

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

Jul 11, 2022 • 26min
Mid-Year Goals Check In & Triage, Plus an In-Depth Digital Planner Peace EP 102
In this episode, a listener Beth opens with a fantastic Planner Peace submission, all about her transition to digital planning with Artful Agenda. Then, Sarah discusses her process for checking into goals midway through the year. She shares questions to think about as well as the specific products and tools she uses to capture her goals and lists.Finally, she shares her own triaged goals list for mid-year!Episode Sponsors:PrepDish! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 4, 2022 • 29min
Listener Tips + Mini-Review: The Plan by Lauren Truslow EP 101
In this episode, Sarah shares a few listener tips! Amanda discusses her own self-care strategy for busy times, Jen shares a cautionary tale about Frixion pens, and Xoke provides some fantastic email tips. Sarah then discusses the upcoming Cultivate What Matters reading journal, and then dives into her mini-review of The Plan by Lauren Truslow. This planner is BIG but packs a lot of punch, including some great meal planning and health tracking options as well as a lovely daily layout.Episode Sponsors:TopCashBack: Try TopCashback for yourself by visiting topcashback.com, creating an account with your email and password, and entering the promo code PLANS. All new customers who sign up now will get a $10 sign-up bonus when they spend their first $25 on topcashback.com after entering the promo code!Green Chef: The number one meal kit for eating well. Go to greenchef.com/plans130 use code plans130 to get $130 off, plus free shipping! This is a great deal and excellent way to give their meals a try. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 27, 2022 • 33min
Ask Me Anything! EP: 100
Today's episode is an Ask Me Anything in honor of the #100 milestone! Sarah received questions from listeners and answers more than 15 of them in this fun episode -- from pencil cases to the ways planning has changed her life. Thank you all for listening and helping bring BLP to this fun milestone! In celebration, if you are able to leave a review or share with a friend, Sarah would be grateful! Episode Sponsors:TopCashBack: Try TopCashback for yourself by visiting topcashback.com, creating an account with your email and password, and entering the promo code PLANS. All new customers who sign up now will get a $10 sign-up bonus when they spend their first $25 on topcashback.com after entering the promo code! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 20, 2022 • 23min
Intentional Practices for Harder Times EP: 99
Today's episode opens with a Planner Peace segment from Emelia, who created custom nursing school planners for herself AND shared her beautiful system with her classmates! Then, Sarah answers a question from Lori and suggests 3 options for larger family wall calandars. Finally, Sarah gives a list of suggestions for ways to cope in more stressful or transitional times, from creating a manifesto (try it!) to meditation, reading, and seeking therapy.Episode Sponsors:Organize 365: To learn more about Lisa Woodruff’s work and her amazing offerings, check out organize365.com, or go to organize365.com/minicourse for a free 7 days minicourse on getting yourself organized! TopCashBack: Try TopCashback for yourself by visiting topcashback.com, creating an account with your email and password, and entering the promo code PLANS. All new customers who sign up now will get a $10 sign-up bonus when they spend their first $25 on topcashback.com after entering the promo code! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 13, 2022 • 22min
Email Musings & More EP 98
In this episode, Sarah opens up with a Planner Peace submission from another Sarah -but that one lives in Australia! Then she quickly discusses a few product finds (Washi Tape Shop, Pilot Frixion Gel Pens).Finally, she gets into a discussion of email -- some observations she has noted over the years and things she'd like to change about her own habits!Episode Sponsors:PrepDish and the Meal Plan Monday podcast! Listen to Allison's podcast wherever you get your podcasts, and check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE.Green Chef: The number one meal kit for eating well. Go to greenchef.com/plans130 use code plans130 to get $130 off, plus free shipping! This is a great deal and excellent way to give their meals a try.Aura Frames: Beautiful digital frames that are incredibly easy to set up! Visit auraframes.com and use code PLANS and get UP TO $20 off while supplies last; terms and conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 2022 • 23min
An All-Digital Planner Peace, Work Notebook Recs, and Vacation Planning (and Packing!) Strategies EP 97
