Best Laid Plans

It's a new year (AND a new quintile!), so welcome to a brand new season of Best Laid Plans! In this episode, Sarah gives an overview of all of the systems and products she plans on using in 2021 to stay organized, from the digital to the physical. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's an all Q&A episode for the end of the year! Sarah answers your questions on goal setting, creating trackers for illnesses, managing big projects, messy planner pages, planners for kids, and more! Keep the questions coming - feel free to submit via email, instagram (@shubox_plans), or even send in a voice recording! And if anyone is interested in becoming a show sponsor to spread the word about your brand or product, let Sarah know! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Still looking for a 2021 planner? In the last review-focused episode of the year, Sarah reviews the unique Spaces Planner! The Spaces is a weekly system with tons of flexibility and an unusual square footprint. Sarah leads with a discussion about matching your planner size to you planner needs -- as in, don't plan on toting a round a dictionary-sized daily! Then comes the review segment. If you are looking for a very flexible weekly planner with lovely paper and lots of notes space, Spaces may be for you! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Sarah shares her end of year goal setting process, as well as some of the things that felt a little more challenging in this usual year. She discusses setting "pandemic-proof" goals, using categories, seeking accountability, getting inspiraiton from others, and choosing a word for the year. If you've created your own goals list or have chosen a word, it can be a wonderful gift to share them! Find Sarah at theshubox.com/best-laid-plans or via instagram at @shubox_plans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Miller is an author, journalist, and her pieces are always creative and fun. She has written her own guide to dot journaling -- filled with artistry and inspiration and fun ideas for using your own dot grid notebook as planner and self-care tool. She shares her current planning methods, tips on how to get started, and surprises me with the planner she is using now. Listen especially if you are considering using a blank dotted notebook as your planner for 2021. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the season of a lot of activity, even during pandemic times. Rest often gets overlooked, but it deserves discussion, contemplation and most likely even a spot in our calendars. In this short but sweet episode, Sarah discusses planned rest, unplanned rest, and the importance of giving ourselves a break sometimes. Show notes are available as always at http://theshubox.com/best-laid-plans-podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cal Newport is a computer science professor and writer about topics from technology to productivity to work culture, and he is also now the author of his newly released Time Block Planner! Cal chats with Sarah -- a long time fan -- about his productivity systems, digital/paper hybrid planning, planning weekends and personal time, and of course his new paper planner. Delve into the planner at timeblockplanner.com and find more of Cal's work at calnewport.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode 2 focused on the components of current weekly review process; this episode does the same for the monthly review. The Components: 1) Review Prior Month’s Goals and any Lists - celebrate successes & decide what to do with incomplete tasks 2) Budget reconciliation (we use You Need a Budget) 3) Review any upcoming big events with partner (if applicable) See More for 4-7 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Still in planner selection mode for 2021? The Wonderland 222 Planner and Notebook is worth a look, even if you think you've already figured out your perfect system! As a die hard Hobonichi fan I did not think there'd be any question as to what I'll be using next year but . . . this one truly gives me pause, and this episode includes a full review with all of the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're deep into planner-buying season, so today's ep is a double review feature! The first product is the compact, versatile and lovely MyWeek. MyWeek is a weekly planner with a lot of versatility and flexibility. Cultivate What Matters is a very popular brand of planners focusing on goal-setting and intentionality. The PowerSheets Goal Planner features gorgeous design, bright colors, and would be a lovely accompaniment for your weekly and monthly review sessions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another Q&A episode! Today, Sarah addresses questions on planning through hectic work days when a lot of unpredictable tasks come up. She also answers questions about planning uncertainty in this era of the pandemic, whether to keep or toss old planners, and where she keeps her planner sidekick. She follows up with some brief planners news on new releases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's episode features a brief update on screen time goals and the planning methods supporting habit change. Then comes our deep dive into the guest segment with Imani Michelle, an attorney in NYC with a passion for planning! Imani plans primarily in ring bound systems, and she gets into the beauty and flexibility that comes with using inserts. Her favorite brands include Cloth & Paper, Luxplans, and 8Lotus -- and she shares her very favorite products from each of these companies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this review episode, Sarah starts with some listener-submitted tips, and then dives deep into the Amplify Planner and a custom Papier dot grid journal. In the Q&A, a listener writes in about whether having one or many planning tools is better (spoiler answer: it depends!). As always, find more detailed show notes with pictures at theshubox.