Best Laid Plans

In today's episode, Sarah shares some of the ways in which she benefitted from her own seasonal planning session, and then she pivots to a discussion of goal planners- what's out there, what's going away, and what can they help with. She also notes her plans to create a Nested Goals Workbook for 2027 - stay tuned! To stay the most up to date, be sure to subscribe to Sarah's newsletter at theshubox.com/newsletter
Planners Mentioned:
Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets (being discontinued): https://cultivatewhatmatters.com/collections/planners
Amplify (being discontinued)
https://www.amplifyplanner.com/
Ink + Volt
https://inkandvolt.com/collections/planners/dated
Commit30
https://commit30.com/products/2027-weekly-goal-planner
MakseLife
https://makselife.com/collections/all-planners
EC Monthly
https://www.erincondren.com/monthly-planner
Full Focus
https://fullfocusstore.com/collections/planners

August Sponsors:

Factor Meals: Head to factormeals.com/plans50off and and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box while supplies last until 10/31/2026

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans

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In today's episode, Sarah confesses to her recent planner switchup, and then shares her love for Quintile 4, her "throwback" fall favorites, and 8 planning tactics for the back to school season.
MD Notebook mentioned: https://amzn.to/4wWYhyM (affiliate link)

August Sponsors:

Factor Meals: Head to factormeals.com/plans50off and and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box while supplies last until 10/31/2026

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah addresses listener questions sent for the month of August!
Topics include:
- Her current work schedule
- Digital task management adventures thus far, plus a listener rec for Tick Tick
- Sarah's current uncluttered phone setup
- Addressing planner perfectionism
- Annual vs Academic calendars
- Planner news mentioned:
Aura Estelle Magnet Planner: https://www.auraestelle.com/collections/2027-magnet-release
Hobonichi launch site: https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/magazine/2027/y27/?srsltid=AfmBOooovhvxPNwqs3QaGJ1sPfcv7mMp2W1A3OfaywUsenfnzUgUjzLi

August Sponsors:

Factor Meals: Head to factormeals.com/plans50off and and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box while supplies last until 10/31/2026

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠.

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah opens with a planner peace vignette from Olga, who describes her various methods for planning in fun!
Then, she discusses the topic of reading and focus, with emphasis on ideas around improving one's focus over time with intentional time spent building the skill and endurance around paying attention.
Mentioned:
Atlantic article (gift link):
Substack with the 'training plan for reading' concept: https://naomialderman.substack.com/p/lets-do-a-couch-to-5k-for-reading
Also mentioned:
Hemlock & Oak tariff news- https://www.hemlockandoak.com/blogs/theweeklyspread/where-we-stand-50-tariffs-on-us-orders-starting-august-19th?srsltid=AfmBOoomppnNJfzC4vjTsrYdNz5Eg0RobWbH1lYg3jaCBuUz4vFcMGMT
Hobonichi launch- https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/?srsltid=AfmBOorTU25X3TOOOAPmMywniMoK8OBswJXGVs56jrgUjk9TRpkYWpgm
BLPA2.0: theshubox.com/courses

August Sponsors:
Factor Meals: Head to factormeals.com/plans50off and and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box while supplies last until 10/31/2026

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠.

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah does a midyear goal setting chat with her friend Kae! They answer a series of questions together to troubleshoot and check in with how the year is going so far, providing encouragement and ideas along the way.
You can use this episode as a template of sorts to conduct your own friend or partner check-in, at the end of a month, season, or year!
Find more from Kae at gratefulkae.com (and check out the Google Tasks Widget she recommends!)
Additional note: BLPA2.0 registration is OPEN for fall! Visit theshubox.com/courses for details!

Our Sponsors

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠.

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans

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Some people feel like planning in fun takes away . . . well, some of the fun! Sarah counters some of the common arguments for planning in fun, and offers suggestions for adding fun to every time frame, from yearly to daily!

July Sponsors

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠.

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah tackles questions sent during the month of July.

Topics:
- How did you help your kids through the disappointment of cancelled plans (in reference to the prior week's ep)?
- Advice for planning at the start of new motherhood?
- Follow up advice for the listener struggling with her "to buy" list
- What to do when "New Year" momentum fizzles out in spring and summer?
- How to manage your "to be read" / "to be watched" collections when they add up to wayyyyy more time than you actually have to read/watch?

July Sponsors

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠.

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Very personal episode today! Sarah shares her own recent experiences dealing with a recent disappointment -- zero regrets about making the plans, but definitely some sadness about them not coming to fruition.

July Sponsors

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at https://www.ixl.com/plans.

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠prepdish.com/plans

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lisa Woodruff is the founder of Organize 365 and author of multiple books, most recently Escaping Quicksand. Sarah always loves her ideas about planning and time, and in today's episode they chat overcoming overwhelm, but through the lens of planning. You can find more from Lisa at organize365.com in addition to @organize365 on Instagram.
Resources Mentioned from Lisa:

How I divide my year into thirds episode 143 
https://organize365.com/podcast/my-three-new-years/
The 10 filters I use to plan my week episode 704
https://organize365.com/podcast/704-the-10-filters-i-use-to-plan-my-week/
The 15-minute pivot from reactive to proactive planning 
https://organize365.com/pivot/
Escaping Quicksand
https://organize365.com/escapingquicksand/
June Sponsors:

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at https://www.ixl.com/plans.
Green Chef: Healthy and convenient meal kits and more! Visit greenchef.com/50bestlaid and use code 50bestlaid to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for 2 months.
PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting prepdish.com/plans

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sarah tracked her time for over 2 weeks (something she has struggled with in the past). What were her conclusions? Did she find 10 hours of free time that she didn't know she had? Will she continue for 10 years like her good friend and podcast cohost Laura Vanderkam? Listen to find out, and you can also visit the detailed show notes at theshubox.com!

Episode Sponsors:

IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠.

Green Chef: Healthy and convenient meal kits and more! Visit ⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid⁠ and use code 50bestlaid to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for 2 months.

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠prepdish.com/plans

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices