

Best Laid Plans
Sarah Hart-Unger
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!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 22, 2025 • 24min
Systems Switchups for 2026 + Sarah Dissects a Big Gnarly Goal EP 282
Dive into the intriguing world of meta-planning as Sarah explores how intentional system reviews can transform your year. She shares her innovative strategies for seasonal planning with her husband and introduces a creative friend-contact spreadsheet. Tackling her 'Big Gnarly Goal' of decluttering, Sarah emphasizes the importance of breaking down large projects and using emotional intelligence in family dynamics. With insights on digital organization and potential new screen time tracking, this episode offers a roadmap for achieving your 2026 aspirations.

Dec 15, 2025 • 22min
December Q&A: Sarah's Morning Routine + Using the Planner You Have, Plus Listener Tips EP 281
Dive into a world of planning and productivity! Discover a handy listener tip about the See It Bigger planner for enhanced visibility. Hear about a charming shop in Doylestown, PA, that offers curated paper goods. Sarah shares her early morning routine, including coffee, journaling, and workouts, while juggling family drop-offs. Plus, get insights on maintaining planner consistency and digital options for busy lives. With a book release on the horizon, there's plenty to look forward to!

23 snips
Dec 8, 2025 • 23min
Another Innovative Planning Technique: Monthly Workflows with Ronna EP 280
Ronna Belinky, a productivity and time management expert, shares her innovative monthly planning techniques. She discusses her unique approach of combining digital tools with personal paper planners to enhance organization. Ronna reveals her nightly ritual with a five-year journal for memory-keeping and explains her annual '25 for 25' goal-setting strategy. Additionally, she talks about her engaging workshops that help others create personalized planning templates. Ronna emphasizes the importance of peer support through cozy in-person meetups for accountability.

Dec 1, 2025 • 21min
Planner Stack 2026: Audio AND Video! EP 279
Get ready for a planner enthusiast's dream! Sarah shares her favorite tools from 2025, including the Hobonichi Cousin and Moleskine Cherry Blossom for morning pages. She reveals her exciting 2026 Planner Stack, featuring new covers and a fresh five-year journal. Discover her custom Planning by Season workbook and how she captures long-range dates with Erin Condren. Plus, learn about her creative uses for Hobonichi Weeks. Tune in for great insights and visual inspiration!

Nov 24, 2025 • 37min
Empty Your Inbox (with me!) and Hemlock & Oak Daily/Weekly/Monthly Planner Review EP 278
Join Sarah as she tackles her overflowing email inbox, transforming 140 messages into zero in just 40 minutes! Learn her effective triage methods and one-touch policy for managing tasks. Dive into how she handles other digital messages, including WhatsApp and texts. Plus, hear her in-depth review of the Hemlock & Oak planner, featuring spacious layouts, quality paper, and helpful goal-setting pages. If you're seeking organization tips and planner insights, this is a must-listen!

Nov 17, 2025 • 24min
Life Updates, BLP Live Takeaways, and Your Mini DIY Planning Primer for 2026 EP 277
Sarah opens up about a tough week and shares her takeaways from the recent BLP Live event. She emphasizes prioritizing essentials over extras and reflects on the importance of planning spaces. Listeners get a mini DIY planning primer with recommendations for 15 key episodes covering everything from system building to overcoming scattered feelings. She also discusses personal goals, like separating finances and finding new hobbies. Plus, she reveals her plans for a yearly fall getaway and the value of decluttering support.

12 snips
Nov 10, 2025 • 35min
Planning Spotlight: Annual Rituals, Spontaneity, and More with Jodi Wellman EP 276
Jodi Wellman, an author focused on living intentionally through the awareness of mortality, joins to share her unique planning insights. She discusses her intriguing year-end brunch ritual with her husband, where they set thematic goals. Discover how she incorporates spontaneity into her schedule with mystery time slots for adventures. Jodi also emphasizes the importance of solo time, flexible planning, and capturing inspiration from others to make life feel well-lived. Her refreshing approach will inspire listeners to engage in purposeful planning.

Nov 3, 2025 • 34min
Your Celebration Season On Ramp with Jen Ludwig EP 275
Jen Ludwig is a writer and worship leader who specializes in holiday planning and devotionals. In this discussion, she shares her top tips for a stress-free holiday season, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing meaningful traditions and letting go of burdensome ones. Jen introduces the concept of a brain dump for holiday activities and stresses the value of leaving room for unexpected events. She also offers innovative gift ideas and practical packaging tips to keep celebrations joyful without added stress.

6 snips
Oct 27, 2025 • 21min
Inspiration for Your Analog Fall, Updates & More EP 274
Discover high-contrast planner options like the Marjolein Delhaas Planner and the surprises of international shipping fees with a listener's shocking experience. Dive into the concept of an Analog Fall inspired by Julianna Salguero, with Sarah adding her own fun analog activities. Plus, ponder what tech we would choose to reintroduce if starting fresh from the 1990s. From journaling to in-person classes, explore practical habits to enrich your analog lifestyle.

Oct 20, 2025 • 22min
Feeling Stuck? 6 Practices to Get Your Dreams and Reflections Flowing EP 273
This podcast explores six invigorating practices to jumpstart your reflection and planning for the upcoming year. It dives into the idea of creating a 100 Dreams List to uncover hidden aspirations. Listeners are encouraged to engage in visioning exercises to set long-term goals. A dedicated notebook for brainstorming is highlighted as a fun tool, alongside the importance of deep conversations to clarify values. Lastly, clearing physical and digital clutter is discussed as a way to enhance mental clarity and focus.


