Best Laid Plans

Sarah Hart-Unger
  • 4.9 (790)
  • SELF-IMPROVEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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!

  1. Your Celebration Season On Ramp with Jen Ludwig

    5D AGO

    Your Celebration Season On Ramp with Jen Ludwig

    Jen Ludwig loves holiday planning -specifically, she loves planning around her traditions of Christmas. However, this episode is for you no matter what you love to celebrate at the end of the year! In today's episode, Jen shares her tips for creating a celebratory season that is filled with fun and not overwhelm. She also has some fantastic gift tips + hacks!Find Jen's book, Embracing Advent: Rediscovering Christmas in the Chaos (A Daily Devotional) on amazon, and more from jen at @jenludwigwrites on IG or substack. Sponsor Notes: IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠ Green Chef: Make this fall your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid ⁠⁠⁠⁠and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at ⁠⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠⁠⁠⁠. PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at ⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min
  2. Inspiration for Your Analog Fall, Updates & More

    OCT 27

    Inspiration for Your Analog Fall, Updates & More

    In today's episode, Sarah shares an update for the listener seeking high-contrast planner options, with products mentioned including the Marjolein Delhaas Planner from Wms&Co, Rad & Happy, and Passion Planner. Then, she shares a listener's story of ordering the Personal Planner from Sweden -- and being extremely surprised by fees (over 4x the value of the planner!). Following, Sarah gets into the concept of an Analog Fall (or an Analog 2026?) inspired by Julianna Salguero's Keepsake substack post: https://juliannasalguero.substack.com/p/how-to-have-an-analog-fall She adds to Julianna's ideas with several fun analog activities of her own, and also ponders: if we were adding tech back to our lives from scratch, what would we actually choose to partake in? Sponsor Notes: IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠ Green Chef: Make this fall your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid ⁠⁠⁠and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at ⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠⁠⁠. PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at ⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    21 min
  3. Feeling Stuck? 6 Practices to Get Your Dreams and Reflections Flowing

    OCT 20

    Feeling Stuck? 6 Practices to Get Your Dreams and Reflections Flowing

    In today's episode (and inspired by her recent girls' trip!), Sarah shares 6 practices to help you think through your big picture goals and dreams as we gear up for Reflection Season and starting to think about annual planning for 2026! These include:- Inspiring reading (or audio)- 100 Dreams List- 10, 5, or 1-year Visioning Exercises- The gift of a notebook just for dreaming and scheming- Deep conversion with a partner or friend- Clean up! A few specific items mentioned: Laura's 100 Dreams List: https://lauravanderkam.com/2015/06/2015-list-100-dreams/Nuuna Notebook: https://nuuna.com/notebooks36 Questions: https://36questionsinlove.comCourse notes:Visit theshubox.com/courses to learn more about guided annual and seasonal planning experiences for 2026! Sponsor Notes: IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠ Green Chef: Make this fall your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid ⁠⁠and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at ⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠⁠. PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at ⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    22 min
  4. October Q&A: An All-Paper Planner Peace, Paper/Digital Hybrid Tips, Managing a Life with Many Moving Parts, and More

    OCT 13

    October Q&A: An All-Paper Planner Peace, Paper/Digital Hybrid Tips, Managing a Life with Many Moving Parts, and More

    Today's episode is a very planner-centric Q&A episode (since it's that time of year!). First, Cynthia opens with her planner peace - a mashup of prior BLP mentions, from the Passionate Pennypincher Planner to Planner Pad and a Stalogy notebook! Then, Kristin shares a pro tip for melding her digital planning (via Google calendar) with a paper system that allows for daily notes jotted in pen and a physical representation of the weeks and months. Susie shares a common planning conundrum - she has a life with LOTS of moving parts, but no one system to contain them all. Finally, a listener wonders how to handle events being tentatively booked in advance, while another gives a shout-out to Midori's unique Double Scheduler options (https://www.jetpens.com/Midori-Double-Schedule-Diary-2026-B6-To-Do-Blue) Notes: Yes, you can text your questions to Sarah -- just text (305) 697-71892026 courses are open for registration at theshubox.com/courses. Planning By Season is almost full, so don't wait to register if you are interested! Sponsor Notes: IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠ Green Chef: Make this fall your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit ⁠greenchef.com/50bestlaid ⁠and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at ⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠. PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at ⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    20 min
  5. ADHD-Friendly Planning Solutions with Skye Waterson

    OCT 6

    ADHD-Friendly Planning Solutions with Skye Waterson

    In today's episode, Sarah interviews Skye Waterson, ADHD strategist, host of a podcast in the ADHD space, and an expert in building systems that help entrepreneurs and execs with ADHD (or suspected ADHD) scale their businesses. Skye shares the strategies that she's currently using herself, as well as some great tips for prioritizing when everything feels urgent. She also shares ideas for procrastination and offers advice for others trying to support friends or family with ADHD. Skye lives in New Zealand, and you can find her at unconventionalorganisation.com Note: Best Laid Plans Live: Planning 2026 and Planning By Season: 2026 Edition are both open for registration for a limited time!Visit theshubox.com/courses to learn more. Sponsor Notes: IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at https://www.ixl.com/plans Green Chef: Make this fall your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Visit greenchef.com/50bestlaid and use code 50BESTLAID to get fifty percent off your first month, then twenty percent off for two months with free shipping. Mint Mobile: Ready to save on your wireless? Make the switch at mintmobile.com/BLP. PrepDish: Meal plans ready to go, in your inbox each week. You can try 2 weeks free at prepdish.com/plans! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    26 min
  6. Course News + The Case For Planning In Fun (and tips for how to do it!)

    SEP 29

    Course News + The Case For Planning In Fun (and tips for how to do it!)

    In today's episode, Sarah opens with news about upcoming courses - both Best Laid Plans at Home: Planning 2026 AND Planning By Season will be back for next calendar year! Get details about the courses at theshubox.com/courses and be sure to sign up for her newsletter for registration info (newsletter drops 10/1).Newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletterThen, she talks all about FUN - the case for ensuring we plan in fun, ways to figure out what kind of fun we need, and inspiration for planning in fun at every time horizon, from daily to yearly and beyond. Episode Sponsors: IXL: Make an impact on your child's learning this school year with IXL! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Green Chef: Make this season your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/50BESTLAID⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping. PrepDish: Healthy menu plans and prep instruction to take the mental load out of dinner! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepDish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Mint Mobile: Affordable unlimited wireless! Get your new customer offer and your 3-month unlimited wireless plan for $15 a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    22 min
  7. 10 Things To Consider If You’re Feeling Scattered

    SEP 22

    10 Things To Consider If You’re Feeling Scattered

    Inspired by her own recent period of feeling a bit overwhelmed and all over the place, Sarah shares 10 tips for those feeling scattered.Please be sure to sign up for the newsletter if you'd like to receive October's edition:theshubox.com/newsletterEmail Sarah with questions or comments at sarah hart unger @ gmail or text (305) 697-7189 Episode Sponsors: IXL: Make an impact on your child's learning this school year with IXL! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Green Chef: Make this season your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/50BESTLAID⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping. PrepDish: Healthy menu plans and prep instruction to take the mental load out of dinner! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepDish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Mint Mobile: Affordable unlimited wireless! Get your new customer offer and your 3-month unlimited wireless plan for $15 a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    24 min
  8. Planner Peace & Accessibility + Discussing Wirecutter's 2026 Planner Picks

    SEP 15

    Planner Peace & Accessibility + Discussing Wirecutter's 2026 Planner Picks

    In today's episode, Sarah shares a Planner Peace submission from R, a lover of paper planners with a vision issue that makes small print and light colors difficult to work with. Please send Sarah any ideas for bright and bold planner brands to share with our listener!Then, Sarah shares her notes on Wirecutter's picks for next year's planners!The article can be found here:https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/our-favorite-paper-planners/Send Sarah your own thoughts on the reviews, or submit your planning questions via email - sarah hart unger at gmail! Episode Sponsors: IXL: Make an impact on your child's learning this school year with IXL! Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Green Chef: Make this season your healthiest yet with Green Chef. Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/50BESTLAID⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50BESTLAID to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping. PrepDish: Healthy menu plans and prep instruction to take the mental load out of dinner! Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PrepDish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Mint Mobile: Affordable unlimited wireless! Get your new customer offer and your 3-month unlimited wireless plan for $15 a month at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    23 min
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Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
790 Ratings

About

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!

Information

  • Creator
    Sarah Hart-Unger
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    275
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2025
  • Show Website
    Best Laid Plans

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