Goal Setting and Planning for Busy Doctors with Sarah Hart-Unger, MD  | Ep496

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What if planning wasn’t about rigid to-do lists… but about carving out time for surfing with your kids, date nights, and saying “no” to overwhelm?

In this practical episode, Dr. Bradley Block sits with Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger to explore her simple system for goal-setting and life management. Sarah reveals how she evolved from a time-strapped resident to a mom of three who balances medicine, podcasts, and adventure. Dive into yearly visioning (e.g., “What do I really want?”), quarterly goals, monthly calendars, and daily rituals that prevent fires from derailing your dreams. She shares pitfalls like neglecting partner time, the power of friend spreadsheets, and why spontaneity thrives on structure. Drawing from her book, “Best Laid Plans“ and courses, Sarah proves planning is the “knife-sharpening” for a delicious life—efficient, fun, and regret-free.

If your to-do list runs you instead of the other way around, this is your blueprint to reclaim balance and build memories that matter.

Three Actionable Takeaways:

• Start with yearly visioning: Dedicate hours annually to brainstorm big dreams (e.g., surfing with kids). List audacious goals, then revisit seasonally. Break into quarterly milestones like booking a trip, to keep them alive. This ensures daily life aligns with what excites you, turning “someday” into reality without overwhelm.
• Master task management: Use a “brain dump” to capture everything, then categorize into urgent vs. important. Schedule non-negotiables first (e.g., dates, friends), block deep work, and review weekly. Embrace tools like digital calendars or spreadsheets to track progress, preventing fires while creating space for spontaneity and joy.
• Evaluate opportunities thoughtfully: Before saying yes, scan your calendar for fit. Consider energy, family, and fun. Phases matter: Early career? Take more risks. With kids? Be selective. Prioritize relationships (e.g., friend tiers, date nights) to avoid regrets. Planning sharpens life like a chef’s knife—efficient and delicious.

About the Show:

Succeed In Medicine  covers patient interactions, burnout, career growth, personal finance, and more. If you're tired of dull medical lectures, tune in for real-world lessons we should have learned in med school!

About the Guest: 

Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger is a practicing physician, podcaster, and planning expert who honed her methods during residency and motherhood. Creator of Best Laid Plans Academy with over 100 graduates, she hosts the podcasts Best Laid Plans (solo on planning) and Best of Both Worlds (co-hosted with Laura Vanderkam on work-life fit). 

Her new book, Best Laid Plans: A Simple Planning System for Living a Life That You Love, offers modern tools for busy lives, balancing medicine, family, and fun.

Connect with Dr. Sarah Hart-Unger:

• Book: Best Laid Plans (available mid-December at major retailers)
• Podcasts: Best Laid Plans; Best of Both Worlds
• Website: theshubox.com (for courses, blog, and more)

About the Host:

Dr. Bradley Block – Dr. Bradley Block is a board-certified otolaryngologist at ENT and Allergy Associates in Garden City, NY. He specializes in adult and pediatric E