Best Laid Plans

In today's episode, Sarah reflects on routines, noting that her recent episode on morning routines is already obsolete (as it applies to her own morning routine, anyway!). She shares thoughts about being flexible as you set your routines, and the need to continually re-evaluate, as well as her new morning routine.

Then, she pivots to all things weekend planning, as inspired by her friend noting that weekends were feeling . . . unsatisfying at times (Kae blogs at gratefulkae.com).

Sarah shares her rationale for why you should dedicate time to plan your weekends (at least as much as the week!) and shares some ideas to keep in mind as you think about those hours. Below, her suggestions:

TAKE THE TIME TO THINK THROUGH THESE DAYS!

BE REALISTIC

don’t forget transition time, drive time, etc

IF YOU DO HAVE TO WORK, BE VERY SPECIFIC ABOUT WHAT YOUR END GOALS ARE and TIME FRAME

SLOT IN RELAXATION AND GET ENOUGH REST

CONSIDER WEEKENDS TIME TO DO INSTALLMENTS OF A BIGGER PROJECT

TALK TO OTHERS BEFORE SETTING YOUR SCHEDULE - GET THEIR INPUT/BUY-IN

TRY TO BALANCE ACTIVE/MORE SOCIAL PERIODS WITH SOME DOWN TIME

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOMETHING FUN FOR YOU!

FIGURE OUT THE TIME YOU’RE WILLING TO SPEND ON CHORES (figure out what is really a priority for those times)

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE

Mint Mobile: Low-cost wireless phone service – a great way to save every single month! Learn more at mintmobile.com/BLP

IXL: Tailored and effective online learning (my kids have used this for years as part of their school curriculum)! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/PLANS.

Prose: Truly custom skincare and haircare. Visit prose.com/plans for 50% off your first haircare subscription order!

Green Chef: The best meal kit for eating well. Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidfree and use code bestlaidfree to get started with FREE salads for 2 months plus 50% off your first box.

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

In today's episode, Sarah reflects on where we are in the year and offers encouragement and ideas to help you start thinking through summer.

She also provides an overview of some fun planner releases for spring, including new editions from Erin Condren, Simplified, and Laurel Denise.

Episode of Amanda's Favorites where she describes designing a planner with Laurel Denise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZnWjf0qdWM

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE

Mint Mobile: Low-cost wireless phone service – a great way to save every single month! Learn more at mintmobile.com/BLP

IXL: Tailored and effective online learning (my kids have used this for years as part of their school curriculum)! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/PLANS.

Prose: Truly custom skincare and haircare. Visit prose.com/plans for 50% off your first haircare subscription order!

Green Chef: The best meal kit for eating well. Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidfree and use code bestlaidfree to get started with FREE salads for 2 months plus 50% off your first box.

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

Sometimes there is vast space (and struggle) between planning and executing on our plans. In this episode, Sarah delves into why that might be an offers some solutions.

She also mentions Lisa Woodruff's Medical Binder and Carolyn Cohen's Wellness While Walking podcast.

Episode where Carolyn was a guest: https://theshubox.com/2025/01/blp-ep-232-planning-and-goal-setting-for-health-with-carolyn-cohen.html

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE

Mint Mobile: Low-cost wireless phone service – a great way to save every single month! Learn more at mintmobile.com/BLP

IXL: Tailored and effective online learning (my kids have used this for years as part of their school curriculum)! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/PLANS.

Prose: Truly custom skincare and haircare. Visit prose.com/plans for 50% off your first haircare subscription order!

Green Chef: The best meal kit for eating well. Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidfree and use code bestlaidfree to get started with FREE salads for 2 months plus 50% off your first box.

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

Some might think the purpose of planning is to get more done. That may be true in some cases, but there is so much more to the story than that. In this episode, Sarah shares 10 benefits of planning that have nothing to do from productivity, from stress reduction to anticipation to creativity to having more fun.

Other news:

BLP Live is open for registration!! Join Sarah and Laura Vanderkam in South Florida this November for 3 days of planning, reflection, relaxation, community, and fun. Visit theshubox.com/blplive for details!

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE

Mint Mobile: Low-cost wireless phone service – a great way to save every single month! Learn more at mintmobile.com/BLP

IXL: Tailored and effective online learning (my kids have used this for years as part of their school curriculum)! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/PLANS.

Prose: Truly custom skincare and haircare. Visit prose.com/plans for 50% off your first haircare subscription order!

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

In today's episode, Sarah shares an update on how her recovery is going in addition to some great wisdom on the idea of a "recovery routine" from a listener. Then, she shares a planner mini-review and new additions to her 2025 Stack:

- Full Focus Spiral-Bound

- Excello Essential Weekly + Monthly (https://excellobrands.com/calendar-year/essential-monthly-weekly-planner-7-x-9-cy-2025-frosted/ or via Amazon (search for ESSENTIAL 2025 Monthly & Weekly Planner with Tabs, 7"x9": 14 Months)

Then, she shares some fantastic listener-sent solutions for M, the listener stressed out by her many open browser tabs and "to be read later" intentions.

BLP Live: Planning 2026 (held in November 2025) is now open for registration - visit theshubox.com/blplive for details!!

Episode Sponsors:

Green Chef: Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green Chef. Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidfree and use code bestlaidfree for free salads for 2 months plus 50% off your first box!

