Welcome to Best Laid Plans -- a podcast all about planning and the planning tools we love. From planning techniques and organizing philosophies to planners and notebooks, we cover it all. Host Sarah Hart-Unger is a mother of 3, physician, podcasting pro, and a lover of lists and all things paper! Listen in weekly for conversations about planning and productivity as well as product reviews and interviews with planning experts!
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Planning Big Projects + Making Room for Fun with Gemma Hartley EP 320
In today's episode, Sarah interviews author and mother of 3 Gemma Hartley about her planning system, with a focus on the tools Gemma uses to plan (and enjoy life!) while
Sep 14 35 min
Routines Deep Dive + Weekend Planning Challenges EP 319
Today's episode is all about routines! First, Sarah addresses a listener question around weekend planning - how to avoid feeling like the time was wasted without locking
Sep 7 21 min
Why Autopilot Doesn't Work + 5 Things Sarah is Loving Now EP 318
In this episode, Sarah discusses why autopilot (or always choosing the default, easiest choices) doesn't work. She starts with the example of health, and then compares th
Aug 31 21 min
Reasons to Plan Seasonally + Goal Planners (Farewell to PowerSheets + Amplify!) EP 317
In today's episode, Sarah shares some of the ways in which she benefitted from her own seasonal planning session, and then she pivots to a discussion of goal planners- wh
Aug 24 20 min
8 Back-to-School Planning Tactics and All About Quintile 4 EP 316
In today's episode, Sarah confesses to her recent planner switchup, and then shares her love for Quintile 4, her "throwback" fall favorites, and 8 planning tactics for th
Aug 17 23 min
August Q&A: Digital Task Management, Uncluttered Phone Screens, Planner Perfectionism + More! EP 315
In today's episode, Sarah addresses listener questions sent for the month of August!Topics include:- Her current work schedule- Digital task management adventures thus fa
Aug 10 20 min
Reading + Focus Training Plans EP 314
In today's episode, Sarah opens with a planner peace vignette from Olga, who describes her various methods for planning in fun!Then, she discusses the topic of reading an
Aug 3 21 min
Goals in Real Life: Mid-Year Chat with a Friend EP 313
In today's episode, Sarah does a midyear goal setting chat with her friend Kae! They answer a series of questions together to troubleshoot and check in with how the year
Jul 27 31 min
The Case for Planning Fun EP 312
Some people feel like planning in fun takes away . . . well, some of the fun! Sarah counters some of the common arguments for planning in fun, and offers suggestions for
Jul 20 23 min
July Q&A: Seasonal Slumps, Editing Your "To Read" List, Planning in New Motherhood, and More EP 311
In today's episode, Sarah tackles questions sent during the month of July.
Topics:- How did you help your kids through the disappointment of cancelled plans (in referen
Jul 13 20 min
When Your Best Laid Plans Fall Through . . . EP 310
Very personal episode today! Sarah shares her own recent experiences dealing with a recent disappointment -- zero regrets about making the plans, but definitely some sadn
Jul 6 17 min
Climbing Out of a Hard Phase with Lisa Woodruff EP 309
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
Jun 29 25 min
5 Lessons from Time Tracking That Aren't What You'd Think EP 308
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
Jun 22 21 min
Midyear Planner Stack Report (Techo Kaigi!) - Video Available! EP 307
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
Jun 15 22 min
June Q&A: Mostly Analog Planner Peace, Small Task Overwhelm, Family Source of Truth, and More! EP 306
In today's episode, Sarah answers listener questions! Topics included are:- A wonderful planner peace submission from a recent retiree looking to keep meaning and structu
Jun 8 19 min
Need a Summer Fresh Start? Taja Fitness Planner + The Dailee EP 305
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/fitne
Jun 1 28 min
Plan Your Summer with Me! EP 304
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 epis
May 25 22 min
More Planning x Money Talk + Sarah's Current Thoughts on AI EP 303
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
May 18 29 min
May Q&A: New Fave Pen, Does Planning Help Save Money? and More EP 302
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
May 11 20 min
The Intersection of Time Management x Planning with Laura Vanderkam EP 301
Today, author and Sarah's good friend Laura Vanderkam joins Sarah on the show to talk about ways -- planning and planning-adjacent! -- that we can manage our time so that
May 4 26 min
Chart trend
Position in the Self-Improvement chart (US), last 90 days.
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#27
all-time peak
13
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024
Chart positions
Where Best Laid Plans ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 17, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
Have listened for years now and love that there is a place to consider and learn about planner ideas every week. Sarah is always authentic, positive, resourceful, enthusiastic and overall incredibly thoughtful. Thank you for all of your efforts to create this for your listeners.
ndg96 · May 2025
As a busy full time working mom of two young boys, this podcast helps reduce my feeling of overwhelm. I love the upbeat positive attitude of Sarah and the helpful practical advice for planning and prioritizing.
jennybutlermd · May 2025
I absolutely love Best Laid Plans! Sarah has such a thoughtful, grounded approach to planning and productivity that feels both inspiring and attainable. Whether she’s doing a deep dive into her own planning systems, reviewing planners and tools, or chatting with guests about how they organize their lives, I always walk away with new ideas. It’s the perfect blend of practical tips and planner enthusiasm, without the pressure of “doing it perfectly.” Highly recommend for anyone who loves planning—or wants to love it more!
imbusybeingawesome · May 2025
So many episodes I have saved and reposted to semi regularly as I’m trying to dial in my weekly and daily planning routines and planner use. Can’t recommend Best Laid Plans enough!
brittefree · May 2025
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Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Best Laid Plans, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.
