Before Breakfast Plan to control the chaos, with Sarah Hart-Unger
Dec 10, 2025
Sarah Hart-Unger, a physician and author of Best Laid Plans, shares her insights into effective planning. She discusses the importance of 'meta-planning' and why traditional task lists fell short for her. Common planning mistakes are addressed, emphasizing enjoyable goals over perfect tools. Sarah reveals her structured weekly and daily rituals that help maintain balance in her busy life. She also shares her journey through a health crisis as a runner and her transition to strength training and Pilates, finding new community and wellness in the process.
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Build Planning Rituals, Not Just Tools
- Do create planning rituals and think about how you plan, not just what you plan.
- Iterate and experiment with systems so they become pleasurable and sustainable.
One Giant List Overwhelms Modern Lives
- A single giant to-do list can overwhelm and block action for people juggling many roles.
- Segmenting tasks by realm and timing makes priorities clearer and execution easier.
Invest Time In Planning For Big Returns
- Do focus on rituals and clear planning times instead of hunting for the perfect planner tool.
- Spend time planning because it yields time dividends and keeps you doing higher-value work.