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's deep dive concept episode is all about tracking habits. Sarah goes into various ways people track habits in their planning systems, as well as what has worked best for her which is a simple practice of daily habit tracking. She shares her own foundation habits. Finally, there is a brief discussion of two new planners on the scene - the Amplify quarterly planner and a new rising star, Wonderland 222. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's another BLP Q&A Epsiode! In this episode, Sarah answers questions about her accessory notebook, workout and meal planning, keeping track of big projects, and how to capture small details that link to calendar events. Then comes a surprise cameo from a young Hobonichi fan . . . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This potpourri episode is filled with favorites related to planning! Sarah goes into her most influential/inspirational planning-related books as well as her top 5 favorite planning podcasts. Then, there is an overview of upcoming fall planner releases for 2021! Find Sarah on instagram @shubox_plans as well as theshubox.com! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tatiana is an inspiring young entrepreneur with amazing design sense and a giving, open spirit. She has a shop called The Stationery Muse that features beautiful stickers, planning products, and now she is launching her own planner product for entrepreneurs! She shares how she grew her business, what it is like to design a planner, and shares her own planning favorites. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the first official product review episode! Today Sarah will be reviewing 2 very different products - the large and comprehensive ring-bound Live Rich Planner and the compact Japanese Jibun Techo Biz (B6). Find out if either of these deserves consideration for your 2021 system! As always, look for show notes with pictures on theshubox.com -- just click on the "Best Laid Plans" button and scroll down to the full show notes posts! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was inspired by a listener who wanted to hear about ideas for getting started with planning from scratch. While it is hard to be prescriptive about what any one person should use, there are definitely a number of fundamental things to think through as you create your planning and productivity toolkit. While there is no one-size-fits-all system, this episode provides you with the framework you need to decide how to get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this all Q&A episode, Sarah addresses questions from listeners submitted through her blog & Instagram! Topics include: specific descriptions of planning rituals (with time estimates), how to make planning a habit, time blocking, how to stay in one planner for the year, how to keep daily pages neat when things change, coordinating planning with a partner. You can submit future questions any time via Sarah's blog (theshubox.com) or through Instagram (@shubox_plans)! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this very first guest episode, digital planning and organization master Beth Cubbage joins Sarah to discuss an array of hybrid methods, from the Rocketbook to electronic calendars. They also delve into kanban, a technique popular in the software community, and how it works well for helping kids visualize school tasks - ever so important in this new era of online school! Sarah also shares some excitement over the 2021 Hobonichi launch preview and answers 2 questions in the brand new Q&A segment. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To give you an idea of my typical planning toolbox, today's episode features a planner 'walk through' of the Hobonichi Techo Cousin planner system and the accessories I love to use with it it. Discussions include using calendar pages for tracking, time blocking, and daily planning. There's also a mention of a few of my favorite (and not-so-favorite) digital tools. At the time of this episode's recording I was experimenting with a bullet journal. I enjoy that approach so more on that in the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode takes a deep dive into one of Sarah's favorite planning techniques: the Weekly Review. There are so many great ways to do a weekly review process, and one size definitely does not fit all! Listen to discover the many elements you can mix and match to create a perfect jumping off point for each new week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hello and welcome to Best Laid Plans! Today's episode gives you a little bit of background about me (your host, Sarah Hart-Unger) and tells the story of how I became so fascinated by planners and planning techniques over the years. Take a trip down memory lane with me as I recount the glory of planners past and take a journey into my planning present & future! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices