Best Laid Plans

Rachel Miller is an author, journalist, and her pieces are always creative and fun. She has written her own guide to dot journaling -- filled with artistry and inspiration and fun ideas for using your own dot grid notebook as planner and self-care tool. She shares her current planning methods, tips on how to get started, and surprises me with the planner she is using now. Listen especially if you are considering using a blank dotted notebook as your planner for 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the season of a lot of activity, even during pandemic times. Rest often gets overlooked, but it deserves discussion, contemplation and most likely even a spot in our calendars. In this short but sweet episode, Sarah discusses planned rest, unplanned rest, and the importance of giving ourselves a break sometimes. Show notes are available as always at http://theshubox.com/best-laid-plans-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cal Newport is a computer science professor and writer about topics from technology to productivity to work culture, and he is also now the author of his newly released Time Block Planner! Cal chats with Sarah -- a long time fan -- about his productivity systems, digital/paper hybrid planning, planning weekends and personal time, and of course his new paper planner. Delve into the planner at timeblockplanner.com and find more of Cal's work at calnewport.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2 focused on the components of current weekly review process; this episode does the same for the monthly review. The Components: 1) Review Prior Month’s Goals and any Lists - celebrate successes & decide what to do with incomplete tasks 2) Budget reconciliation (we use You Need a Budget) 3) Review any upcoming big events with partner (if applicable) See More for 4-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Still in planner selection mode for 2021? The Wonderland 222 Planner and Notebook is worth a look, even if you think you've already figured out your perfect system! As a die hard Hobonichi fan I did not think there'd be any question as to what I'll be using next year but . . . this one truly gives me pause, and this episode includes a full review with all of the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're deep into planner-buying season, so today's ep is a double review feature! The first product is the compact, versatile and lovely MyWeek. MyWeek is a weekly planner with a lot of versatility and flexibility. Cultivate What Matters is a very popular brand of planners focusing on goal-setting and intentionality. The PowerSheets Goal Planner features gorgeous design, bright colors, and would be a lovely accompaniment for your weekly and monthly review sessions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another Q&A episode! Today, Sarah addresses questions on planning through hectic work days when a lot of unpredictable tasks come up. She also answers questions about planning uncertainty in this era of the pandemic, whether to keep or toss old planners, and where she keeps her planner sidekick. She follows up with some brief planners news on new releases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode features a brief update on screen time goals and the planning methods supporting habit change. Then comes our deep dive into the guest segment with Imani Michelle, an attorney in NYC with a passion for planning! Imani plans primarily in ring bound systems, and she gets into the beauty and flexibility that comes with using inserts. Her favorite brands include Cloth & Paper, Luxplans, and 8Lotus -- and she shares her very favorite products from each of these companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this review episode, Sarah starts with some listener-submitted tips, and then dives deep into the Amplify Planner and a custom Papier dot grid journal. In the Q&A, a listener writes in about whether having one or many planning tools is better (spoiler answer: it depends!). As always, find more detailed show notes with pictures at theshubox.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's deep dive concept episode is all about tracking habits. Sarah goes into various ways people track habits in their planning systems, as well as what has worked best for her which is a simple practice of daily habit tracking. She shares her own foundation habits. Finally, there is a brief discussion of two new planners on the scene - the Amplify quarterly planner and a new rising star, Wonderland 222. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices