Best Laid Plans

This episode opens with a discussion of fall launch updates from a few of Sarah's favorite brands, as well as a brief recap of what she is using now. Then, she answers listener questions on illness tracking, combining different areas of life into one book, and finally organizing weekly task lists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shunta Grant is the creator of the Best Today Guide and associated communities, and is passionate about helping people find the best version of "today" that they can, and the intentional stewardship of time. She is also vocal and honest about her journey with social media, which is what especially Sarah to her work! In this conversation, Sarah chats with Shunta about what cultivating your "Best Today" means, overcoming challenges, as well as Shunta's social media experiments, challenges, and current practices. Find Shunta at: https://besttoday.co Additional Notes: Planning By Season: almost full! Visit theshubox.com/courses for details; this is a year-long experience that opens for registration just once yearly for continuity in your seasonal planning all year long. Newsletter: Subscribe for monthly notes and highlights in your inbox (and never more than every month)! Visit theshubox.com/newsletter Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. MasterClass: Give the gift of learning this season! Visit masterclass.com/bestlaidplans to learn more and find active discounts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah shares her Planner Stack (all of her physical planning tools) for 2025! She's going more streamlined this year with a couple of changes and many old favorites. She would love to hear about the tools you have decided on for 2025! Share via theshubox.com or email sarah.hart.unger@gmail.com. She also discusses a bit more about Planning By Season 2025, which just opened for registration! Learn more about this year-long experience at theshubox.com/courses TOOLS MENTIONED * BLP Live/Home Workbook * BLP Planning By Season Workbook (trying printing at doxzoo) * Hobonichi HON A5 English, Paysanne Blossom Liberty Cover * Hobonchi Weeks Mega, Lemon Water * Hobonichi 5-Year (2021-2025) * Ashley Shelly Monthly (Amanda's Favorites version) * Essential Calendar (affiliate link gets you 10% off: https://www.theessentialcalendar.com/BESTLAIDPLANS or use code BESTLAIDPLANS at checkout) Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. MasterClass: Give the gift of learning this season! Visit masterclass.com/bestlaidplans to learn more and find active discounts! Cozy Earth: Sheets, pajamas and more in the most amazing fabric. Visit cozyearth.com/plans and use exclusive 40%+ off code PLANS to give the gift of luxury this holiday season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah kicks off an "organizing special topics" series with Jen Smith, cohost of the Frugal Friends podcast and author of Buy What You Love Without Going Broke, out this January. Sarah and Jen chat intentionality around spending, saving, and how to tackle both short- and long-term financial goals. Get inspired to think about budgeting in a different way by focusing on spending on what matters, not deprivation. Sarah is releasing Planning By Season! Find out more at theshubox.com/courses (or check out details in the December newsletter - visit theshubox.com/newsletter to subscribe!) Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. MasterClass: Give the gift of learning this season! Visit masterclass.com/bestlaidplans to learn more and find active discounts! Cozy Earth: Sheets, pajamas and more in the most amazing fabric. Visit cozyearth.com/plans and use exclusive 40%+ off code PLANS to give the gift of luxury this holiday season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Sarah shares her annual planning framework, essentially a mini-version of her BLP at Home course! Components include reflection, visioning, goal setting, specialty planning, and more. She has added one weekend option for BLP at Home: Planning 2025! If you'd like to join, visit theshubox.com/courses for more info. Episode Sponsors: Cozy Earth: Amazing sheets, pajamas, and other gifts! Visit cozyearth.com/plans for 40%+ off! Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. MasterClass: Give the gift of learning this season! Visit masterclass.com/bestlaidplans to learn more and find active discounts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the past couple of weeks, there has been more discussion of becoming more intentional about your social media habits. If you'd like more encouragement to see what life is like without "the scroll", this episode has lots of it. Sarah shares her own story of quitting various forms of social media and then offers 10 compelling reasons to give yourself a break from the scroll. The scroll is endless; your life is not. Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. MasterClass: Give the gift of learning this season! Visit masterclass.com/bestlaidplans to learn more and find active discounts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode opens with a Planner Peace segment from Sarah's friend and coworker Kathleen who uses a medium-sized At-A-Glance Weekly and Monthly (available here: https://a.co/d/5tnHJZ5). This planner may appear basic but it packs a punch in terms of features (and the paper is nice, too!). Then, Sarah provides a review of the Just Scribble Plans Vertical Weekly A5 Planner (available here for preorder: https://www.shopjustscribble.com/products/plans-vertical). It's a 2-volume set and a LOT of planning real estate. Sarah then shares some ideas of things she wants to do differently with her own planning in 2025, followed by a listener question asking for an example of how "Plan a Neighborhood Party" would make its way through the Nested Goals system. Info on BLP at Home Planning 2025: theshubox.com/courses Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode is all about Q5 - the last two months of the year! Sarah shares her thoughts on why this time period feels "special", the inherent fun parts and challenges, and her approach to goal setting in this celebratory season. Info on BLP at Home: Planning 2025 is at theshubox.com/courses Episode Sponsors:  Jenni Kayne: Check out their amazing gifts, from candles to their iconic sweaters . Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah reviews 3 new planner offerings you might be considering of 2025! Products reviewed/discussed: Full Focus Wellness Planner, a new version of the classic Full Focus Planner https://fullfocusstore.com/pages/wellness-planner/ Ashley Shelly's Sewn Undated Daily, a compact versatile daily layout https://ashleyshelly.com/product/daily-notebook-planner-undated/ Organize 365's intriguing rainbow planning products - tear-off pad + spiral bound https://member.organize365.com/product-category/planning Note: Full Focus and Ashley Shelly products were purchased; Organize 365's planners were sent as a gift with no obligation to review Sarah also answers a Q&A from a listener: at what stage do you bring your partner into your annual planning process? Final reminder: Best Laid Plans at Home: Planning 2025 has early pricing ($30 less) until November 1st, so this is the last reminder on the podcast. Space is limited. Visit theshubox.com/courses for details! Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership at IXL.com/PLANS. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah shares an extensive Planner Peace from a listener who plans "99% on paper" and then shares some Hot Tips + Q&A! Planner Peace Segment Products mentioned: - Plotter: https://plotterusa.com/leather-binders - Raymay-Davinci: https://yosekastationery.com/search?q=raymay Hot Tips: Apps mentioned: OneSec , Forest Essential Calendar: https://www.theessentialcalendar.com/BESTLAIDPLANS - use BESTLAIDPLANS for 10% off Note: Sarah is an affiliate and earns a small commission from each Essential Calendar sale with her code Personalized Filofax inserts: https://us.filofax.com/pages/personalization-station Vertical AND Horizontal Weekly Planner Mentioned: Twines and Paper Weekbook: https://twinesandpaper.com/en-us/products/preorder-weekbook-hybrid-2025-softcover-book-bound-tomoe-river-paper Q&A: - Handling non-urgent tasks that keep getting kicked down the curb - Planning household tasks ChatGPT Segment: Podcast ep mentioned: https://jadeboyd.co/how-i-organize-it-all-in-one-place-with-clickup/ (Jade's interview of Sarah is not up yet, but her podcast is The Business Edit) Best Laid Plans at Home: Planning 2025 is open for registration, with discounted rates until 11/1! Plan your year with structure and fun -- visit http://theshubox.com/courses for details. Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership at IXL.com/PLANS. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, host Sarah interviews Sarah Jedd, who works full time as teaching faculty at UW (Faculty in Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture), and is the mother of 5 amazing kids ages 4 to 18! She's also been blogging (old school style) at harry times.com since 2006! Sarah Jedd does a lot, manages a lot, and has fun while doing it. Sarah (J) shares her planning and life management tactics, from her personal daily planning ritual to her incredibly simple-yet-effective family management technique plus some discussion of her favorite budget and goal setting tactics. Find much more from Sarah at http://harrytimes.com! Additional note: Best Laid Plans at Home: Planning 2025 is open for registration, with discounted rates until 11/1! Plan your year with structure and fun -- visit http://theshubox.com/courses for details. Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne:Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership at IXL.com/PLANS. Amazfit: Find awesome health tracking watches and more at www.amazfit.com/PLANS (coupon code will provide 15% off!) or look for Amazfit at your favorite major retailer. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highlights of this episode: - Sarah opens by sharing details about BLP at Home: Planning 2025 (visit theshubox.com/courses for details) - A listener (Bridget) shares her experiences with a display showing Google calendar - her setup, impact on kids, husband, etc! - Discussion of screen time consciousness and the app Aro, which gamifies putting away your phone (into their special lockbox or otherwise) - Lots of inspiration if you are starting to think about (yes already) setting up your 2025 planner! Sarah shares top 10 uses/views she has returned to over and over again in her systems. (Prior ep mentioned: https://theshubox.com/2024/03/blp-episode-190-the-ideal-week.html) Sponsors: Jenni Kayne:Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership at IXL.com/PLANS. Amazfit: Find awesome health tracking watches and more at www.amazfit.com/PLANS (coupon code will provide 15% off!) or look for Amazfit at your favorite major retailer. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's (almost) a new month, and today's episode is all about THE MONTH! Sarah shares her love for the 12 natural outpoints in our year and discusses ways she loves to mark the start of a new month. She shares her monthly goal setting tactics, and how the month slots into the Nested Goals framework. She also advocates for planning in FUN on a monthly level and reveals her own very practical monthly rituals. Jenni Kayne:Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. IXL:  Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership at IXL.com/PLANS.  Amazfit: Find awesome health tracking watches and more at www.amazfit.com/PLANS (coupon code will provide 15% off!) or look for Amazfit at your favorite major retailer. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah shares some listener tips + answers questions that came in through email or text (305-697-7189)! Topics include: - Fun tip for using stickers/etc acquired on vacation - Unique Quintiles use case from Emily (http://pfforphds.com/podcast/) - Discussion of annual planning recommendations (note - for those that want a guided annual planning experience, BLP at Home: Planning 2025 will open for registration in October) - Recs for a family calendar system (note - if you love using a digital calendar display system, let me know!) What we use: EC Whiteboard: https://www.erincondren.com/wall-organization-center Essential Calendar (affiliate link): https://www.theessentialcalendar.com/BESTLAIDPLANS - Planning super long term things (like for 1-2 years down the road) - Studying for a big test - how to create deadlines? Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: The Q&A series is sponsored by Jenni Kayne! Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. Green Chef: Go to greenchef.com/classplans for 50% off your first box + 50 FREE Credits with ClassPass! Amazfit: Find awesome health tracking watches and more at www.amazfit.com/PLANS (coupon code will provide 15% off!) or look for Amazfit at your favorite major retailer. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Kendra Adachi joins Sarah to chat about all things planning-adjacent including her new book, The Plan! Kendra is a NYT Bestselling author and podcaster at the Lazy Genius, and she brings her compassion and unique perspective to planning, goal setting, and time management in her latest book, The Plan. Sarah and Kendra discuss goals, compassionate planning, planning challenges women face, planning along with hormonal swings, and so much more. Preorder The Plan wherever books are sold, and you will receive a free Pep Talk series from Kendra (either written or audio) every single Monday until the end of 2024. Find preorder bonus details and more about the book here: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/theplan Episode Sponsors: Green Chef: Go to greenchef.com/plansclass for 50% off your first box + 50 FREE Credits with ClassPass! Jenni Kayne: Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. Amazfit: Find awesome health tracking watches and more at www.amazfit.com/PLANS (coupon code will provide 15% off!) or look for Amazfit at your favorite major retailer. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a Mixed Bag Ep! In part 1, Sarah shares a Planner Peace segment from Meredith that covers multiple facets of planning - personal, family, goal setting, and life! Products mentioned are Laurel Denise, Cultivate What Matters PowerSheets, a Family Teams wall calendar, and a Hemlock & Oak Daily. Family Teams: https://shop.familyteams.com/products/family-plan-calendar Laurel Denise: Hemlock & Oak: Part 2: Planner News! Sarah discusses some new trends in planning, including planner minimalism - as evidenced by Rochelle In Theory's recent "Hobonichi Anti-Haul" video Other planner news: Wild Strides Paper Co: Planner/Training Log combos for runners, by pro runner Grayson Murphy - https://wildstridespaper.com Full Focus Wellness Planner: https://fullfocusstore.com/pages/wellness-planner/ In Part 3, Sarah provides planning-adjacent tips for buoying yourself during tough or uncertain times (perhaps a pep talk to herself!) Episode Sponsors: Green Chef: Go to greenchef.com/plansclass for 50% off your first box + 50 FREE Credits with ClassPass! Jenni Kayne: Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. Amazfit: Find awesome health tracking watches and more at www.amazfit.com/PLANS (coupon code will provide 15% off!) or look for Amazfit at your favorite major retailer. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, Sarah explores the concept of intentionality. She discussed examples and ways we can unknowingly live without much intention and then suggests strategies (large and small) to promote more intentional living. Things to think about: - Career autopilot/drift - Responding to others' expectations - Saying yes to everything - Failing to set boundaries - Consuming media that is served to you via algorithms - Setting intentions for the day - Regularly re-evaluating routines and habits - Thinking through how you wish to spend precious resources - Giving yourself time and space to think through your big goals! Episode Sponsors: Green Chef: Go to greenchef.com/plansclass for 50% off your first box + 50 FREE Credits with ClassPass! Jenni Kayne: Gorgeous apparel and home pieces. Visit jennikayne.com; listeners get 15% off your first order when you use code PLANS at checkout. Amazfit: Find awesome health tracking watches and more at www.amazfit.com/PLANS (coupon code will provide 15% off!) or look for Amazfit at your favorite major retailer. PrepDish: Visit PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks, FREE. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's August's Q&A episode! Join Sarah as she tackles listener questions and comments. Topics include: - an inbox zero success story - approaching nebulous//large projects such as book writing - what does it mean to "work faster" compared to others - thoughts on the Organize 365 Sunday Basket system (Sarah has one!) - teaching planning and organizing to school-aged kids - mindfulness! How do you stay present in the moment if you're always planning the next thing? Request - if you enjoy the show, consider subscribing + setting your podcast player to automatically download! Episode sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Find your summer aesthetic at jennikayne.com. Get 15% off your first order when you use code plans at checkout. Earth Breeze: Effective liquidless laundry detergent! Listeners can receive 40% off Earth Breeze by visiting earthbreeze.com/plans Mint Mobile: To get their new customer offer and your new 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just $15/month for the first 3 months, go to mintmobile.com/plans PrepDish: Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks of meal plans, FREE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's a Mixed Bag ep! Topics covered: 1- PTO Spreadsheet - inspired by my friend Kae (gratefulkae.com) 2- Vacation Postmortem! Consider doing a post-trip analysis with a partner. Can also extend to other home areas (summer, a school year, a holiday season, etc!) 3- Two upcoming books I’m excited about - Kendra Adachi’s The Plan and Oliver Burkeman’s Meditations for Mortals: Four Weeks to Embrace Your Limitations and Make Time for What Counts. 4- Hobonichi Release! Their preview is at https://www.1101.com/store/techo/en/magazine/2025/y25/ 5- Hemlock & Oak Paper Covers! My link: https://www.hemlockandoak.com/pages/_go_?ref=8195:338926&discount=BLP - use discount code BLP 6- Halo Planner is out! https://www.thehaloplanner.com/shopify-products/the-halo-planner-q4-2024?_kx=pEbNyEVSsMRzyt72zDDz91CczlNZdlBltKjzzraQMoUL1fg2AWRFo5wbuF5ol2IB.Vgsz5G Note - currently it shows the price in $HK not USD, I will ask if they plan to have it show USD as well! 7- Just Scribble Planners - https://www.shopjustscribble.com Episode Sponsors: Jenni Kayne: Find your summer aesthetic at jennikayne.com. Get 15% off your first order when you use code plans at checkout. Earth Breeze: Effective liquidless laundry detergent! Listeners can receive 40% off Earth Breeze by visiting earthbreeze.com/plans Mint Mobile: To get their new customer offer and your new 3-month unlimited wireless plan for just $15/month for the first 3 months, go to mintmobile.com/plans PrepDish: Check out PrepDish.com/plans for your first 2 weeks of meal plans, FREE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode features a discussion of all things related to Quintile 4, the season after summer! Sarah features some back to school discussion, but there she also addresses some non-school-related shifts in the season as well as future planning to think about. Then, she dives into a listener query about sticking to plans -- how do you stick to your plan, and how do you avoid being reactive when tasks are coming at you throughout the day? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices