Best Laid Plans

Analog is definitely trending, and Sarah is here for it! In today's episode, she discusses the trend, her take on choosing analog when possible, and the unexpected effects on the planner world (!). She also addresses a listener who would like to use more tangible paper tools in her planning system, but struggles with a work system that is all digital.

Link to the WBEZ article: https://www.wbez.org/business/2026/01/15/shoppers-chicago-stationary-shops-atlas-paper-pencil-hobonichi-social-media-analog

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Start the year off with healthy meal plans from prep dish! Get your free two-week trial at ⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠

IXL: Visit ⁠⁠⁠www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠ to get the most effective learning program

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In today's episode, Sarah chats about the evolution of her own fitness goals and interviews Meg Olander, personal trainer and certified group fitness coach. Meg has years of experience helping people with their fitness goals, and in today's episode, she shares her favorite strategies for success in fitness goals, from planning and prioritizing to avoiding optimization to accountability.

You can find more from Meg at https://fitfedfeelinggood.com and her podcast, Redesigning Health & Home

Disclaimer: This episode is for entertainment and informational purposes only. Always consult your physician before starting or changing any exercise program, especially with any health conditions or concerns. Your safety comes first!

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Start the year off with healthy meal plans from prep dish! Get your free two-week trial at ⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠

IXL: Visit ⁠⁠www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠ to get the most effective learning program

Organize 365: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠organize365.com/sunday-basket⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the Sunday Basket® today

Green Chef: Visit ⁠⁠greenchef.com/bestlaidgraza⁠⁠ and use code bestlaidgraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes!

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

In today's episode, Sarah shares listener tips and answers questions!
Topics & references include:
- Stationery Store Spotlight: Wonder Fair in Lawrence, KS
- Alyce's alternative to January 1
- Sextiles: A listener creates her own seasons that work for her
- An A-to-Z 26 in 2026 list
- Feedback on the Friends Spreadsheet: A Notion Friends CRM (Customer Relationships Management) Tool
- Corporate uses for the Nested Goals framework
- Morning pages: is Sarah completing the entire Artist's Way course?
- Where do you find other people's goals lists?
- How to develop goals in the thick of little kid/baby life?
THANK YOU to everyone who has supported Sarah in her book launch journey! If you enjoyed Best Laid Plans: A Simple Planning System for Living a Life That You Love, please leave a review anywhere (Amazon, goodreads, B&N, Bookshop)!

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Start the year off with healthy meal plans from prep dish! Get your free two-week trial at ⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠

IXL: Visit ⁠www.ixl.com/plans⁠ to get the most effective learning program

Organize 365: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠organize365.com/sunday-basket⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the Sunday Basket® today

Green Chef: Visit ⁠greenchef.com/bestlaidgraza⁠ and use code bestlaidgraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes!

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

In today's episode, Sarah welcomes listeners to 2026 and shares 10 tips for making the most of your annual goal setting efforts!

Link to mentioned episode on Nested Goals:
https://theshubox.com/2024/01/episode-182-nested-goals-explained.html

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@BestLaidPlansVideo

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Start the year off with healthy meal plans from prep dish! Get your free two-week trial at prepdish.com/plans

IXL: Visit www.ixl.com/plans to get the most effective learning program

Organize 365: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠organize365.com/sunday-basket⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the Sunday Basket® today

Green Chef: Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidgraza and use code bestlaidgraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef + FREE Graza Olive Oil Set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes!

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

In today's episode, Sarah shares her own 2026 goals list, set in 5 domains (Self, Relationships, Family/Home, Work, and Fun)! She goes into detail about each of the items on her list and the strategies she hopes to employ to help some of them come to fruition.
Additional info:
- Sarah's email - sarah hart unger at gmail - feel free to send your goals lists along, or message 305-697-7189
- Sarah's BOOK IS OUT - Best Laid Plans: A Simple Planning System for Living A Life that You Love is out wherever books are sold. Find all of her methods in one place -- a complete system in a fun readable format.
- 2026 Courses are still open with sessions of Best Laid Plans at Home: Planning 2026 held in January! Visit theshubox.com/courses to register!

