PLAN GOAL PLAN | Goals, Transformation for Women, Mindful Time Management, Balance, Working Moms

Danielle McGeough, PhD | Burnout Recovery Strategist

** Top 1.5% Globally Ranked Podcast **

You know that feeling—when life looks full of achievement, but something inside still feels... off-script?

Welcome to the Plan Goal Plan Podcast, where we turn planning and goal setting into a ritual of self-revelation and intentional living.

I’m Danielle McGeough—professor, mom, recovering overachiever, and ritual nerd. After years of chasing big goals and crossing off endless to-do lists, I hit a milestone—and felt completely unmoored. That’s when I stopped planning to prove myself, and started planning to be myself.

Each episode offers tools, insights, and rituals to help you:

Set meaningful goals that reflect who you truly are

Create intentional routines that support joy and purpose

Turn everyday planning into a powerful personal growth practice

Feel focused and fulfilled—without the burnout

Whether you’re leading a team, managing a household, or navigating change, this podcast will help you reclaim your time, reimagine your goals, and build a life that feels lived-in—not just productive.

Let’s plan a life that feels like yours—on purpose, with heart, and one gentle step at a time.

Learn more: https://www.plangoalplan.com/
Email: support@plangoalplan.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/danielle-mcgeough-phd-b673334

Episodes

Mentioned books

Mar 2, 2023 • 19min

How to Let Go of SMART Goals and Flip the System | Ep. 15

Does the idea of goals stress you out? Do you find them rigid or overly strict? Maybe they add pressure to your already pressure-filled life. If goals got you stressed, the problem isn’t you. You rock. You’re amazing. You are doing the best you can in the place you are in. You’ve just been taught about goals in a way that is not serving you. And one way you may have been taught about goals is using the SMART goal method. Are you ready to get real about SMART goals? In this episode, we're going to take a hard look at this popular framework and question whether it's really all that smart. We'll dive deep into the limitations and explore alternative approaches to achieving our goals--playfully and lightly. So, grab a cup of coffee, get comfy, and let's have a conversation that just might change the way you approach goal setting. FREE Planning Starter Pack Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 28, 2023 • 28min

From Chaos to Calm: The Ultimate Guide to Using Checklists to Harness the Power of Routine, Delegate, and Cultivate Calm | Ep. 14

Do you ever have days where you are so focused on getting people dressed and out the door, and yourself to work and prepped for meetings, and ready to turn in this to that person, and putting out that fire, and getting groceries ordered, that you look up and realize the day is over? And you haven’t even started dinner? Woof. What if in the midst of chaos and complexity, a simple list could be a life saver? That a simple list could help you harness the power of routine, open up the possibility of delegation, and create a bit of space on an otherwise wild day? In this episode, Danielle checks in with you and then dives deep into the power of checklists to show you how to harness the power of routine, delegate, and transform chaos into calm. FREE Planning Starter Pack Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 23, 2023 • 20min

Goals Got You Stressed?: How to Let Go of Anxiety and Find Delight in Goal Setting | Ep. 13

Does the idea of setting goals stress you out but you are looking for direction? Do you want to set goals but have no idea where to start? Or, perhaps have you set goals in the past only to have progress fizzle out and leave you feeling like a failure? And now fear and shame got you freaked out and shutting down. Maybe you equate goal setting with hustle culture? And you are done with that shhh-stuff. In this episode, Danielle discusses why goals can stress you out and then provides you with some ways to let go of anxiety and find delight in goal setting! FREE Planning Starter Pack Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 21, 2023 • 30min

Abundance, Creativity, and What to Do When Scarcity is Real | Ep. 12

Are you feeling like there just isn’t enough? Not enough time? Not enough money? A recession is on the horizon and, for some, it is already here and already has been here. In this episode, Danielle talks about her very slow journey to accepting and then adopting an abundance mindset. She tells you how when annoyed she was the first time she learned about abundance mindset and how her research and experience with creativity made her rethink abundance. Although beautiful things emerge out of necessity, Danielle talks about why it is important to acknowledge how our structures uphold scarcity for some more than others and offers some ideas for what to do when scarcity is real. Buy: The Daily Top 3 Guide: Worksheet to Help You Plan Daily Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 16, 2023 • 28min

Relationship Goals for a Stronger Partnership: A Discussion with Relationship Expert Dr. William Henninger | Ep. 11

Does your romantic relationship need a little attention this year? Perhaps you are seeing warning signs that your relationship is in trouble? If you are looking for ways to deepen your connection with the one you love, this episode is for you. Relationship expert Dr. Bill Henninger joins Plan Goal Plan to talk about relationship goals you can set for stronger partnership. We chat about what he’s learned about relationships from watching The Bachelor. He fills us in on what research says about healthy relationships, some signs to pay attention to that may indicate that your relationship could be in trouble, and ways to set goals to grow a stronger partnership. There’s so much good advice packed into this episode. You aren't going to want to miss this! Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: 2023 Couples Goal Setting Workbook Galentine's Day Party Planner plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 14, 2023 • 23min

In This Together: A Couple’s Guide to Goal Setting | Ep. 10

Are you looking for a way to connect on Valentine's Day? Or, perhaps you want to focus on relationship goals this year? In this episode, Danielle offers you a guide to setting goals together. How can you, as a couple, set goals to ensure you are in this together? And, how can setting goals together strengthen your relationship? Grab your sweetie! It is goal time. Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: 2023 Couples Goal Setting Workbook Galentine's Day Party Planner plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 9, 2023 • 15min

Relationships, Work, and Family: How to Use Categories to Set Goals | Ep. 9

It is February! This month, the Plan Goal Plan Podcast will cover all things relationships: friendships and romantic relationships. To kick-off this conversation, Danielle discusses how to use categories, or life domains, to set goals. She talks about why setting goals using categories is helpful, how different goal setting systems name different life areas and why this matters. Finally, she offers tips on how many life domains you should name and pushes you to ask yourself the hard questions. Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: 2023 Couples Goal Setting Workbook Galentine's Day Party Planner plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 7, 2023 • 36min

Can You Be Ambitious and Content?: Dopamine, Novelty, and a Discussion of the Book The Molecule of More | Ep. 8

To celebrate February, Danielle invites her first guest to her podcast: her husband Dr. Ryan McGeough. Together they discuss the book, The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity--And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race written by Daniel Z. Lieberman MD, Michael E. Long, et al. Danielle and Ryan talk about what dopamine is and why if you listen to a podcast on planning and goal setting you are probably more dopaminergic than most of the population. Dr. Ryan McGeough discusses the role of desire, dopamine, and self control in our brains and why the chemicals in our brains make being both ambitious and content challenging. They talk about novelty, value, and how your dopamine levels may influence your experience with goal setting and planning. Tune and see if this episode leaves you craving more! Or, maybe that's just the dopamine drip! Buy the book: The Molecule of More by Daniel Z. Lieberman MD, Michael E. Long, et al. Buy: The Daily Top 3 Guide: Worksheet to Help You Plan Daily Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

Feb 2, 2023 • 23min

You Vote With Your Time: How the Daily Top 3 Helps You Focus, Prioritize, and Align Your Actions and Values | Ep. 7

Are you looking to make up some time? Do you need a simple daily planning practice to help you prioritize? Or something to help you focus fast? Then keep listening. In this episode, Danielle describes the practice of setting a daily top 3. She explains the benefits and then walks you through several steps to set your daily top 3. Finally, she describes how you can use your daily top 3 as a way to collect data about how you spend your time. This super simple and quick practice will have you focusing, living your priorities, and aligning your actions and values in no time! Buy The Daily Top 3 Guide: Worksheet to Help You Plan Daily Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram The Measure by Nikki Erlick

Jan 31, 2023 • 26min

It’s Not Too Late!:5 Steps to Set Your Goals | Ep. 6

You are right on time. You are right where you are supposed to be. And it is time to set your 2023 goals. Welcome. In this episode, Danielle lays out 5 steps to setting goals. You are going to: 1) connect to yourself, 2) imagine possibilities, 3) decide, 4) align, and 5) react, reflect, and refine. No SMART goals necessary. Grab a pen, jot down those goals, and go(al) get it! Get the 2023 Goal Setting Workbook Learn more: plangoalplan.com Shop: plangoalplan.etsy.com Connect: Follow Plan Goal Plan on Instagram

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