Best Laid Plans

Latest Episodes:

Thoughts on Time Block Planning EP 204 Jun 24, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares thoughts on Time Block planning, a method suggested by Cal Newport, among others. She names pros, cons, and shares her own approach. She also discusses her recent decision to entirely eliminate Reddit scrolling from her life.

Resources:

Episode that inspired today's Time Block Planning Discussion is here:

https://www.thedeeplife.com/podcasts/episodes/ep-305-is-time-blocking-oppressive/

Oliver Burkeman's book: 4000 Weeks

Best Today with Shunta Grant episode mentioned:

https://besttoday.co/blogs/the-best-today™-podcast/ep-171-a-pep-talk-when-youre-leaving-social-media-temporarily-or-permanently

About Progress ep mentioned (with Catherine Price as guest): https://aboutprogress.com/why-grown-ups-need-to-have-fun/

Contact:

Google voice / text - (305) 697-7189

sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com

theshubox.com

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your new uniform at jennikayne.com. Get 15% off your first order when you use code plans at checkout!

Earth Breeze: Effective liquidless laundry detergent! Listeners can receive 40% off Earth Breeze by visiting earthbreeze.com/plans

Crunch Labs: Camp CrunchLabs is 12 weeks of awesome build-it-yourself fun! Go to crunchlabs.com/PLANS to sign your kids up for Camp CrunchLabs today and get 2 boxes FREE!

Mint Mobile: To get their new customer offer and your new 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just $15/month for the first 3 months, go to mintmobile.com/plans

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

June Q + A: Working in Distracting Environments, Budget Planning, Mental Health and More EP 203 Jun 17, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah provides a mini life update and then answers questions that have come from listeners over the past month!

Topics/questions include:

- Tips for working in distracting conditions

- Ideas for budget planning - how does Sarah use YNAB?

- What happens when when attempted morning planning sessions get derailed (by a kid, by illness, by ??)

- Listener idea: having kids cook dinners on rotation through the summer! Fun AND educational.

- Listener feedback: discussion of how with burnout and other mental health issues, planning tools are not enough

- Ways for handling regularly occurring "abnormal weeks" - when relatives are visiting or call weeks

As mentioned, Sarah loves receiving your questions and feedback! Reach her via theshubox.com or via email (sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com) or text her via (305) 697-7189.

Newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletter

Links mentioned:

- BOBW episode with YNAB Founder: https://lauravanderkam.com/2021/04/best-of-both-worlds-podcast-budgets-and-more-with-ynabs-jesse-mecham/

- Getting through tough weeks: https://theshubox.com/2022/02/blp-show-notes-etc.html

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your new uniform at jennikayne.com. Get 15% off your first order when you use code plans at checkout!

Earth Breeze: Effective liquidless laundry detergent! Listeners can receive 40% off Earth Breeze by visiting earthbreeze.com/plans

Crunch Labs: Camp CrunchLabs is 12 weeks of awesome build-it-yourself fun! Go to crunchlabs.com/PLANS to sign your kids up for Camp CrunchLabs today!

Mint Mobile: To get their new customer offer and your new 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just $15/month for the first 3 months, go to mintmobile.com/plans

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

Summer Ideas + Inspiration EP 202 Jun 10, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares some ideas and inspiration for your summer -- some of it a little bit outside of the typical (summer cleaning, anyone?).

Topics discussed:

- Sharing the load of summer planning and fun-making

- Summer checklists . . . not just for kids

- Summer fun ideas for less than ideal weather

- Summer habit / routine changes

- Summer cleaning (why is this not a thing?)

- One Big Project

- Think about when you will think about the next season

She also answers a listener question on planners that start in the summer!

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your new uniform at jennikayne.com. Get 15% off your first order when you use code plans at checkout!

Earth Breeze: Effective liquidless laundry detergent! Listeners can receive 40% off Earth Breeze by visiting earthbreeze.com/plans

Crunch Labs: Camp CrunchLabs is 12 weeks of awesome build-it-yourself fun! Go to crunchlabs.com/PLANS to sign your kids up for Camp CrunchLabs today!

Mint Mobile: To learn more about their 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just $15/month for the first 3 months, go to mintmobile.com/BLP

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

Planning-Adjacent: A Marathon Journey EP 201 Jun 03, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares her recent marathon journey, from goal-setting (a looooong time ago!) to the tools and routines that supported her training to the race itself.

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your new uniform at jennikayne.com. Get 15% off your first order when you use code plans at checkout!

Earth Breeze: Effective liquidless laundry detergent! Listeners can receive 40% off Earth Breeze by visiting earthbreeze.com/plans

Crunch Labs: Camp CrunchLabs is 12 weeks of awesome build-it-yourself fun! Go to crunchlabs.com/PLANS to sign your kids up for Camp CrunchLabs today!

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

May Q&A: Margins, Travel, Laurel Denise Planners, and Avoiding That "Am I Missing Something?" Feeling EP 200 May 27, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah answers questions + shares some listener tips sent during the month of May! Topics include:

- Laurel Denise Planners (question from a mom/healthcare provider with a lot going on!). Link to prior mini review: https://theshubox.com/2022/12/blp-ep-123-4-2023-planner-mini-reviews.html

- Travel -- packing list tips, Wanderlog app, and the resources Sarah uses most for travel planning

- Advice for a listener struggling with capturing and feeling like she is missing things

- Thoughts on brining margin into the day

Sarah mentions the 5/31 newsletter, which will contain her marathon recap + some summer planning tools! Subscribe at theshubox.com/newsletter

Episode Sponsors:

Earth Breeze: Effective liquidless laundry detergent! Listeners can receive 40% off Earth Breeze by visiting earthbreeze.com/plans

Crunch Labs: Camp CrunchLabs is 12 weeks of awesome build-it-yourself fun! Go to crunchlabs.com/PLANS to sign your kids up for Camp CrunchLabs today!

PrepDish: Check out PrepDish.com/plans for two weeks of meal plans FREE!!

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

Top 5 Things Episode (in honor of my birthday!) EP 199 May 20, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares a few Top 5s, in honor of her birthday! She opens with her top 5 reasons for planning, followed by the top 5 essential elements of a funcitonal system. Finally, she gets personal and shares her top 5 hopes + dreams for the next year of life!

If you'd like to celebrate with Sarah, she would love:

- a review

- a tip on a product to review or awesome person to have on the show (just email sarah.hart.unger at gmail!)

- if you shared this episode with a friend or in a group!

The next newsletter will release May 31st - make sure you are subscribed! Visit theshubox.com/newsletter - they are always free and (hopefully) useful!!

Sponsors

Factor: Convenient, healthy and delicious meals for your busiest seasons! Head to factormeals.com/plans50 and use code plans50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box.

Jenni Kayne: Find perfect spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!

PrepDish: Super convenient and delicious meal plans straight to your inbox! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks, FREE!

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

Using ClickUp to Organize it All with Jade Boyd EP 198 May 13, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares some unexpected recent planning pivots, and then business and production coach Jade Boyd joins her to talk all things ClickUp -- in her opinion, one digital platform that can be used to organize it all. Jade also shares her love of paper as daily planning tool, the intimidation factor with digital organizing solutions, and the value of organizing work and life in one system.

More from Jade can be found at https://jadeboyd.co

Show notes: Detailed show notes + more are at theshubox.com

Newsletter: Sign up for Sarah's newsletter at theshubox.com/newsletter

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!

PrepDish: Super convenient and delicious meal plans straight to your inbox! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks, FREE!

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

Those Projects That Just Won't Go Away EP 197 May 06, 2024

Show notes

Do you ever have a project that seems to pop up on your annual goals list year after year, but never gets done? This episode is an exploration of how to tackle these projects and goals. Sarah gets personal, sharing her own Big Daunting Projects and some questions that might be worth asking about things that show up again and again (and again) on yearly lists.

Questions to ask yourself when it comes to these big (and possibly scary, or emotionally difficulty) goals:

1. DO YOU REALLY WANT TO DO IT?

2. DO YOU HAVE TIME for said project? If so, specifically where? If you can’t come up with calendar space to work on it . . . you probably don’t have time. (Weekly template can also help with this when it comes to habits!)

a) HOW MUCH TIME would you need to work on it, estimated, to make SOMETHING happen?

b) If that's more than you have, DOES IT BELONG in someday maybe?

5. IS THERE A WAY of BRINGING IN DEADLINES even if not naturally there?

6. IS THERE A NATURAL WAY TO BREAK IT UP into less scary pieces?

7. CAN YOU MAKE IT LESS SCARY from an emotional standpoint?

8. CAN YOU GET HELP WITH IT? (Maybe even just a little bit of help?)

9. CAN YOU FIND ACCOUNTABILITY?

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Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!

Factor: Delicious and fresh already-prepared meals delivered to your door. Head to factormeals.com/plans50 and use code plans50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box!

PrepDish: Super convenient and delicious meal plans straight to your inbox! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks, FREE!

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

Decor, Cozy Minimalism, and Creating a Functional Home with Myquillyn Smith EP 196 Apr 29, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is a planning-adjacent topic! Sarah opens with a bit about her own decorating and organizing challenges and then interviews author Myquillyn Smith, an expert on decorating and creating functional spaces within the home.

They chat about many planning-related aspects of big home projects, including how to get started when it all seems daunting, tools for tracking home projects, and an incredibly useful framework for order of operations. Myquillyn prizes functional decorating and creating a home that truly works for then ways you use it.

Her beautiful new book, House Rules: How to Decorate for Every Home, Style, and Budget can be found wherever books are sold.

Find Myquillyn at thenester.com and @thenester on IG.

Episode Sponsors:

Factor: Visit factormeals.com/plans50 and use plans50 to get 50% off your first box, plus 20% off your next month!

Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!

PrepDish: Super convenient and delicious meal plans straight to your inbox! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks, FREE!

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

Spring Planner Releases (Erin Condren, Simplified, and NOLTY) + Some Planner Switchups! EP 195 Apr 22, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah provides a more in-depth review of two NOLTY April-start monthly planners, and then provides updates on the latest releases from Erin Condren (some excited changes to their Daily Duo!) and Simplified (so pretty).

She then shares her own planner switchup for Spring!

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!

Factor: Delicious and fresh already-prepared meals delivered to your door. Head to factormeals.com/plans50 and use code plans50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box!

PrepDish: Super convenient and delicious meal plans straight to your inbox! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks, FREE!

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

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