Best Laid Plans

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 about on this podcast (and in her book!). How does one begin to build a system - all at once, or piece by piece?Useful references mentioned:Airtight Task Management Episode: https://theshubox.com/2026/02/blp-ep-288-your-guide-to-airtight-task-management.htmlAnnual Planning Episode: https://theshubox.com/2024/11/ep-226-your-mini-guide-to-2025-annual-planning.htmlSeasonal Planning Episode: https://theshubox.com/2024/03/blp-episode-189-diving-into-quintile-2.htmlMonthly Planning Episode: https://theshubox.com/2025/05/blp-ep-252-monthly-planning-rhythms-completist-mini-review.htmlWeekly Planning Episode: https://theshubox.com/2020/08/day-140-blp-ep-2-weekly-review.html (note: this is the SECOND EVER ep of BLP, so stay tuned for a renewed weekly planning episode coming soon!)Daily Planning Episode: https://theshubox.com/2021/02/blp-ep-28-daily-planning-routines-and-crowding-out-bad-habits.htmlThen, Sarah interviews September Gerety, an CEO in her empty nest phase who has found herself with a thriving community and social life -- and it all started with some planned. She shares her story (as well as a bit about her current systems!). If you have questions for September, you can find her via this episode's show notes at theshubox.com.

Episode Sponsors

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:  Healthy meals that fit your nutrition goals (and are delicious too!).  Head to Greenchef dot 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:  Save money by changing your wireless plan to Mint Mobile!  Shop plans at ⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠⁠⁠. 

PrepDish: Healthy meal plans straight to your inbox (and now with easy Instacart ordering!).  Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠for a free 2-week
trial.
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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 notes @ theshubox.com for photos!).Steps in her weekly planning process:

Looking back - reflection & review (including migration/review of any prior undone tasks, plus a look at the monthly list)

Looking ahead - upcoming calendar integration

Look around - ensure inboxes are up to date enough & check sneaky sources

Look within - mood and energy assessment

Generate weekly task list and record

Add weekly ops that feel necessary (plus: FUN AUDIT)

Remember the upcoming weekend - think it through

Plan for communication

Episode mentioned where Sarah clears her email on air: https://theshubox.com/2025/11/ep-278-empty-your-inbox-with-me-and-hemlock-oak-daily-weekly-monthly-planner-review.html

Newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletter

Episode Sponsors

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:  Healthy meals that fit your nutrition goals (and are delicious too!).  Head to Greenchef dot 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:  Save money by changing your wireless plan to Mint Mobile!  Shop plans at ⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠⁠. 

PrepDish: Healthy meal plans straight to your inbox (and now with easy Instacart ordering!).  Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠for a free 2-week
trial.
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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 episode can be found in her first book, How to Manage Your Home Without Losing Your Mind.You can find Dana at https://www.aslobcomesclean.com, her most recent organizing book is Organizing for the Rest of Us, and her children's book just came out called Winnie's Pile of Pillows!Prior organizing guests:Lisa Woodruff (Organize 365): https://theshubox.com/2021/03/episode-33-organizing-your-home-your-paper-and-your-life-with-organize-365s-lisa-woodruff.htmlTyler Moore (Tidy Dad): https://theshubox.com/2025/01/blp-ep-234-tidy-up-your-life-organizing-inspiration-for-2025-with-tyler-moore-aka-tidy-dad.htmlShira Gill (Minimalista): https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-best-of-both-worlds-podca-29945444/episode/organizing-your-home-and-beyond-with-shira-gill-ep-383-244524397 (This one is actually Best of Both Worlds!)BLP Live Info: theshubox.com/blpliveBe sure to sign up for the newsletter to be notified when the first (pilot) round of BLPA2.0 is open!

Episode Sponsors

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:  Healthy meals that fit your nutrition goals (and are delicious too!).  Head to Greenchef dot 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:  Save money by changing your wireless plan to Mint Mobile!  Shop plans at ⁠mintmobile.com/BLP⁠. 

PrepDish: Healthy meal plans straight to your inbox (and now with easy Instacart ordering!).  Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠for a free 2-week
trial.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the March Q&A episode!Topics discussed include:- Do Nested Goals work in the work setting, and if so, would you do the planning for both at the same time, or separate things out?(Episode mentioned: https://theshubox.com/2026/01/ep-285-sextiles-morning-pages-goals-lists-and-more-listener-tips-qa.html)- How to plan your planning (very meta - but seriously!) - both at larger and smaller time scales- How to plan for community engagement or activism?- Seeking help on syncing Outlook and Google Calendar (listener wisdom requested!)- Suggestions for mood trackingPlus, listener Stephanie gives her take on Ramona & Ruth Planners: (https://www.ramonaandruth.com)

Episode Sponsors

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:  Healthy meals that fit your nutrition goals (and are delicious too!).  Head to Greenchef dot 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:  Save money by changing your wireless plan to Mint Mobile!  Shop plans at mintmobile.com/BLP. 

PrepDish: Healthy meal plans straight to your inbox (and now with easy Instacart ordering!).  Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠⁠ for a free 2-week
trial.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jessica lives in California with her husband and is a mother of 6! In today's episode, she shares her own detailed planned peace, discussing how she keeps things organized in such a large and active household.Apps/topics mentioned: Apple's Reminders, Things (for task capture), Laurel Denise Anne layout (https://laureldenise.com/products/2026-the-anne-planner-pemberly-gardens), Essential Calendar (https://www.theessentialcalendar.com/ - if you'd like a coupon code, you can enter BESTLAIDPLANS for 10% off)You can find Jessica on Instagram at @stayathomeista

Our Sponsors

Mint Mobile:  Affordable wireless plans that let you keep your own number and phone.  To make the switch, visit ⁠⁠⁠mintmobile.com/BLP ⁠⁠⁠

Green Chef:  Visit ⁠⁠⁠greenchef.com/bestlaidgraza⁠⁠⁠ and use code bestlaidgraza to get started with 50% off Green Chef and FREE Graza Olive Oil set in your 2nd and 3rd boxes.  

IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. BLP listeners get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠⁠ixl.com/plans⁠⁠⁠.

PrepDish: Healthy meal plans straight to your inbox (and now with easy Instacart ordering!).  Visit ⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠⁠⁠ for a free 2-week
trial.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices