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
Gratitude Episode: Thank You for 300! EP 300 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:09
In today's episode, Sarah expresses gratitude to listeners for helping BLP reach the milestone of 300, and then shares two gratitude-themed lists.The first is 5 planning or planning-adjacent things (or people) she is inc…
Sarah's Planner Peace: 10 Tactics Working Well in 2026 EP 297 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:20
In today's episode, Sarah answers a question about Disney planning and then delves into her own current planner peace, with 10 tactics working really well for her in 2026!You can find images of the tracking spreads she t…
Your Busy Season Survival Guide EP 296 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:36
In today's episode, Sarah shares 10 tips for getting through a particularly full season of life, inspired by a very travel-heavy spring schedule coming up for her.Interested in BLPA2.0? Be sure you are getting Sarah's ne…
Where To START, and Planning to Revolutionize Your Social Life EP 295 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:36
In today's episode, Sarah answers a question from Nate (who heard Sarah on Cal Newport's Deep Questions Podcast), who asked where it makes sense to START in terms of implementing all of the planning systems she talks abo…
Let's Plan the Week Together! EP 294 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:53
In today's episode, Sarah plans her week on-air! Well, it's a bit of a reenactment (mostly because she needed a quiet house to record), but she goes through all the steps and there are visual aids (please see the show no…
Decluttering with Dana K White (Plus An Update from Sarah!) EP 293 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:39
Dana K. White is a decluttering expert -- NOT an organizing expert! She shares her mess-free 5-step method in today's podcast, with advice for those who struggle to get started. The 28-day plan she mentions on the episod…