Best Laid Plans

Day 138: Best Laid Plans!

July 31, 2020

Don’t worry, the habits series will resume tomorrow. I wanted to share that the very first episode of Best Laid Plans is UP!

The launch was going to be Monday but somehow Ep1 was already showing up on all of the major platforms so I figured . . . why not! Episode 2 will be released Monday 8/4, with weekly releases thereafter.

This podcast will be focused entirely on planners, planning techniques & philosophy, organizing, and the like! Episode 1 is an introductory episode (it’s just 13 minutes!) and goes into how I fell in love with planning and why I believe in it so much.

The ratios may not be exact, but I am aiming to have each month:

✅ 1 episode on a planning technique or philosophy each month

✅ 1 episode on a planning product (planner, system, etc) – basically a product review

✅ 1 guest episode (already have first 2 lined up!). I am committed to making sure I get a broad array of voices and planning styles.

✅ 1 Q&A mailbag episode

(Plus, if the month has 5 weeks – another philosophy or maybe even a deep dive into a favorite planning book or system).

PLEASE send me questions if you have them for the first Q&A or I will be forced to make them up myself 🙂 I am looking into a way to have people send in voice recordings because I feel like that option is fun! You can certainly use your phone’s voice recorder and email it to me.

WAYS TO LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:

Apple: Here (reviews help a lot on this platform so I would love it if you would leave me one!)

Stitcher: Here

Google Play: Here

Spotify: Here

There’s also a new page on this site that leads you to the subscription areas, for future reference!

I hope you enjoy — this has been a fun endeavor and makes me grateful for the mandated PTO I’ve had to take at work!! IDEAS, guests suggestions all welcome – just let me know!

HAPPY FRIDAY!

PS: Monthly newsletter coming Monday – in case anyone was worried.

35 Comments

  • Reply Sheryl July 31, 2020 at 6:21 am

    Congratulations, Sarah! Looking forward to listening!

  • Reply Rachel S July 31, 2020 at 7:13 am

    That first episode was just what I needed last night, so I’m glad it popped up early! Questions for the podcast: What planning supplies other than your planner do you take with you to work? Do you just throw everything in your work bag or place in some kind of pouch first? How do you organize your planning supplies at home? Where do you do your planning in the mornings (kitchen counter, dining table, desk, etc)?

  • Reply JGold July 31, 2020 at 7:55 am

    Congrats on your podcast! Just listened and it’s great! Some questions- can you comment on how you use the Getting things done system within your planning? Also, what digital tools are useful for those of us with horrible handwriting 🙂

  • Reply gwinne July 31, 2020 at 8:11 am

    Very cool!!! I do not listen to podcasts really at all but this is something I might do on a walk. Congrats on the launch!

  • Reply Theresa Mischel Smith July 31, 2020 at 10:02 am

    So after many years of trying to do paper planner I am now fully digital. I use a number of apps and systems. I finally found my rhythm. If you ever want a digital app planner user let me know.

  • Reply Jen July 31, 2020 at 10:53 am

    Emailed my question! 😀 Very cool and congrats on getting a project off the ground!

  • Reply Kip July 31, 2020 at 11:12 am

    I am so excited for your new podcast! I’ve already listened to episode 1 and subscribed. I’m trying to make planning more of a habit for myself. I’ve always been a list maker but hadn’t gotten as much into planning and scheduling. I do notice I am MUCH more productive when I do plan out my days. I can’t wait for new tips and ideas! I will add I have a new set of favorite pens. I love the Frixion erasable pens (and fine point markers). I’m a bit of a perfectionist, so I love being able to erase and redo. Also, I second Rachel’s questions above on how you organize your supplies and what you take back and forth with you to work.

  • Reply Kate July 31, 2020 at 12:28 pm

    I listened and loved it! Have you ever explored Rocketbooks? They just released a reuseable planner that intrigues me. I have their regular notebooks that I use extensively for work and personal. Love the whole system!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger July 31, 2020 at 1:37 pm

      Ooooooh perfect question bc my first guest is a rocketbook devotee!!

      • Reply Kate July 31, 2020 at 4:33 pm

        How exciting!!!!

  • Reply Joy July 31, 2020 at 12:36 pm

    Yay! Your recommendation of the Agendio planner made my year last year. In fact, I thought of you as I ordered my second one this week. I’m so excited to hear all about planners and planning.

  • Reply Katie July 31, 2020 at 12:44 pm

    I am so excited to listen to this, Sarah!! Bravo on making this happen – planner nerds out there are gleeful at the news, myself included 🙂

  • Reply Lisa of Lisa's Yarns July 31, 2020 at 2:23 pm

    Congrats! I can’t wait to listen! This is right up my alley as I am a total planner geek!

  • Reply rose July 31, 2020 at 2:42 pm

    THANK YOU for the podcast. Wonderful length, and fun to listen to. Could you please include on your blog a brief note of the product names you mention so I can get spelling correct? Old ears here.
    Best wishes and thank you.

  • Reply Taryn July 31, 2020 at 3:18 pm

    YAY, so happy the podcast is here! Congrats, Sarah!! I think Tonya Dalton would be a great guest.

