Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Little: It’s Right to Do the Right Thing

11 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 wi...

Ep. 133: Create a Spot for Things in Transition

06 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 vi...

Little: B.J. Novak’s Reminder about the Importance of Gratitude.

04 Sep 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 m...

Ep. 132: Consider Children's Literature

30 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 wheth...

Little: The Book “The Hobbit Boredom” Illustrates How Boredom Can Spark Creativity

28 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 f...

Ep. 131: Do 10 Jumping Jacks

23 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do ten jumping jacks, how to stop constantly checking your devices, and why lifeis like high school. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; po...

Little: Sometimes, It’s Better to Help than to Sympathize

21 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 list...

Ep. 130: 7 Myths of Happiness

16 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this Very Special Episode, we discuss the seven myths of happiness. Get in touch:@gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; happie...

Little: Don’t Sleep Through Beautiful Moments

14 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Ep. 129: September is the Other January

09 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Little: Why Andy Warhol Wanted to Have a Boss—on Retainer

07 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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. Agr...

Ep. 128: Connect With TV

02 Aug 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ...

Little: My Daughter’s Ex-Boyfriend’s Mother Found the Right Words to Say

31 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 le...

Ep. 127: Make or Accept a “Repair Attempt"

26 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Why we should make or accept a repair attempt, a Sharpie hack, and how introverted Obligers can create outer accountability. Get in touch: @gretchenru...

Little: Sometimes, You Feel Regret Either Way

24 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 lis...

Ep. 126: Do You Struggle with Perfectionism?

19 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Little: A Lesson from Pre-School: You Get What You Get, and You Don’t Get Upset

17 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Ep. 125: Plan a Virtual Move

12 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Little: A Great School Motto: Go Forth Unafraid

10 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 u...

Ep. 124: Remember Love

05 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 to...

Little: Don’t Check Every Box

03 Jul 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Ep. 123: Shield Yourself from Worry

28 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Why we should shield ourselves from worry, open items carefully, and how clothes can transform our attitudes and emotions. Plus tips for new dog owner...

Little: How to be Successful, Part 2

26 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 follow...

Ep. 122: Tackle a “Power Day”

21 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 ab...

Little: How to Be Successful, Part 1

19 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 i...

Ep. 121: Do You Want to Read More?

14 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Little: Flawed Can Be More Perfect Than Perfection

12 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

This delightful story about a seven-tentacled octopus, from legendary children's author Ursula Nordstrom reminds me that sometimes flawed can be more ...

Ep. 120: VSE: Listener Questions About the Four Tendencies

07 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this Very Special Episode, we discuss listener questions related to the Four Tendencies (are you an Upholder, Questioner, Obliger, or Rebel? -- and...

Little: Sometimes, We Can Be Generous by Taking

05 Jun 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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....

Ep. 119: Make Friends With People of Different Ages

31 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Little: A Picture Book Has an Important Lesson for Grown-Ups

29 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In Russell Hoban’s brilliant picture book “A Bargain for Frances,” Frances observes, “Being careful is not as much fun as being friends. Do yo...

Ep. 118: Are You the Difficult One?

24 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Design your summer, start a podcast club, and ask yourself - are you the difficult one? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretche...

Little: A Happiness Lesson from Judd Apatow

22 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 to...

Ep. 1: Picking A New Work Mantra

18 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 th...

Ep. 117: Are You a Revealer or a Concealer?

17 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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"? ...

Little: Sometimes, the Best Solution Is to Do Nothing at All

15 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

My mother’s advice about an irksome renovation problem reminded me of an important Secret of Adulthood: Sometimes, the best solution is to do nothin...

Ep. 116: Start a Side Hustle

10 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 t...

Little: It’s Time to Switch from Advisor to Cheerleader

08 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 tha...

Ep. 115: Boost Your Energy

03 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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. G...

Little: We Don’t Always Know When Children Are Wasting Their Time

01 May 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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...

Ep. 114: Interview with Hollywood Legend Sherry Lansing

26 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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: ...

Little: Skip the Boring Parts

24 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 liste...

Ep. 113: Reclaim Your Dump Zones

19 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Why you should reclaim your dump zones, how to make a tough decision, and is your birthday important to you? Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethc...

Little: One of the Worst Ways to Waste Time

17 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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 practic...

Ep. 112: Pick a Uniform

12 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

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: @gretche...

Little: We Can Help Others to See Themselves Differently

10 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, with even just one comment, we can help other people to see themselves differently. To learn more about listener data and our privacy prac...

Ep. 111: Beware of Storing Stuff

05 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Beware of "storage," a hack about flipping a coin, and more on the constant challenge of email. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast...

Little: To Find Something, We Must Search in the Right Place

03 Apr 2017

Contributed by Lukas

I often think of this old joke in the context of habit change: If we want to find what we’re looking for, we have to search in the right place. To ...

Ep. 110: Are You Lonely?

29 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Very Special Episode: We talk about different types of loneliness, and what to do about it. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gre...

Little: If All Else Fails, We Can Try Minding Our Own Business

27 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

One of my favorite passages from “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” holds a terrific happiness reminder: we can always try minding our own bu...

Ep. 109: Pay Attention to the Light

22 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Pay attention to the light, a great idea for an April Fool's Day tradition, and a demerit for talking too much. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabe...

Little: Experience is a Great Teacher

20 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

The great teacher is experience. A tough teacher, but a great teacher. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www...

Ep. 108: Turn Your Shower Into a "Happiness Booth"

15 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Turn your shower into a "happiness booth," the self-knowledge question inspired by the movie "Before Sunrise," and the challenge of saying "no" to you...

Little: It’s Nice to Get a Gold Star

13 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Even if it’s not necessary, it’s sweet when our efforts are appreciated. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https...

Ep. 107: Talking to Susan Cain About Introverts

08 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Plan a secret date, a fascinating conversation with Susan Cain, author of "Quiet," and how to discover and listen to more podcasts. Get in touch: @gre...

Little: Never Have a Crush on Just One Person

06 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In romance and in work, it’s helpful to have more than one thing going at a time. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit...

Ep. 106: Our Second Anniversary! Year Two Highlights

01 Mar 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Our favorite Try-This-At-Home tips, some great before-and-after stories, and our favorite moments from the past year. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @e...

Little: Good Luck, Bad Luck—How Do You Know?

27 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

One of my mother’s favorite teaching stories is a reminder that we can never know what’s good news, or bad news. To learn more about listener dat...

Ep. 105: Leave on a High Note

22 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Why we should try to end on a high note, child-like wonder vs. adult-like wonder, and a confession of unjust accusation. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin;...

Little: A Happiness Lesson from the Broadway Show “Oklahoma!”

20 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

It’s one of the great dreams of the United States: “I don’t say I’m no better than anybody else, but I’ll be danged if I ain’t jist as goo...

Ep. 104: Happiness Stumbling Block: The News

15 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Why it's fun to have a life-story conversation, how to handle the emotional toll of the news, and a gold star for the New York City subway system. Get...

Little: “Yes” Comes Right Away; “No” Never Comes

13 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

My sister the sage made one of her wise observations--which she learned the hard way, in Hollywood. To learn more about listener data and our privacy...

Ep, 103: Pick Your Moment

08 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Pick the right moment to have a tough conversation, how to be happier during a tough time, and a deep dive into the Instagram #Happier2017 project. Ge...

Little: We Must Carry the Wealth of the Indies with Us

06 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

We can’t find more happiness, more adventure, more richness to an experience that we bring to it. To learn more about listener data and our privacy...

Ep. 102: Tame the Travel Beast

01 Feb 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Why finding the missing puzzle piece can boost happiness, taming the "travel beast," and how personalized mugs can help solve the problem of the messy...

Little: No Deposit, No Return

30 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

There are few iron laws of the universe, but one such law seems to be: No deposit, no return. We never get out of things more than we put into them. ...

Ep. 101: Are You an Integrator or a Compartmentalizer?

25 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Do something for your future self, think about whether you’re an “integrator” or “compartmentalizer,” and how flying wish paper can soothe h...

Little: She Opened Up Heart So the Whale Could Swim Away

23 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

A passage from Ruth Ozeki’s novel “A Tale for the Time Being” provides a beautiful image of letting go of sorrow. To learn more about listener ...

Special Episode 100: Ask Us Anything

18 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

To celebrate our 100th consecutive episode, we did a Very VERY Special Episode, where we answered questions from listeners. Get in touch: @gretchenrub...

Little: My Inconvenience May Be Someone’s Miracle

16 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

My friend told me the story of her personal miracle: the time her local subway ran express all the way downtown. To learn more about listener data an...

Ep. 99: Take Personality Quizzes

11 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Get self-insight by taking personality quizzes, a hack for better emails, and how to address book club conflicts. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @eliza...

Little: I Need “A Heart to Be Contented”

09 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In 1662, Samuel Pepys made a diary entry that reminds me that to be happy, I have to keep a contented heart. To learn more about listener data and ou...

Ep. 98: Interview: The Case Against Sugar // Have a Quest

04 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Why it boosts happiness to have a quest, an interview with Gary Taubes about the case against sugar, and impassioned praise for a Uniqlo vest. Get in ...

Little: Announcing “The Onward Project” Podcasts

02 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

Announcement! I’m launching The Onward Project, a family of podcasts all about how to make your life happier, healthier, more productive, and more c...

Welcome to Side Hustle School

02 Jan 2017

Contributed by Lukas

In this first episode, you'll learn what side hustles are all about and what you can expect from this daily series. Side Hustle School features a new ...

Ep. 97: Start Your Own Happiness Project

28 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How to start your own happiness project, a deep dive into the subject of break-ups, and a sweatpants-related demerit. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @e...

Little: What Would an Englishman Do?

26 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Reading Harold Nicolson’s reflection that an “Englishman would not like to take snapshots of a fine vessel sinking” reminds me to ask myself: Ho...

Ep. 96: Set Your Holiday Intention

21 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Set your holiday intention, tackle the problem of shared work, identify some inexpensive gifts—and how to make a graham-cracker holiday house. Get i...

Little: Do You Want to Take My Taxi?

19 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

We never know the true consequences of our actions, big or small, for good or for ill. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices vi...

Ep. 95: Practice Mis-En-Place

14 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Why it’s helpful to practice mis-en-place, the tragedy of the messy commons in the office kitchen, and a gold star related to the flu vaccine. Get i...

Holiday Hack: What’s Your One-Word Theme for the New Year?

12 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A fun exercise is to choose a one-word theme for the new year, such as Novel, Travel, Rest, Free, Finish, Upgrade. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @eliz...

Ep. 94: Don’t Treat Yourself

07 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Don’t treat yourself, an interview with writer and podcaster Jonathan Fields, and why you should put a shoe in the hotel safe. Get in touch: @gretch...

Holiday Hack: Say “Yes” If You Can

05 Dec 2016

Contributed by Lukas

During busy holiday time, it’s tempting to say “no” to try to make life easier, but in the end, we’re usually happier if we say “yes”—to...

Ep. 93: How to Survive a Break-Up

30 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Find something to admire, figure out your energy level, and how to survive an (amicable) romantic split. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft...

Holiday Hack: Find Some Quiet Time During the Holidays

28 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

During the busy holiday season, remember to carve out some time for rest and silence. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenr...

Ep. 92: For Thanksgiving, Leave Something Unsaid

23 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

For the holidays, leave something unsaid, an interview with Note to Self’s Manoush Zomorodi, and how taking seconds might help you eat more healthfu...

Little: Be Polite and Be Fair

21 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A boss manages to sum up a library’s worth of good advice in a five-word sentence. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visi...

Ep. 91: Delete a Soul-Destroying App

16 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Delete a productivity-depleting app and listen to some "Happier 911" songs. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; [email protected]; ...

Little: What Some Folks Will Do

14 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Flannery O’Connor explains that a country lady remarked, of her short stories, “Them stories just gone and shown you how some folks would do.” A...

Ep. 90: Consider the Essential Seven

09 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In this Very Special Episode we discuss the "Essential 7" areas for happiness and habits. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretc...

Little: A Beautiful Image Can Be an Area of Refuge

07 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In Willa Cather’s novel “O Pioneers!” a sister and brother  never forget the wild duck they saw playing in the river. To learn more about list...

Ep. 89: Control the Cubicle In Your Pocket

02 Nov 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Control the cubicle in your pocket, send an actual invitation to an event, and consider the question: "If people could change one of your habits, what...

Little: Getting Ready is a Key Aspect of Performance

31 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Why the experience of taking exams in high school was so much better than taking exams in college. To learn more about listener data and our privacy ...

Ep. 88: Celebrate Holiday Breakfasts

26 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Why it's fun to celebrate holiday breakfasts, how keeping a journal for medical visits can make life easier, and the challenge of handling criticism. ...

Little: Accept a Gift in the Spirit in Which it is Offered

24 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A story from the life of St. Therese of Lisieux is a good reminder about how to accept a gift in the right spirit. To learn more about listener data ...

Ep. 87: Live: Find a Happiness 911 Song

19 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Live from Seattle! Identify your “Happiness 911” song, take a deep dive into manifestos, explore the Four Tendencies -- plus an interview with Chr...

Little: Do What You Love, and Then Your Friends Hire You

17 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When we follow our natural interests and inclinations, it’s surprising how often we form the relationships that can help us succeed. To learn more ...

Ep. 86: Be the Bearer of Some Good News

12 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Why it's good to be the bearer of good news (at least sometimes), how other people affect our habits for better and for worse, why you should read a b...

Little: Someplace, Keep an Empty Shelf, and Someplace, Keep a Junk Drawer

10 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

In a happy life, it’s helpful to keep a little space completely clear and open, but it’s also helpful to make room for some messiness, some unexpe...

Ep. 85: Ever Been Annoyed By A Gift?

05 Oct 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Why you should give yourself something to look forward to; whether you’ve ever had an uneasy response to a gift, and Gretchen talk about her “Bowl...