Best Laid Plans

Inspired by an episode of EMPowered Radio (https://macroswithem.com/pages/podcast) , Sarah is listing her top 10 Standard Operating Procedures or rules for planning and life management.The summary:

Take your time to plan well, FIRST.

No task left behind / Airtight Task ManagementEpisode mentioned: https://theshubox.com/2026/02/blp-ep-288-your-guide-to-airtight-task-management.html

Planning goes in the planning container - once you have your list, you execute and focus on the task at hand

One source of truth!!!!

Control your inputs.

Planning doesn’t occur in a vacuum - have a communication planLazy Genius Ep mentioned: https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.com/lazy/familymeetings

Use the tools that make you happy and fit your current life circumstances. Switch if you want, but you better have a really good reason.

Watch your energy and remember you are a human — even during the planning phases.

For the most part, TRY to remain faithful to your list. (goes hand in hand with making a realistic list!!!!)

Be willing to iterate - don’t let planning box you in too tightly!!!

ADDITIONAL INFO:Course info including Best Laid Plans: 2027 registration (now also CME option available!) - visit theshubox.com/coursesNewsletter: theshubox.com/newsletterOCTOBER SPONSORS

Boll & Branch: Amazingly comfortable bedding. Get 20% off your first order plus free shipping at bollandbranch.com/plans with code plansFactor: Healthy meals with ultimate convenience. Visit factormeals.com/plans50off and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.Quince: Beautifully made classic pieces for your fall wardrobe, and more. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.Explore Worldwide: Explore Worldwide’s trips are crafted, planned and facilitated by real human experts who know all those hidden local gems. Check out all of the wonderful options at exploreworldwide.comIXL: Effective home learning for grades K-12! Visit https://www.ixl.com/plans to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.Warby Parker: Buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/PLANS.PrepDish: Strategic and healthy meal planning right in your inbox. Check out PrepDish.com/plans for 2 weeks, free!
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It's a planner-packed episode today!Sarah discusses:- Planner buying season - mindset + shopping tips! For fun, Sarah's 2027 stack can be viewed at youtube.com/@bestlaidplansvideo- Upcoming planning experiences, including Planning 2027 (registration opens 10/1, with details in the newsletter - theshubox.com/newsletter). Special bonus this year - participants also get the brand new Nested Goals workbook (pdf).- Reviews of two fantastic Tomoe River Paper options:1) Aura Estelle Magnet Planner (A5 vertical weekly - https://www.auraestelle.com/products/2027-weekly-vertical-magnet-planner?variant=48662624469224) - $54.95 (preorder)2) Faded Chronicle (A5 Collective - https://fadedchronicle.com/products/preorder-the-2027-chronicle-planner-tn-all-in-one?_pos=1&_fid=ae647e958&_ss=c) - $59If you'd like to be entered for a chance to win one of these, visit today's show notes at theshubox.com (winner drawn 9/30!).

OUR SPONSORS:

IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans with listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠.

Factor: Head to ⁠⁠factormeals.com/plans⁠⁠ and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.

Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at ⁠⁠BollAndBranch.com/plans⁠⁠ with code plans.

Quince: Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers or go to ⁠⁠quince.com/plans⁠⁠

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠
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In today's mixed bag episode, Sarah chats about:- Current life update, 1 month into Quintile 4 (Back to School)- Hobonichi drama with happy ending (eventual unboxing video will be at https://www.youtube.com/@BestLaidPlansVideo -- but likely not for a week or so!)- Upcoming course offerings (including 2027!) - brief overview, with first 2027 courses launching in October. (Best place to stay up to date about offerings is the newsletter - theshubox.com/newsletter !)- Great listener tips from M on weekend planning to balance intention + spontaneity (love his idea of last-minute performance tickets!)- FAQs -- the 5 things I get asked most often, with overview responses! The questions:1) Where should I capture this task? (Reference - Airtight Task Capture ep: https://theshubox.com/2026/02/blp-ep-288-your-guide-to-airtight-task-management.html)2) I have a lot going on- which planner should I use?3) What do I do if my partner resists planning?4) What happens if the month and season start at the time time (or if the season starts just before the month, or vice versa?)5) What do I do if my plans go up in flames every time I start my work day due to some emergency?

OUR SPONSORS:

IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans with listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠⁠.

Factor: Head to ⁠⁠factormeals.com/plans⁠⁠ and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.

Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at ⁠⁠BollAndBranch.com/plans⁠⁠ with code plans.

Quince: Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers or go to ⁠⁠quince.com/plans⁠⁠

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 she tackles bit projects like writing a book.Mentioned on the podcast:Standard Issue planner: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/2026-2027-black-standard-issue-weekly-desk-planner-designworks-ink/1148365276Google TasksNotionCourses page: theshubox.com/courses (find info on the free time management for heathcare providers webinar here!)Sarah's newsletter: theshubox.com/newsletter

OUR SPONSORS:

IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans with listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ⁠https://www.ixl.com/plans⁠.

Factor: Head to ⁠factormeals.com/plans⁠ and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.

Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at ⁠BollAndBranch.com/plans⁠ with code plans.

Quince: Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers or go to ⁠quince.com/plans⁠

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 yourself in to too many scheduled activities?Then, Sarah talks all about ROUTINES -- why they deserve attention, and a wide variety of routines you might not have thought about (from your "getting ready" routine to your shutdown ritual!).

Note of a FREE 2-session seminar on time management for healthcare providers (Sarah is cohosting along with two Johns Hopkins physicians) - get the signup link on today's show notes post at theshubox.com.

OUR SPONSORS:IXL: Make an impact on your child’s learning, get IXL now. Best Laid Plans with listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at https://www.ixl.com/plans.Factor: Head to factormeals.com/plans and use code plans50off to get 50 percent off and 1 free breakfast item per box for 1 year, while supplies last until 10/31/2026.

Boll & Branch: Upgrade your sleep with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/plans with code plans.

Quince: Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers or go to quince.com/plans

PrepDish: Make your menu planning so much easier! Try it free for 2 weeks by visiting ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠prepdish.com/plans
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices