Best Laid Plans

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**Best Laid Plans**

Welcome to Best Laid Plans — a podcast all about planning and the planning tools we love. From planning techniques and organizing philosophies to planners and notebooks, we cover it all. Host Sarah Hart-Unger is a mother of 3, physician, podcasting pro, and a lover of lists and all things paper! Listen in weekly for conversations about planning and productivity as well as product reviews and interviews with planning experts!

Latest Episodes:

February Q&A: Checklists, Business, Inbox Zero, Email Management + More EP 184 Feb 05, 2024

Show notes

It's a Q&A episode! Sarah tackles listener questions sent in over the previous month. Topics include:

1) Update on formalizing the task management of household (vs work) projects

2) Thoughts on Atul Gawande's The Checklist Manifesto

3) "Can you talk about busyness?"

4) 100 Dream List - what is it, and where to keep?

5) Planning-adjacent ideas for managing kids' clothes

6) Inbox Zero methodology

7) Planning/task and data management for a new family medical diagnosis

8) How to balance goal setting with flexibility?

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

Finding Digital Planner Peace with Kaelyn Lopez EP 183 Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

Sarah loves paper planners but there are so many people out there planning effectively with digital tools - and it was time to interview one of them! In this episode, Sarah interviews her friend Kaelyn Lopez (Kae, an RN working in transplant coordination and mother of 2 who blogs at gratefulkae.com ) for this episode because Kae has gradually shifted to an entirely digital planning system that is both functional and fun. She shares her system in detail in this conversational episode!

Her primary tools: Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Tasks

Seconary tools: Google Keep, Google Drive, Google Sheets/Docs

Kae also shares her unique long-term time/life tracking system based in Sheets.

You can find more from Kae at gratefulkae.com

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Treat yourself to a piece of clothing that will last at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!

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

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

January Update + Deep Dive into Nested Goal Setting EP 182 Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares how her year is shaping up so far, including a report on her planner choices for the year. Then, the episode is devoted to a deep dive into Nested Goal Setting - her method for setting goals and identifying tasks based on time horizon from daily to yearly. She reviews her methodology in detail and answers common questions from "wait, isn't that a LOT of time spent planning?" to those about which tools she uses and when to refer to each list.

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

January Q&A: Task Management, Project Management for Home Tasks, Negative Goals, and Building a Seasonal Reference Planner EP 181 Jan 15, 2024

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares some listener suggestions/feedback and then delves into January's listener questions -- many around goal setting and task management (it is January, after all)!

References:

Julie Morganstern's Time to Parent: https://www.juliemorgenstern.com/time-to-parent

The Eisenhower Matrix (James Clear's take): https://jamesclear.com/eisenhower-box

Cal Newport episode: From Chaos to Calm in One Day - https://www.thedeeplife.com/podcasts/episodes/ep-277-from-chaos-to-calm-in-1-day/

Contact Info:

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

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Our listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout.

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

Enjoying Media (The Non-Social Kind!) EP 180 Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

Today's episode is all about media consumption and ways to really get the most out of the content we choose to immerse ourselves in! Sarah provides several tips for enjoying and curating media, from recording to increase awareness to partnering up to taking notes.

REQUEST: Please send guest and topic ideas! Sarah wants to make 2024's Best Laid Plans episodes the most fun and useful yet!

Contact Info:

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

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Our listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout.

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

Happy New Year! 2024 Goals EP 179 Jan 01, 2024

Show notes

This episode airs on 1/1/24 - a new day, week, month, quintile, and year!! On this special day, Sarah discusses her own annual goal-setting processes this year, and then shares her own list of goals for 2024!

These include goals in her 5 chosen domains: PERSONAL / RELATIONSHIPS / HOUSEHOLD / CLINICAL WORK / CREATIVE WORK.

Please send your ideas for 2024 guests and topics -- hoping for a great year on the podcast!

NOTE: Planning By Season - a yearlong seasonal planning course - will be open for registration until the morning of 1/4/24.

Find details here: http://theshubox.com/courses

Contact Info:

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

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Our listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout.

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

2023: Favorites, Hits & Misses EP 178 Dec 25, 2023

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares her 2023 favorites (book / movie / music / planning tools!) and then share which goals came to fruition and which did not. She also discusses the merits of setting goals without expecting that every single one of them will be reached.

Contact Info:

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

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Listeners get 15% off the first order by using code PLANS at checkout!

PrepDish: Healthy, convenient and strategic menu plans delivered to your inbox each week!! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks, free!

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

2024 is Coming: Annual Goals + Resolutions EP 177 Dec 18, 2023

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah provides an overview of why annual goals make sense and why she doesn't love the word "resolutions". She delves into the different types of goals one might consider setting, and shares some of the most common goals set in 2023. Finally, she details when and how you might hold your own annual goal setting session.

Episode Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Listeners get 15% off the first order by using code PLANS at checkout!

Earth Breeze: Ditch messy liquid laundry detergent + get started with Earth Breeze and save forty percent! Visit earthbreeze.com/plans for 40% off of a new subscription.

Cloth & Paper: Cloth & Paper makes luxe planning essentials with a beautiful minimal aesthetic. Visit clothandpaper.com and use code BESTLAIDPLANS to receive a FREE España Spiral Notebook in size CP Petite with any purchase of $50 or more!

Contact Info:

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

Leave me a review if you can! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-laid-plans/id1525311647

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

December Q&A: Thought Capture Overload, Weekly/Monthly Planning, Work + Post-Baby Goal-setting, and Hobonichi Setup! EP 176 Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares two listener submissions for Word of the Year (one from Australia and one from Scotland!) and then dive into some listener questions!

Topics include:

1) Capture Overload

2) End-of-residency Planning - Lack of Motivation to Set Work Goals

3) Organization of weekly / monthly / quintile goals lists

4) Post-baby planning - how to divide the year?

5) Hobonichi setup tips!

Planning By Season is open for registration - this is Sarah's structured seasonal goal setting experience taking place throughout 2024! Visit theshubox.com/courses for details.

SPONSORS

Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Listeners get 15% off the first order by using code PLANS at checkout!

Earth Breeze: Ditch messy liquid laundry detergent + get started with Earth Breeze and save forty percent! Visit earthbreeze.com/plans for 40% off of a new subscription.

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

Leave me a review if you can! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-laid-plans/id1525311647

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

2024 Planner Stack & More! EP 175 Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares how she used her 2023 planners and then unveils her 2023 planner stack!!

Products Mentioned:

Hobonichi Cousin Avec

Hobonichi A6 Original

Cloth & Paper Disc-Bound Half-Letter

Hobonichi 5 Year Journal

Ashley Shelly Monthly (Amanda's Favorites Collab)

BLP NEWS:

- Planning By Season (seasonal planning sessions) and Digital Detox 2.0 are open for registration! Visit theshubox.com/courses for details!

- GIVEAWAYS on theshubox.com this week - just enter your name in the comments for a chance to win one of the 2024 planners I ordered to review!

Sponsors:

Jenni Kayne: Find your forever pieces at jennikayne.com. Listeners get 15% off the first order by using code PLANS at checkout!

Earth Breeze: Ditch messy liquid laundry detergent + get started with Earth Breeze and save forty percent! Visit earthbreeze.com/plans for 40% off of a new subscription.

PrepDish: Healthy, convenient and strategic menu plans delivered to your inbox each week!! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks, free!

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

Leave me a review if you can! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-laid-plans/id1525311647

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