195 episodes

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!

Best Laid Plans Sarah Hart-Unger

    • Education
    • 4.9 • 661 Ratings

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!

    Spring Planner Releases (Erin Condren, Simplified, and NOLTY) + Some Planner Switchups!

    Spring Planner Releases (Erin Condren, Simplified, and NOLTY) + Some Planner Switchups!

    In today's episode, Sarah provides a more in-depth review of two NOLTY April-start monthly planners, and then provides updates on the latest releases from Erin Condren (some excited changes to their Daily Duo!) and Simplified (so pretty).
    She then shares her own planner switchup for Spring!

    Episode Sponsors:
    Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!
    Factor: Delicious and fresh already-prepared meals delivered to your door. Head to factormeals.com/plans50 and use code plans50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box!
    PrepDish: Super convenient and delicious meal plans straight to your inbox! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks, FREE!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 28 min
    Planner Peace: Remarkable2 + Digital/Paper Hybrid System with Erin Peth

    Planner Peace: Remarkable2 + Digital/Paper Hybrid System with Erin Peth

    Today's episode features a planner peace submission that was so intriguing that it warranted an entire episode! Our listener Erin has a lot on her plate (full time job, 2 kids, volunteer work, caring for relatives, and more!) -- and she has put together and incredibly comprehensive system that brings her to a current state of Planner Peace! Rather than a stack, she's combined digital and physical elements from her favorite tools to create a streamlined system.
    Products Discussed:
    1) The Remarkable2 Tablet: https://remarkable.com/store/remarkable-2
    2) Day Designer Monthly: https://www.bluesky.com/collections/day-designer-for-blue-sky
    3) Organize 365 Sunday Basket: https://organize365.com/sunday-basket/
    4) Artful Agenda (she syncs with Google Calendar): https://artfulagenda.com
    5) Trello: https://trello.com
    6) MaskeLife: http://makselife.com
    7) Clean Mama: https://cleanmama.com
    You can find Erin (and submit questions to her directly!) through her family's photography account, @lukepearson.photography !
    Episode Sponsors:
    Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!
    Factor: Delicious and fresh already-prepared meals delivered to your door. Head to factormeals.com/plans50 and use code plans50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box!
    PrepDish: Super convenient and delicious meal plans straight to your inbox! Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks, FREE!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 29 min
    April Q&A + Listener Tips: A Tool for ADHD/Time-Blindness, Repurposing Unused Planners, 5-Year Journals, Life Planning Workbooks, and More

    April Q&A + Listener Tips: A Tool for ADHD/Time-Blindness, Repurposing Unused Planners, 5-Year Journals, Life Planning Workbooks, and More

    Welcome to April's Q&A/Tips episode!
    Sarah shares a brief recap of her family vacation (and getting back into life!) and then brings April's Q&A + Tips.
    Topics:
    1) Quarters in the Southern Hemisphere - an Australian listener reports back!
    2) Cool idea for repurposing an unused planner into a paper Second Brain/Collections Notebook/Master Planner
    3) App rec for routine building for those with ADHD/time blindness: Brili https://brili.com
    4) 5 Year Journal Recs
    Midori: https://www.jetpens.com/Midori-5-Year-Diary-Embroidered-Beige/pd/29115
    Hobonichi: https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/5year/
    Unbound: https://unboundplanner.com/products/five-year-journal
    Levenger: https://www.levenger.com/collections/journals/products/5-year-journal?variant=43396629627029#
    5) Convincing others to plan and work on routines in a household with multiple members that have ADHD
    6) Listener feedback with ideas for planning an international move - use time horizon AND category and try a shared list platform!
    7) Idea for life planning workbook for the listener in career transition: The Silk & Sonder Life Workbook: https://www.silkandsonder.com/products/life-workbook

    Find show notes + contact info at theshubox.com
    Newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletter

    Episode Sponsors:
    Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!
    Factor: Delicious and fresh already-prepared meals delivered to your door. Head to factormeals.com/plans50 and use code shu50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 27 min
    Travel Thoughts & Tips

    Travel Thoughts & Tips

    Happy new quarter or quintile!!
    Today's episode is travel-inspired because Sarah will be returning from a family trip just before it airs. In today's episode, she shares her current travel planning strategies as a parent of kids who are now at ages that are pretty easy to travel with (6, 10, and about-to-be 12!).
    She covers her use of Apple Notes as a useful second brain for travel and shares her appreciation for down time and reservations on vacation!
    Episode Sponsors:
    Jenni Kayne: Find perfect transitional spring pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!
    Factor: Delicious and fresh already-prepared meals delivered to your door. Head to factormeals.com/plans50 and use code shu50 to get 50% off your first box plus 20% off your next box!
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 23 min
    Spring Planner Reviews: Small Niche Brands!