Episode Sponsors:

Organize 365: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠organize365.com/sunday-basket⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the Sunday Basket® today

Green Chef: Make this season your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. 

Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠mint mobile.com/BLP.⁠⁠⁠⁠

PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠!

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

In the first half of this episode, Sarah talks METAPLANNING - intentional dissection of one's systems and planning tactics. Then she shares some of her own potential systems upgrades for 2026, from seasonal planning with her husband to digital organization and a possible new screen time tracker.
Then, Sarah dissects her own Big Gnarly Goal for 2026! She answers the questions she posed in her own episode 197, Those Projects That Won't Go Away (link: https://theshubox.com/2024/05/blp-ep-197-those-projects-that-wont-go-away.html)

Episode Sponsors:

Organize 365: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠organize365.com/sunday-basket⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the Sunday Basket® today

Green Chef: Make this season your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. 

Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at ⁠⁠⁠mint mobile.com/BLP.⁠⁠⁠

PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at ⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠!

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

In today's episode, Sarah shares a listener tip, a store spotlight, and some great Q&A centered around morning routines and actually USING one's planner on a daily basis!
Keep your questions coming - Sarah can be reached via email (sarah hart unger at gmail) or via 305-697-7189!
PS: Sarah's book, Best Laid Plans: A Simple Planning System for Living A Life That You Love is out tomorrow! Visit theshubox.com/preorders for your last chance at preorder bonuses!!

Episode Sponsors:

Organize 365: Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠organize365.com/sunday-basket⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the Sunday Basket® today

Green Chef: Make this season your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid⁠⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. 

Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at ⁠⁠mint mobile.com/BLP.⁠⁠

PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at ⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠!

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

In today's episode, Sarah opens by reminding listeners of her upcoming book launch (T-8 days and counting - you can still get the preorder bonuses by visiting theshubox.com/preorders). And, she shares the happy news that Best Laid Plans was named by Amazon as one of 9 nonfiction editor's picks for December!
(See the full list here: https://www.amazon.com/b?ref=r_ess_dp_epicks&node=17276799011)
Then, Sarah interviews Ronna Belinky - productivity and time management expert, the creator and head of Workflows by Ronna! Learn about Ronna's innovative monthly planning techniques, the workbooks she created, and the key rituals and supports that help them work so well for people.
Find more from Ronna at workflowsbyronna.com.

Episode Sponsors:

Organize 365: Visit ⁠⁠⁠organize365.com/sunday-basket⁠⁠⁠ to check out the Sunday Basket® today

Green Chef: Make this season your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. 

Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at ⁠mint mobile.com/BLP.⁠

PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at ⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠!

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

In today's episode, Sarah goes through the physical tools she used in 2025 and shares her 2026 Planner Stack!
This episode has a video component if you'd like to see the planners -- visit

Products mentioned:
- Hobonichi Cousin Avec
- Hobonichi Weeks
- Hobonichi Day Free
- Ashley Shelley x Amanda's Favorites collab
- Erin Condren 18 month Monthly Planner (Japanese-Style softcover)
- Moleskine Cherry Blossom series
- Hobonichi 5-year Journal
- Sarah's own Planning by Season + BLP Live Planners

Organize 365: Visit ⁠⁠organize365.com/sunday-basket⁠⁠ to check out the Sunday Basket® today

Green Chef: Make this season your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit greenchef.com/50bestlaid and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. 

Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at mint mobile.com/BLP.

PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at prepdish.com/plans!

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

In today's episode, Sarah empties her email inbox (and some other life inboxes) in real time! Find out how much time it took her to get from ~140 messages (half a week's worth of accumulation) in her primary gmail inbox to 0, what she did with all of those little pieces of information, and some takeaways for you if you struggle with task management or collecting all of your inputs. She then takes listeners through other digital inboxes, including WhatsApp and her texts.
Then, she shares her review of Hemlock & Oak's new 70gsm daily / weekly / monthly planner offering!
Link to the H&O planner she discusses is here: https://www.hemlockandoak.com/products/2026-weekly-daily-12-month-cloth-flex

Episode Sponsors:

Green Chef: Make this fall your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping.

Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Organize 365: Visit ⁠organize365.com/sunday-basket⁠ to check out the Sunday Basket® today

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