using Now EP 165

September Q&A: Planning "Syllabus", Planner Conferences, Teaching Kids to Use Planners, Pregnancy Planners, Daily Planners without Timeslots + More! EP 164

How Teachers Plan + How Can Students Plan from a Teacher's Perspective EP 163

Top Work Tips (Planning-Adjacent!) EP 162

Hobonichi 2024 + Best Laid Plans Academy Round 3 EP 161

Planning x Crafts: Planning to Enjoy the Hobbies You Love with Sherri McConnell of A Quilting Life EP 160

Quintile 4: Guide to Planning and Thinking Through the Season EP 159

August Q&A: Planning in Challenging Life Phases, Planner Rec for 2 Teen Boys, Big Weekly Planners, Dangling Task Management, Planner-Shy, and More! EP 158

Organize 365 x Best Laid Plans: Lisa Woodruff Interviews Sarah for the Back to School Blitz EP 157

Daily Rituals + 3 Mini-Reviews: Passion Planner, Rad & Happy, and Performance Lab's Focus Planner EP 156

Decluttering, Organizing, and Stuff: Past, Present, and Future EP 155

July Q&A: Getting Started with Longer-Team Goal Setting, Paper 101, Planner for a Nontraditional Student, Erasable Pens & More EP 154

Real-Life Planner Interview: Stacy Mellem and her Franklin-Covey Journey EP 153

Summer Adventures in Disc-Bound Planning - Inkwell Press EP:152

Summer Goals Revisited, Review of Mark's Monthly, and Photo Management Follow Up EP 151

2023: Life + Planning Updates (Where It Started / How It's Going) EP 150

Q&A: Keeping Track of Health-Details, Photo & Memory Organization, Planners for Kids, and Planning on the Fly EP 149

Summer Planning: From Travel to Reading to Special Summer Vibes, plus Introducing the Digital Detox Mini-Course EP 148

Habits, Intention and Overcoming Perfectionism with Monica Packer EP 147

Erin Condren + The Productivity Planner: Two Spring Planner Reviews! EP 146

Efficiency Tips for Health Care Providers EP 145

Q&A: Custom Planners, Sarah's Ideal Planner, Podcast Recs + More! EP 144

Heart to Heart Screen Time Talk. EP: 143

Mini-Q&A (Sleep + Biological Rhythms) + Product Review: Flame Tree Midi Notebooks, Karst Stone Paper, and EC Meal Planning Petite Planner EP 142

Outside-the-Box Travel Planning Tips from the Road EP 141

Breaking Up Big Projects EP 140

AMA (Ask Me Anything): Morning Routine, Wardrobe Organization, Travel, and More EP 139

Organizing and Planning Your Budget with Allison Baggerly EP 138

Pens, Highlighters, Accessories + More! EP 137

Mixed Bag Ep! Planner Wanderlust, 2023 Ups & Downs, and Q&A from a Physician in Fellowship EP 136

Planning Your Passions EP 135

Feb Q&A: Planning Gender Divide, Password Management, Planning in Pregnancy, and Overwhelm with Annual Goals EP 134

Planning as a Teen with Aashna Shah, Published Author, Dancer and Miss Florida Teen EP 133

Coping During Stressful Times, Monthly Goal Planner, and Best Laid Plans Academy Details EP 132

Planner Fail? Two Great Weekly Options: Haroo Planner + Roterunner Purpose Planner EP 131

Planning for Sick Days & Illnesses EP 130

Q&A: Keeping Track of Meeting Notes, Irregular Schedules, Erasable Pens, Tracking Ongoing Tasks + Planner Peace Gold! EP 129

Bullet Journaling, Mindfulness + More with Ryder Carroll EP 128

A Successful + Fun Kickoff to 2023 + Sarah's 2023 Goals EP 127

Last 22 Q&A: Keeping Track of "On-the-fly" Tasks, Fitness Planners, Planner Move-In Rituals, Setting Goals with a New Baby + More EP 126

Finite Lives and Infinite Goals with Oliver Burkeman

Planner Stack 2023! EP 124

2023 Planner Review Round Up! Sterling Ink Common Planner, Laurel Denise All-in-One, Full Focus Binder & Proaction Planner EP 123

Planner Peace with a Stack, Sticky Note Suggestions, Email, and a DIY Goals Planner for 2023 EP 122

Where Planning Rituals and Time Management Collide: Interview with Laura Vanderkam EP 121

The Intersection of Planning & Fitness with Allison Sizemore EP 120

Live from Our Planning Retreat: Interview with Joshua Unger EP 119

Planning-Adjacent: 10 Rules for Life EP 118

Mixed Bag Ep! Planner Peace, Ideas, Keeping Track of Tentative Events, and Some Life Updates EP 117

Meal Planning & More with Nakita from The Mama Manual EP 116