October Q&A: An All-Paper Planner Peace, Paper/Digital Hybrid Tips, Managing a Life with Many Moving Parts, and More EP 272

October Q&A: An All-Paper Planner Peace, Paper/Digital Hybrid Tips, Managing a Life with Many Moving Parts, and More EP 272

Author: Sarah Hart-Unger October 13, 2025 Duration: 19:39
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

In a world that often feels chaotic, the simple act of putting pen to paper can be a radical act of intention. Best Laid Plans explores that very impulse, delving into the human desire to organize our time, our tasks, and our thoughts. Host Sarah Hart-Unger brings a uniquely grounded perspective to these conversations; as a practicing physician, a mother of three, and a seasoned podcast creator, her life is a living laboratory for different planning systems. This isn't just a show about buying the perfect notebook, though you'll certainly hear thoughtful reviews. It's about the philosophies behind our calendars and to-do lists, and how those frameworks shape our days and ambitions. Each episode feels like a chat with a deeply knowledgeable friend, one who understands that our systems must serve our messy, real lives. You'll find discussions that range from practical techniques for managing professional projects to the cultural significance of journaling, all filtered through Sarah's appreciation for both analog tools and digital efficiency. The podcast regularly features interviews with experts who examine productivity from psychological, artistic, and sociological angles, moving beyond simple hacks. It’s for anyone who has ever found solace in a list or wondered if there’s a better way to navigate their obligations and goals. By listening to this podcast, you join a community considering how the structures we create-or abandon-fundamentally influence our sense of accomplishment and well-being.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Best Laid Plans
Podcast Episodes
When Your Best Laid Plans Fall Through . . . EP 310 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:00
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 Sponso…
Climbing Out of a Hard Phase with Lisa Woodruff EP 309 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:01
Lisa Woodruff is the founder of Organize 365 and author of multiple books, most recently Escaping Quicksand. Sarah always loves her ideas about planning and time, and in today's episode they chat overcoming overwhelm, bu…
5 Lessons from Time Tracking That Aren't What You'd Think EP 308 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:03
Sarah tracked her time for over 2 weeks (something she has struggled with in the past). What were her conclusions? Did she find 10 hours of free time that she didn't know she had? Will she continue for 10 years like her…
Midyear Planner Stack Report (Techo Kaigi!) - Video Available! EP 307 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:59
Today's episode is a podcast with optional video! Sarah goes through a detailed midyear status report on her 2026 Planner Stack, sharing the analog notebooks and planners she uses regularly.Items mentioned: Midori Hibino…
Need a Summer Fresh Start? Taja Fitness Planner + The Dailee EP 305 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:04
In today's episode, Sarah reviews two planners for listeners looking for some fresh start energy this summer!First is the Taja: https://www.tajaacademic.com/product/fitness-workout-journal-for-women-men-a55-5-x-8-5-worko…
Plan Your Summer with Me! EP 304 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:35
In today's episode, Sarah shares step-by-step how she thinks through planning her summer (including her real-life plans and goals for this summer!). You can use this episode as your own summer planning guide by pausing i…
More Planning x Money Talk + Sarah's Current Thoughts on AI EP 303 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:26
In today's episode, Sarah shares some follow up listener comments to the prior discussion about the intersection between spending (or saving!) and planning, and then she delves into a (somewhat raw!) discussion of her fe…
May Q&A: New Fave Pen, Does Planning Help Save Money? and More EP 302 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:31
In today's episode, Sarah provides a few life updates and then shares a wonderful planning tip from a listener.Then, topics discussed include:- Does planning help to save money?- How do you avoid rewriting daily lists wh…