Best Laid Plans

Sarah Hart-Unger
  • 4.9 (829)
  • 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. 3d ago

    Reasons to Plan Seasonally + Goal Planners (Farewell to PowerSheets + Amplify!)

    In today's episode, Sarah shares some of the ways in which she benefitted from her own seasonal planning session, and then she pivots to a discussion of goal planners- what's out there, what's going away, and what can they help with. She also notes her plans to create a Nested Goals Workbook for 2027 - stay tuned! To stay the most up to date, be sure to subscribe to Sarah's newsletter at theshubox.com/newsletterPlanners Mentioned:Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets (being discontinued): https://cultivatewhatmatters.com/collections/plannersAmplify (being discontinued)https://www.amplifyplanner.com/Ink + Volthttps://inkandvolt.com/collections/planners/datedCommit30https://commit30.com/products/2027-weekly-goal-plannerMakseLifehttps://makselife.com/collections/all-plannersEC Monthlyhttps://www.erincondren.com/monthly-plannerFull Focushttps://fullfocusstore.com/collections/planners August Sponsors: Factor Meals: Head to factormeals.com/plans50off and and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box while supplies last until 10/31/2026 IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Reasons to Plan Seasonally + Goal Planners (Farewell to PowerSheets + Amplify!)

  2. Aug 17

    8 Back-to-School Planning Tactics and All About Quintile 4

    In today's episode, Sarah confesses to her recent planner switchup, and then shares her love for Quintile 4, her "throwback" fall favorites, and 8 planning tactics for the back to school season.MD Notebook mentioned: https://amzn.to/4wWYhyM (affiliate link) August Sponsors: Factor Meals: Head to factormeals.com/plans50off and and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box while supplies last until 10/31/2026 IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    8 Back-to-School Planning Tactics and All About Quintile 4

  3. Aug 10

    August Q&A: Digital Task Management, Uncluttered Phone Screens, Planner Perfectionism + More!

    In today's episode, Sarah addresses listener questions sent for the month of August!Topics include:- Her current work schedule- Digital task management adventures thus far, plus a listener rec for Tick Tick- Sarah's current uncluttered phone setup- Addressing planner perfectionism- Annual vs Academic calendars- Planner news mentioned:Aura Estelle Magnet Planner: https://www.auraestelle.com/collections/2027-magnet-releaseHobonichi launch site: https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/magazine/2027/y27/?srsltid=AfmBOooovhvxPNwqs3QaGJ1sPfcv7mMp2W1A3OfaywUsenfnzUgUjzLi August Sponsors: Factor Meals: Head to factormeals.com/plans50off and and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box while supplies last until 10/31/2026 IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠. PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    August Q&A: Digital Task Management, Uncluttered Phone Screens, Planner Perfectionism + More!

  4. Aug 3

    Reading + Focus Training Plans

    In today's episode, Sarah opens with a planner peace vignette from Olga, who describes her various methods for planning in fun!Then, she discusses the topic of reading and focus, with emphasis on ideas around improving one's focus over time with intentional time spent building the skill and endurance around paying attention.Mentioned:Atlantic article (gift link):Substack with the 'training plan for reading' concept: https://naomialderman.substack.com/p/lets-do-a-couch-to-5k-for-readingAlso mentioned:Hemlock & Oak tariff news- https://www.hemlockandoak.com/blogs/theweeklyspread/where-we-stand-50-tariffs-on-us-orders-starting-august-19th?srsltid=AfmBOoomppnNJfzC4vjTsrYdNz5Eg0RobWbH1lYg3jaCBuUz4vFcMGMTHobonichi launch- https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/?srsltid=AfmBOorTU25X3TOOOAPmMywniMoK8OBswJXGVs56jrgUjk9TRpkYWpgmBLPA2.0: theshubox.com/courses August Sponsors:Factor Meals: Head to factormeals.com/plans50off and and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box while supplies last until 10/31/2026 IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠. PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Reading + Focus Training Plans

  5. Jul 27

    Goals in Real Life: Mid-Year Chat with a Friend

    In today's episode, Sarah does a midyear goal setting chat with her friend Kae! They answer a series of questions together to troubleshoot and check in with how the year is going so far, providing encouragement and ideas along the way.You can use this episode as a template of sorts to conduct your own friend or partner check-in, at the end of a month, season, or year!Find more from Kae at gratefulkae.com (and check out the Google Tasks Widget she recommends!)Additional note: BLPA2.0 registration is OPEN for fall! Visit theshubox.com/courses for details! Our Sponsors IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠. PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Goals in Real Life: Mid-Year Chat with a Friend

  6. Jul 20

    The Case for Planning Fun

    Some people feel like planning in fun takes away . . . well, some of the fun! Sarah counters some of the common arguments for planning in fun, and offers suggestions for adding fun to every time frame, from yearly to daily! July Sponsors IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠. PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Case for Planning Fun

  7. Jul 13

    July Q&A: Seasonal Slumps, Editing Your "To Read" List, Planning in New Motherhood, and More

    In today's episode, Sarah tackles questions sent during the month of July. Topics:- How did you help your kids through the disappointment of cancelled plans (in reference to the prior week's ep)?- Advice for planning at the start of new motherhood?- Follow up advice for the listener struggling with her "to buy" list- What to do when "New Year" momentum fizzles out in spring and summer?- How to manage your "to be read" / "to be watched" collections when they add up to wayyyyy more time than you actually have to read/watch? July Sponsors IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠. PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    July Q&A: Seasonal Slumps, Editing Your "To Read" List, Planning in New Motherhood, and More

  8. Jul 6

    When Your Best Laid Plans Fall Through . . .

    Very personal episode today! Sarah shares her own recent experiences dealing with a recent disappointment -- zero regrets about making the plans, but definitely some sadness about them not coming to fruition. July Sponsors IXL: Best Laid Plans listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at https://www.ixl.com/plans. PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠prepdish.com/plans Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    When Your Best Laid Plans Fall Through . . .
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Hosts & Guests

4.9
out of 5
829 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 - 2026
  • Episodes
    317
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2026
  • Show Website
    Best Laid Plans

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