In this episode, Sarah opens with an all-digital Planner Peace submission from Catherine, who organizes everything in various Outlook/Microsoft Products (calendar, tasks, to-dos, and email).Then, Sarah answers a listener asking for work notebooks. Sarah then delves into a discussion of vacation planning, with some notes about packing. If you've never tried planning your outfits on a trip day by day at least once - give it a try!Episode Sponsors:Green Chef: The number one meal kit for eating well. Go to greenchef.com/plans130 use code plans130 to get $130 off, plus free shipping! This is a great deal and excellent way to give their meals a try.Aura Frames: Beautiful digital frames that are incredibly easy to set up! Visit auraframes.com and use code PLANS and get UP TO $20 off while supplies last; terms and conditions apply.Gusto: Gusto’s modern HR platform makes it easy to hire, pay, manage, and support your employees — all in one system of record. Listeners of Best Laid Plans get 3 months of Gusto for free at gusto.com/sarah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 30, 2022 • 26min
A Detailed Planner Peace and a Review of the 2022/23 EC Daily Duo EP 96
In this episode, Sarah shares a long but incredibly impressive planner peace submission from Heather, who has built an amazing custom system primarily using Agendio. Then, Sarah dives into her review of the Erin Condren A5 Daily Duo! This is her first time trying out this system which launched ~2 years ago to great enthusiasm in the planner community.Links:Agendio: https://agendio.comSarah's Erin Condren referral link: https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/sarahhartunger/1Episode Sponsors:Gusto: Gusto’s modern HR platform makes it easy to hire, pay, manage, and support your employees — all in one system of record. Listeners of Best Laid Plans get 3 months of Gusto for free at gusto.com/sarahGreen Chef: The number one meal kit for eating well. Go to greenchef.com/plans130 use code plans130 to get $130 off, plus free shipping! This is a great deal and excellent way to give their meals a try.Aura Frames: Beautiful digital frames that are incredibly easy to set up! Visit auraframes.com and use code PLANS and get UP TO $20 off while supplies last; terms and conditions apply. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 23, 2022 • 23min
Q&A: Current Lineup, Long Term Planning with a Partner, Ring-Bound Options, Planner Anxiety, and More EP 95
In this episode, Sarah opens with a Planner Peace voice memo sent in by Tara! Then she moves to listener Q&A (plus a tip!). Question topics include:1) Current planner lineup2) Tip from a listener - idea and resource for planning and long-term vision-building with a partner3) Fixing mistakes/rescheduled events in your planner4) Question about ring-bound planner options5) Feeling anxious about seeing the entire day's list laid out -- suggestions?Episode Sponsors:Gusto: Gusto’s modern HR platform makes it easy to hire, pay, manage, and support your employees — all in one system of record. Listeners of Best Laid Plans get 3 months of Gusto for free at gusto.com/sarah Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 16, 2022 • 29min
Planning Your Summer EP 94
In this episode, Sarah opens with a Planner Peace segment from Cindy, who uses MakseLife and Passion Planner currently, and also explains why she prefers her weekly planner separate from her daily. Then, she gets into all things summer planning!Topics include:- choosing a time to plan- summer reading & media- summer wardrobe - bathing suits, sandals, etc- childcare- summer work schedules- social outiings- summer travel- neighborhood festivals + traditions- seasonal fitness goals- "one on one" kid days- seasonal work projects- summer planning :)Finally, she discusses a few of her own summer goals. Please share yours in the show notes, always available at https://theshubox.com/best-laid-plans-podcastEpisode Sponsors:Gusto: Gusto’s modern HR platform makes it easy to hire, pay, manage, and support your employees — all in one system of record. Listeners of Best Laid Plans get 3 months of Gusto for free at gusto.com/sarahhttp://gusto.com/sarahOrganize 365: To learn more about Lisa Woodruff’s work and her amazing offerings, check out organize365.com, or go to organize365.com/minicourse for a free 7 days minicourse on getting yourself organized! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 9, 2022 • 28min
Planning for Stress Relief + Hemlock & Oak Review EP 93
In this episode, Sarah delves into a listener email sent about planning as stress relief. Then, she shares Peggy's Planner Peace submission, which combines use of the Monk Manual, google calendar, todoist, and Organize 365! Then, she goes into an in-depth review of the Hemlock & Oak Weekly Undated Planner.If Planner Peace is eluding you this year - it might be one to consider!Episode Sponsors:PrepDish: Easy and functional menu planning. Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE.Year & Day: Beautiful modern ceramics and flatware for hosting or just elevating your everyday table. Visit yearandday.com/plans and use code: PLANS to get $25 off your first order of $150 or more.Aura Frames: Gorgeous digital frames that are super easy to set up -- perfect for Mother's Day! Visit auraframes.com and use use code PLANS to get up to 40% off while supplies last. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices