Best Laid Plans

Latest Episodes:

Welcome to 2026! Top 10 Tips for Making The Most of Your Annual Goal Setting EP 284 Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

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 out there at the best price (20% off!)

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

Sharing 2026 Goals + A Few Q&A! EP 283 Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

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

Systems Switchups for 2026 + Sarah Dissects a Big Gnarly Goal EP 282 Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

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

December Q&A: Sarah's Morning Routine + Using the Planner You Have, Plus Listener Tips EP 281 Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

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

Another Innovative Planning Technique: Monthly Workflows with Ronna EP 280 Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

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

Planner Stack 2026: Audio AND Video! EP 279 Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

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 https://youtu.be/Bf5G8_pSr2s to get a visual!

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 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

Empty Your Inbox (with me!) and Hemlock & Oak Daily/Weekly/Monthly Planner Review EP 278 Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

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

Life Updates, BLP Live Takeaways, and Your Mini DIY Planning Primer for 2026 EP 277 Nov 17, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah shares some life updates coming off of a tough week! Then she delves into an overview of BLP Live and some of her own key planning takeaways from the event. Finally, she responds to a listener request for a "DIY Planning Primer", providing a list of 15 episodes that cover essential planning topics -- from building a system from scratch to daily planning, seasonal planning, monthly planning, and more.

Full links to each episode can be found on the show notes posted at theshubox.com!

Ep #6: Building a System from Scratch
Ep #28: Daily Planning Routines and Crowding Out Bad Habits
Ep #36: Planning in Quarters and Quintiles
Ep #88: Tracking - The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Ep #110: How Sarah Organizes Her Life
Ep #145: Efficiency Tips for Healthcare Providers
Ep #168: Inputs, Interruptions & Reactivity
Ep #177: Annual Goal Setting
Ep #182: Nested Goals Explained
Ep #190: Your Ideal Week
Ep #214: How to Build More Intentionality Into Your Life
Ep #218: Your New Month Guide
Ep #233: January Energy + 3 Essential Systems
Ep #245: The Gap Between Planning and Doing
Ep #269: 10 Things to Consider if You Are Feeling Scattered

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

Planning Spotlight: Annual Rituals, Spontaneity, and More with Jodi Wellman EP 276 Nov 10, 2025

Show notes

In today's episode, Sarah interviews Jodi Wellman, author of You Only Die Once: How to Make it to the End with No Regrets. This is Jodi's second visit to the podcast, and this conversation is all about the planning rituals that Jodi herself uses to ensure the (finite) life she is living has all of the elements that make it feel truly well-lived. They get into the weeds about her monthly vision boards, planning brunch dates, and how one might actually PLAN IN some spontaneity (yes, such a thing is possible!). This episode will help you get excited and inspired to gear up to plan 2026.
Jodi can be found at her website https://fourthousandmondays.com and on instagram at @fourthousandmondays -- her (free) newsletter comes out each Mondy and is a wonderful way to start the week.
Sarah also mentions Best Laid Plans at Home: Planning 2026 in this episode; details can be found at theshubox.com/courses

Sponsor Notes:

IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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!

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

Your Celebration Season On Ramp with Jen Ludwig EP 275 Nov 03, 2025

Show notes

Jen Ludwig loves holiday planning -specifically, she loves planning around her traditions of Christmas. However, this episode is for you no matter what you love to celebrate at the end of the year! In today's episode, Jen shares her tips for creating a celebratory season that is filled with fun and not overwhelm. She also has some fantastic gift tips + hacks!
Find Jen's book, Embracing Advent: Rediscovering Christmas in the Chaos (A Daily Devotional) on amazon, and more from jen at @jenludwigwrites on IG or substack.

Sponsor Notes:

IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠

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!

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

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