  • Reply Sherri July 31, 2020 at 7:29 pm

    Just listened, and it was so good! Would love a show notes post with links to the products you mention!

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger July 31, 2020 at 7:41 pm

      I’m going to get on that ASAP!!! I know, it’s a key component!

  • Reply Clare July 31, 2020 at 7:29 pm

    I’m not into planners at all but I LOVE your promo image. It look so professional yet so cute at the same time. It really catches the eye

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger July 31, 2020 at 8:18 pm

      thank you! I cannot take credit as I definitely did not design it myself! I would compliment the design team but I don’t know exactly who did it – it was part of the ‘podcast launch’ package I used 🙂

  • Reply Katie July 31, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    Congratulations! Really excited to listen. I would love to listen to an episode on using the Kanban board system for personal planning. Also, tips and ideas for using a whiteboard effectively for planning. I find putting my lists and calendars in a larger format on the wall more effective for me (helps if you have a private space/office to do this!).

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger August 1, 2020 at 8:22 am

      added to questions list!!!

  • Reply Charlotte August 1, 2020 at 10:50 am

    My main question is on how to make planning a habit? I’m really good about using it some days and then just fall off the wagon for days at a time.

    Also really intrigued by time blocking but never found a good way to make it work for me.

  • Reply Nina August 1, 2020 at 11:03 am

    Another question, any thoughts on planning / deciding the big stuff, changing jobs/ careers, moving house, having a baby or three! Also I’m just amazed by how much you do. Congratulations on launching podcast no. 2.

  • Reply Ruth Cuddyer August 1, 2020 at 11:44 am

    I want to combine two questions already listed:
    -Using a white board for planning
    -Using rocketbook for planning

    I have the rocketbook beacons for white boards and love them, but haven’t used them for anything more complicated than my grocery list. Would love some ideas on tjat front.

  • Reply Liv Wu August 1, 2020 at 3:24 pm

    congrats on launching the podcast! I subscribed and listened to the first episode yesterday and think it’s a really good start!

    I do have a planning related question as I’m planning the second half of my maternity leave (Aug to Nov): do you set and write down your goals in one setting? or do you spend several days or week thinking through and refining them? I think the most important thing about planning is figuring out WHAT to do. But for me it requires me to think deeply about what I want to achieve. Usually that’s not something I could accomplish in one planning session (no matter it’s 30 mins or 2 hours). Could you please share some more details about the mechanism of your planning?

    Thank you so much!

    btw, I recommended “best of both worlds” podcast to my postpartum mom group because today we were discussing returning to work after maternity leave. Your podcast offers lots of great perspectives on this topic!

    Liv

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger August 1, 2020 at 4:59 pm

      ohhh such a good question. i think it depends on the scope of the goals! Yearly goals take a while to collect & flesh out. Monthly goals are much easier. Sometimes goals get added ad hoc as you get a new idea you are excited about. I will totally geek out on this ? on the podcast!!

      • Reply Liv August 1, 2020 at 8:33 pm

        Yes that makes sense! I like the flexibility you mentioned by adding or tweaking goals ad hoc! Thanks for the reply and look forward to your future episodes!

  • Reply Amanda August 1, 2020 at 5:12 pm

    I will echo the excitement of previous comments. Congrats and thanks for accompanying me on part of my walk this morning! 🙂
    Two ideas for topics:
    One, planner products that are not planners (and each item could be its own episode) — washi tape, pens (which you briefly mentioned), stickers, etc.
    Two, your digital/paper hybrid system. This may overlap or run parallel to your work/home delineation (or not).

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger August 1, 2020 at 8:40 pm

      love it! I think there are lots of people that could also speak about how they combine digital / analog in guest episodes. (for me nope it’s not entirely a work / home thing . . . it’s more that paper for me is for daily goals / actually planning the landscape of the day / tracking things, something I don’t find easy or fun to do online.)

  • Reply Alyce August 1, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    Rachel Wilkerson Miller would make an excellent guest.

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger August 1, 2020 at 8:38 pm

      She’s on my list 🙂

  • Reply Jen Doyle August 1, 2020 at 8:41 pm

    Loved the first episode! For someone like me who is very functional & simple in my approach to planning, I appreciated how specifically you described your evolution as a planner, reasons for using certain products & motivations for planning. I hope you will include voices like mine – the average Jane who plans to stay focused & to simply remember what it is I’m supposed to be doing right now because it’s just too easy to get sidetracked!

  • Reply Cheryl August 4, 2020 at 11:32 am

    Am listening now and love it. I have a similar story with using paper planners going back to high school (because I never got a school-issued planner) but my planner brands are all different: currently a Planner Pad fan, but have used assorted planners as well as a long stretch of Franklin Planners (before the company merged and became Franklin-Covey). Looking forward to future podcasts.

    • Reply Sarah Hart-Unger August 4, 2020 at 1:57 pm

      thank you so much Cheryl!

  • Reply Hope Halperin September 2, 2020 at 8:54 am

    Love your podcast. After doing digital since 2012 I just went back to paper. Although I still record events in the calendar but not tasks. I prefer writing it down. It feels more intentional.

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