    Spring Planner Reviews: Small Niche Brands!

    In today's episode, Sarah reviews 3 planners from small business - one of them so small it hasn't been released yet!
    The planners are:
    1) The Halo Planner by Rebecca Brosnan, thehaloplanner.com (shop not open yet, but will be soon) - quarterly gridded planner with a ton of features and both daily + weekly layouts
    2) Biz Mom Planner by Tiffani - she describes her business as "woman, minority, and mama-owned"! Hand made small batch disc-bound planners, very open ended and undated, thick luxurious-feeling paper. Great for a fresh start and lots of space to write!
    https://www.bizmomplannerco.com/ -- code BLP20 will give you 20% off
    3) Grow & Flourish Planner by Laura Millat, creator of The Girly Homesteader - she shares her own planner peace and her Grow & Flourish planner for gardeners + homesteaders!
    You can find it at https://www.thegirlyhomesteader.com/links
    Additional mentions:
    She Plans - sample inserts https://sheplans.com/products/sample-pack-plan-your-way-discbound-inserts
    Field Notes
    NOLTY and April-start Hobonichi now available at Jetpens!

    Episode Sponsors:
    PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks free!
    Jenni Kayne: Find perfect winter pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!

    CONTACT:
    Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com
    Voice questions: https://www.speakpipe.com/bestlaidplans
    Info on Best Laid Plans at Home: theshubox.com/courses
    Send me a text or voice memo - (305) 697-7189
    Sign up for my newsletter: https://theshubox.com/newsletter
    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BestLaidPlansVideo
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 30 min
    Your Ideal Week

    Your Ideal Week

    Today's episode is devoted to the Ideal Week exercise, a practice where you put your ideal week onto paper (or screen) using an hourly format. This can be done on paper using a template or an old vertical weekly planner, or on screen via an electronic calendar or even by writing on a pdf using an app.
    Sarah discusses nuances of this exercise, components she includes, and variations on the idea (Ideal Month, anyone?).
    A free ideal week template was included in the March newsletter - if you'd like a copy, feel free to send an email to sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com!
    Episode Sponsors:
    PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first two weeks free!
    Jenni Kayne: Find perfect winter pieces at at jennikayne.com. Use code PLANS at checkout to get 15% off your first order and support the show!
    CONTACT:
    Email: sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com
    Voice questions: https://www.speakpipe.com/bestlaidplans
    Info on Best Laid Plans at Home: theshubox.com/courses
    Send me a text or voice memo - (305) 697-7189
    Sign up for my newsletter: https://theshubox.com/newsletter
    YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BestLaidPlansVideo
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 23 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
661 Ratings

661 Ratings

ktaylor127 ,

Love love love

I love this show! I get great insights from every episode and it’s just fun to listen to

Rebecca Brosnan ,

The Most Organized Person I Know!

Everyone has one- the friend that is doing a million things and seeming has it all in hand. With Sarah’s help- you can be that person. Even as a busy working mom, I always make time for this podcast which is an oasis of practical tips that make a difference in my life. Filled with joy, empathy and laughter- Sarah is the best friend we all need!

Ronna B. ,

Sarah is fantastic!

I have been a faithful listener of Best of Both Worlds and Best Laid Plans since the very beginning. I listen to many podcasts, but this is the one that I always make sure to listen to as soon as it comes out. Sarah is so knowledgeable about planning but doesn’t overwhelm her listeners. She is relatable and authentic, offers suggestions that actually work for personal and professional planning, and is just an overall pleasure to listen to. I have learned so much from her and can’t wait to hear what else she has in store for us. I also highly suggest taking her Best Laid Plans Academy class. The deep dive into Sarah’s systems was invaluable, and there were tons of actionable takeaways.

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