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE

Mint Mobile: Low-cost wireless phone service – a great way to save every single month! Learn more at mintmobile.com/BLP

IXL: Tailored and effective online learning (my kids have used this for years as part of their school curriculum)! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/PLANS.

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

Sarah checks in + introduces the show. Then, the main part of the episode is a re-air from 2024. Sarah hopes it is helpful as we approach the spring season!

Sarah opens with a discussion of the idea of planner page as "outside observer" and how seeing her day laid out in physical form can help alleviate stress and provide some helpful objectivity. (She is curious if this is a familiar feeing for anyone else!).

In the main portion of the show, she provides a step by step planning guide for your Quintile 2, or spring season (fall for our Southern Hemisphere listeners!). From end-of-the-academic year activities to spring cleaning energy, she provides many useful prompts to think about and then encourages a thorough review of your annual and Season 1 goals. Happy spring planning!!

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

A common question sent into BLP is about planning in the face of hard things or uncertainty. This episode is a raw/current one about some challenges Sarah is going through now and how she is going to try to handle them. Please note: this episode was recorded from a hospital room with no special mic so the sound quality might be a little different.

Episode Sponsors:

Green Chef: Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green Chef. Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidfree and use code bestlaidfree for free salads for 2 months plus 50% off your first box!

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE

Mint Mobile: Low-cost wireless phone service – a great way to save every single month! Learn more at mintmobile.com/BLP

IXL: Tailored and effective online learning (my kids have used this for years as part of their school curriculum)! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/PLANS.

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

Today, Sarah has a really fun and conversational chat with Azizi Williams and Malika Amandi, otherwise known as the Happier Ladies! These sister started a podcast inspired by the work of Gretchen Rubin and Elizabeth Craft, and share a love for planning, experiments, goal setting, and accountability (to each other, as well as their listeners). Azizi and Malika share their favorite tools, planning rituals, and more.

Their podcast can be found here; https://happierladies.wixsite.com/mysite

Episode 60 + 61 (Festival of Planning!) is here: https://happierladies.wixsite.com/mysite/episodes/episode/6b09e00f/festival-of-planning-60 and https://happierladies.wixsite.com/mysite/episodes/episode/20b7dee1/festival-of-planning-part-2-61

Episode Sponsors:

Green Chef: Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green Chef. Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidfree and use code bestlaidfree for free salads for 2 months plus 50% off your first box!

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE

Mint Mobile: Low-cost wireless phone service – a great way to save every single month! Learn more at mintmobile.com/BLP

IXL: Tailored and effective online learning (my kids have used this for years as part of their school curriculum)! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/PLANS.

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

In today's episode, Sarah answers questions accumulated in the month of February! Topics include:

- How do you deal with planning events for family members (ie camp, bday parties, etc!)

- How do I integrate goals lists into my planning when I feel like I have endless detailed lists dedicated to complicated projects?

(Nested Goals ep: https://theshubox.com/2024/01/episode-182-nested-goals-explained.html)

- Advice for planning in pregnancy + the postpartum period?

- How does Sarah use the calendar pages in the Hobonichi Weeks?

- How do you organize things "to be read" later that aren't books? (Magazine articles, journal articles, browser tabs, etc)?

- Where can I fit in my morning planning routine (working mom with a baby!)

- Notion Template mentioned by Malika: https://shop.muchelleb.com.au/collections/notion-templates

SPONSORS:

Prose: Custom skin and haircare that works! For an exclusive trial offer of 50% off your first haircare subscription order, visit prose.com/plans.

Green Chef: Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green Chef. Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidfree and use code bestlaidfree for free salads for 2 months plus 50% off your first box!

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE

Mint Mobile: Low-cost wireless phone service – a great way to save every single month! Learn more at mintmobile.com/BLP

IXL: Tailored and effective online learning (my kids have used this for years as part of their school curriculum)! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/PLANS.

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

In today's episode, Sarah shares her top 10 (plus maybe a bonus!) Planning + Planning Adjacent Tools! For specific links, visit https://theshubox.com/organize!

1) Kokuyo Campus Notebooks

2) Uniball Jetstream Pens (0.5 and 0.38 size)

3) Zebra Mildliners in pastel colors - especially used to create little squares for checkboxes!

4) Apple's Screen Time App + Widget

5) Stalogy Short Sticky Notes (plus bonus mention: Midori Sticky Notes Monthly Block)

6) The Essential Calendar (Sarah is an affiliate, so you can use code BESTLAIDPLANS or visit https://www.theessentialcalendar.com/BESTLAIDPLANS for 10% off)

7) Apple Notes, especially for tracking travel docs and kid-related frequent reference

8) Strava to track running

9) Feedly for blog reading

10) Creating podcast playlists

11) Erin Condren Whiteboard (Custom Color Weekly Schedule Wall Organization Center)

SPONSORS:

Prose: Custom skin and haircare that works! For an exclusive trial offer of 50% off your first haircare subscription order, visit prose.com/plans.

Green Chef: Thrive all year with clean, easy meals from Green Chef. Visit greenchef.com/bestlaidfree and use code bestlaidfree for free salads for 2 months plus 50% off your first box!

PrepDish: Convenient meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists to reduce your weekly mental load! Visit prepdish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE

Mint Mobile: Low-cost wireless phone service – a great way to save every single month! Learn more at mintmobile.com/BLP

IXL: Tailored and effective online learning (my kids have used this for years as part of their school curriculum)! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at IXL.com/PLANS.

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