Happier with Gretchen Rubin

I’ve read many memoirs written by people I know in real life. And it always reminds me of a very important truth: we should always cut people slack. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plan a virtual move 2.0, the satisfaction of finding the perfect solution to even a small problem, and abrief conversation with writer Ann Brashares, who made a listener very happy. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/135; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some rhyming advice I learned in law school turns out to apply in many situations in life. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Write a ta-da list, use the app Podsearch to discover great new podcasts, and ask yourself "What is my level of ambition?" Get in touch: @gretchenrubin.com; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com/134; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s right to do the right thing, even when it doesn’t seem to make any difference. And we never can really know what the effect of our actions will be – on the world, or on ourselves. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why it’s helpful to create a place for things in transition, how to create accountability if you’re introverted or shy—and do you have strong views about how to load a dishwasher? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin.com; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin; happiercast.com/133; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the Acknowledgements of B.J. Novak’s excellent book “One More Thing,” he remembers to pay tribute to some friends from childhood. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why you might consider reading children’s literature, how to reinvigorate your work space if you can’t make any changes, and the question of whether you can change your Tendency. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected];happiercast.com/132; 774-277- 9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dull task of grading papers inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to write the first line of his masterpiece, “The Hobbit.” Boredom can lay the groundwork for great creativity. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do ten jumping jacks, how to stop constantly checking your devices, and why lifeis like high school. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected];happiercast.com/131; 774-277- 9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Instead of joining in the commiseration, my friend took action to help. Sometimes, it’s better to help than to sympathize. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Very Special Episode, we discuss the seven myths of happiness. Get in touch:@gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/130; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This conversation happened 23 years ago, and lasted about five minutes, but I’ve regretted it ever since. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why we should remember that September is the other January, the fun of personalized post-it notes, and the challenge of what “they” think. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/129; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I agree wholeheartedly with Andy Warhol. Sometimes I wish I had a boss who could tell me what to do, so I wouldn’t have to figure it out myself. Agree? To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why it’s helpful to connect with TV, a way to give up the snooze alarm, and a discussion of whether you can be a mix of the Four Tendencies. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/128; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, it’s hard to put into words the exact nature of a loving relationship. “You’ll always have a place in my heart” says it all. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why we should make or accept a repair attempt, a Sharpie hack, and how introverted Obligers can create outer accountability. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/127; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes in life, going down one path means abandoning another path. It’s natural to feel regret about the path not taken. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Look for an under-used area of your house, marking sad anniversaries in a happy way, and ways to deal with the challenge of perfectionism. Plus how to review a podcast. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/126; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My daughter’s pre-school teachers used to tell the kids “You get what you get, and you don’t get upset,” and I’ve found this to be extremely useful advice. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plan a virtual move, a deep-dive into advice about sending a child off to college, a painless way to remove a splinter, and the summer fallacy. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/125; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A school motto can stick with you for your whole life. My daughters’ school motto is to “Go Forth Unafraid,” which is a great motto for all of us. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember love, a new great way to use Ziploc bags, dealing with sad anniversaries -- and do people tell you what you "should be able" to do? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/124; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of my Secrets of Adulthood is “The opposite of a profound truth is also true.” A few weeks ago I talked about the advice, “Check every box.” Listeners reminded me of another piece of excellent advice, “Don’t check every box. Just go for it!” Very true. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why we should shield ourselves from worry, open items carefully, and how clothes can transform our attitudes and emotions. Plus tips for new dog owners. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/123; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My law school friend repeated the advice that she’d been given: Try to check every box. This advice came to me in an indirect way, but I’ve followed it ever since. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tackle a “Power Day” as a way to finish onerous tasks, dealing with in-laws who undermine your healthy eating habits—and what’s your advice about sending a child off to college? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/122; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I heard this advice about success indirectly (my law school friend repeated what her boyfriend had told her), but I’ve remembered it, and followed it for years. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to get more reading done, an interview with Sam Walker about the qualities of the world’s best captains, and a car-related travel hack. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/121; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This delightful story about a seven-tentacled octopus, from legendary children's author Ursula Nordstrom reminds me that sometimes flawed can be more perfect than perfection. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Very Special Episode, we discuss listener questions related to the Four Tendencies (are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel? -- and how that matters). Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/75; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eighteen years ago, on a plane to Kansas City, I had a brief encounter with a woman—and I’ve regretted my action (or rather, inaction) ever since. Sometimes, we can be generous by taking. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why it boosts happiness to make friends with people of different ages, look behind you every time you leave, and the happiness stumbling block of pain. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/119; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Russell Hoban’s brilliant picture book “A Bargain for Frances,” Frances observes, “Being careful is not as much fun as being friends. Do you want to be careful, or do you want to be friends?” An important question for adults as well as children. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Design your summer, start a podcast club, and ask yourself - are you the difficult one? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/118; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We have to be very careful not to assume that we can predict how other people respond to our actions—especially to big, dramatic gestures. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; [email protected]; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happier in Hollywood is here! In this episode, veteran TV writers/producers/showrunners Liz Craft and Sarah Fain pick a new work mantra to get them through development season; talk to their agent about the worst call he ever had to make to them; and discuss whether or not they have hearts full of love. They also offer their weekly Hollywood hack. Get in touch: @elizabethcraft; @sarahfain; [email protected]; happierinhollywood.com; 949-HAPPY-21 To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Write a haiku, look for help from YouTube videos, how introverted parents can manage an extroverted child, and are you a "revealer" or a "concealer"? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/117; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My mother’s advice about an irksome renovation problem reminded me of an important Secret of Adulthood: Sometimes, the best solution is to do nothing at all. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; [email protected]; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Start your own side hustle, avoid the happiness stumbling block of "raising the bar," and whether we should plan our encounters with friends. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/116; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My father told me, “At some point you have to switch from being advisor to being a cheerleader.” And I realized I’d probably already reached that point with my older daughter. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; [email protected]; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boost your energy, why it can be helpful to listen to music in a foreign language, and a deep dive into the happiness stumbling block of loneliness. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/115; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We may wish our children used their time more “productively,” but we don’t always know when time is wasted—or not. What looks like wasted time could actually turn out to be quite productive. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; [email protected]; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why and how to say you're sorry, an interview with Sherry Lansing, a travel-related happiness hack, and Elizabeth conquers blepharitis. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/114; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A note on a friend’s computer taught me a giant lesson about writing--and life: Down with boredom. Skip the boring parts! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why you should reclaim your dump zones, how to make a tough decision, and is your birthday important to you? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/113; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most terrible wastes of time is to do something well that we need not do at all. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pick a uniform, time yourself doing a task, a deep dive into an irksome request from a boss - plus the benefit of sloth videos. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happiercast.com/112; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes, with even just one comment, we can help other people to see themselves differently. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.