Best Laid Plans

Latest Episodes:

Planner Peace: Remarkable2 + Digital/Paper Hybrid System with Erin Peth EP 194 Apr 15, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode features a planner peace submission that was so intriguing that it warranted an entire episode! Our listener Erin has a lot on her plate (full time job, 2 kids, volunteer work, caring for relatives, and more!) -- and she has put together and incredibly comprehensive system that brings her to a current state of Planner Peace! Rather than a stack, she's combined digital and physical elements from her favorite tools to create a streamlined system.

Products Discussed:

1) The Remarkable2 Tablet: https://remarkable.com/store/remarkable-2

2) Day Designer Monthly: https://www.bluesky.com/collections/day-designer-for-blue-sky

3) Organize 365 Sunday Basket: https://organize365.com/sunday-basket/

4) Artful Agenda (she syncs with Google Calendar): https://artfulagenda.com

5) Trello: https://trello.com

6) MaskeLife: http://makselife.com

7) Clean Mama: https://cleanmama.com

You can find Erin (and submit questions to her directly!) through her family's photography account, @lukepearson.photography !

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

April Q&A + Listener Tips: A Tool for ADHD/Time-Blindness, Repurposing Unused Planners, 5-Year Journals, Life Planning Workbooks, and More EP 193 Apr 08, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to April's Q&A/Tips episode!

Sarah shares a brief recap of her family vacation (and getting back into life!) and then brings April's Q&A + Tips.

Topics:

1) Quarters in the Southern Hemisphere - an Australian listener reports back!

2) Cool idea for repurposing an unused planner into a paper Second Brain/Collections Notebook/Master Planner

3) App rec for routine building for those with ADHD/time blindness: Brili https://brili.com

4) 5 Year Journal Recs

Midori: https://www.jetpens.com/Midori-5-Year-Diary-Embroidered-Beige/pd/29115

Hobonichi: https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/5year/

Unbound: https://unboundplanner.com/products/five-year-journal

Levenger: https://www.levenger.com/collections/journals/products/5-year-journal?variant=43396629627029#

5) Convincing others to plan and work on routines in a household with multiple members that have ADHD

6) Listener feedback with ideas for planning an international move - use time horizon AND category and try a shared list platform!

7) Idea for life planning workbook for the listener in career transition: The Silk & Sonder Life Workbook: https://www.silkandsonder.com/products/life-workbook

Find show notes + contact info at theshubox.com

Newsletter: 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!

Factor: Delicious and fresh already-prepared meals delivered to your door. Head to factormeals.com/plans50 and use code shu50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box!

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

Travel Thoughts & Tips EP 192 Apr 01, 2024

Show notes

Happy new quarter or quintile!!

Today's episode is travel-inspired because Sarah will be returning from a family trip just before it airs. In today's episode, she shares her current travel planning strategies as a parent of kids who are now at ages that are pretty easy to travel with (6, 10, and about-to-be 12!).

She covers her use of Apple Notes as a useful second brain for travel and shares her appreciation for down time and reservations on vacation!

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 shu50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box!

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

Spring Planner Reviews: Small Niche Brands! EP 191 Mar 25, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah reviews 3 planners from small business - one of them so small it hasn't been released yet!

The planners are:

1) The Halo Planner by Rebecca Brosnan, thehaloplanner.com (shop not open yet, but will be soon) - quarterly gridded planner with a ton of features and both daily + weekly layouts

2) Biz Mom Planner by Tiffani - she describes her business as "woman, minority, and mama-owned"! Hand made small batch disc-bound planners, very open ended and undated, thick luxurious-feeling paper. Great for a fresh start and lots of space to write!

https://www.bizmomplannerco.com/ -- code BLP20 will give you 20% off

3) Grow & Flourish Planner by Laura Millat, creator of The Girly Homesteader - she shares her own planner peace and her Grow & Flourish planner for gardeners + homesteaders!

You can find it at https://www.thegirlyhomesteader.com/links

Additional mentions:

She Plans - sample inserts https://sheplans.com/products/sample-pack-plan-your-way-discbound-inserts

Field Notes

NOLTY and April-start Hobonichi now available at Jetpens!

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks free!

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

CONTACT:

Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com

Voice questions: https://www.speakpipe.com/bestlaidplans

Info on Best Laid Plans at Home: theshubox.com/courses

Send me a text or voice memo - (305) 697-7189

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

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

Your Ideal Week EP 190 Mar 18, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is devoted to the Ideal Week exercise, a practice where you put your ideal week onto paper (or screen) using an hourly format. This can be done on paper using a template or an old vertical weekly planner, or on screen via an electronic calendar or even by writing on a pdf using an app.

Sarah discusses nuances of this exercise, components she includes, and variations on the idea (Ideal Month, anyone?).

A free ideal week template was included in the March newsletter - if you'd like a copy, feel free to send an email to sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com!

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks free!

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

CONTACT:

Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com

Voice questions: https://www.speakpipe.com/bestlaidplans

Info on Best Laid Plans at Home: theshubox.com/courses

Send me a text or voice memo - (305) 697-7189

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

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

Planning Your Spring: Quintile 2 Planning Deep Dive EP 189 Mar 11, 2024

Show notes

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

March Q&A: Planning in Career Transitions, Morning Planning, and Organizing Tasks Around a Big Move or Other Life Shift EP 188 Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

Welcome to the March Q&A Episode! Topics discussed:

- Recommendations for planning and visioning during a job transition phase?

- Organizing the many layers of tasks around a big international move

- Follow up: Organizing kids' clothes - some tips from listener Sarah K!

- Quintiles - do you divide the year evenly?

- Details on morning planning sessions

- Listener suggestion: Sunday Basket system (Organize 365) for corralling tasks

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Check out their new PROTEIN BOOST menus! Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks free!

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

CONTACT:

Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com

Voice questions: https://www.speakpipe.com/bestlaidplans

Info on Best Laid Plans at Home: theshubox.com/courses

Send me a text or voice memo - (305) 697-7189

Sign up for my newsletter: https://theshubox.com/newsletter

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

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

Planner Friend Double Interview with Amanda's Favorites! EP 187 Feb 26, 2024

Show notes

Today is a departure from the typical BLP format - in today's special edition episode, Sarah joins Amanda of Amanda's Favorites both via audio and on YouTube (view the video version on Amanda's channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEd0U-Hl3ZI ).

The two hosts interview each other about a wide array of topics, from daily life to designing their dream planner!

Link to Amanda's prior interview on BLP: https://theshubox.com/2021/08/show-notes-best-laid-plans-x-amandas-favorites.html

Episode Sponsors:

PrepDish: Now with new option for PROTEIN BOOST menus! Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks free!

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

Green Chef: The #1 meal kit for eating well. Go to greenchef.com/60plans and use code 60plans to get 60% off, plus 20% off your next two months

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

Deep Dive: Handling Life's Minutiae EP 186 Feb 19, 2024

Show notes

Today's deep dive episode was inspired by a listener question below:

"I’m so curious how you handle all the minutia and small to-dos of daily life. I have 3 kids, a full-time in-office job, and also have a side hustle crafting-based business. It seems like there are constantly people to coordinate with for kids, teacher emails that should be read, game schedules to add to the calendar, meals to plan, groceries to order, other items (household/clothing) that need to be purchased, etc. and I’m feeling suuuuuper overwhelmed with it all."

Sarah shares her task capture tactics including a list of examples and how she would handle each task (from bring the sports snack to overdue library books and more!).

She also reveals some details about BLP Live, which will be held November 7 - 9 in Fort Lauderdale again! Signup info will be in her newsletter, which you can find at theshubox.com/newsletter!!

SPONSORS:

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

Green Chef: The #1 meal kit for eating well. Go to greenchef.com/60plans and use code 60plans to get 60% off, plus 20% off your next two months

CONTACT:

Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com

Voice questions: https://www.speakpipe.com/bestlaidplans

Info on Best Laid Plans at Home: theshubox.com/courses

Send me a text or voice memo - (305) 697-7189

Sign up for my newsletter: https://theshubox.com/newsletter

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

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

Thoughts on Resting Well EP 185 Feb 12, 2024

Show notes

We all need rest. How can you ensure that you give yourself the gift of rest when you need it?

Sarah suggests planning for it can help, among other things! Today's episode is dedicated to all things rest as Sarah discusses her need for a 'down month' and discusses ways to truly rest well even with the challenges of work, kids, and more.

Books Mentioned:

Real Self Care by Pooja Lakshmin

Do Nothing by Jenny Odell

Wintering by Katherine May

Rest is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey

A Perfectionist’s Guide to Losing Control by Katherine Morgan Schafler

Website Mentioned: https://optimisticmusings.com/my-year-of-shmita-january-recap/

SPONSORS:

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

Green Chef: The #1 meal kit for eating well. Go to greenchef.com/60plans and use code 60plans to get 60% off, plus 20% off your next two months

CONTACT:

Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com