Why summer is the perfect time to revisit your goals for the year. Gretchen and Elizabeth share a hack for making socializing easier. Build Your Social Muscles: The more you socialize, the less mental energy it costs [00:39] Spotlight on a Tool: July 2nd is the halfway point of the year, so it’s a great time to revisit the goals and lists you made in January [18:24] I've Been Meaning to Ask You: We talk about happiness all the time. Does we ever get tired of thinking about how to be happier? [10...
Jun 27, 2026•29 min•Ep. 59201
We’re halfway through the year. Gretchen and Liz share how to treat July 2 as a built-in reset to reflect on what's working and what isn't. Try This at Home: Prepare for Halfway Day — Use “Halfway Day” on July 2 to review your aims for the year [05:48] Happiness Hack: Name Your Days of the Week — To make work easier, give a name to each day of the week [21:34] Listener Question: When Abstainers Try to Moderate — Can an abstainer occasionally indulge in moderation? [24:29] Question for Listeners:...
Jun 24, 2026•39 min•Ep. 592
It may seem counter-intuitive, but it’s true: imagination is often sparked more by constraint than by freedom. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jun 22, 2026•4 min•Ep. 59102
We revisit a special audio episode from the “Habits for Happiness” course about adapting your habits for summer. With Halfway Day approaching on 7/2, it's a useful reminder that a small adjustment can help you get more out of the season and the second half of the year. Resources & links related to this episode: Check out the new Design Your Summer tool in the Happier app Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com. Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, produ...
Jun 20, 2026•30 min•Ep. 59101
We discuss how perfectionism is driven not by high standards but by anxiety—and how embracing imperfection is a great way to overcome it. We also share an important reminder about hearing health and why it matters so much for our happiness and wellbeing. Resources & links related to this episode: Cass Aarssen—Clutterbug Life in Five Senses ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Check out the Don't Break the Chain Habit Tracker in The Happiness Project Shop Elizabeth: Rewilding by Jane Green ( Amazon , Booksh...
Jun 17, 2026•40 min•Ep. 591
Studies from commuter patterns after the 2014 London Underground Strike illustrate an important point: even when we resist change, it holds the possibility of making our lives better. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ...
Jun 15, 2026•4 min•Ep. 59002
We explore familiar objects that have achieved perfection—from blue jeans to the perfume bottle—and which ones resonate with us most. We also explore whether people are socializing more since Covid, or if it's just to Elizabeth. Resources & Links Related to this episode: Check out my free newsletter, “ 5 Things Making Me Happy ” Secrets of Adulthood by Gretchen Rubin ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Everybody's Autobiography by Gertrude Stein ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.co...
Jun 13, 2026•34 min•Ep. 59001
We're excited to join Libro.fm 's Audiobook Walk on June 13, a celebration of getting outside, moving your body, and listening to great books. Learn more: blog.libro.fm/audiobookmonth . To celebrate, we're sharing the first 26 minutes of Louise Erdrich's "The Mighty Red," a darkly funny novel about love and survival on the American prairie. If you enjoy it, get the full audiobook from Libro.fm —a perfect companion for the “Move 26 in '26” Challenge. Resources & links related to this episode:...
Jun 12, 2026•34 min•Ep. 59003
We tackle a big happiness stumbling block: worry. We share 20 practical strategies for managing worry—from scheduling time to worry, to recognizing when a worry isn't “ripe,” to making a list, and more. Resources & links related to this episode: Kevin Henkes’s Wemberly Worried ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the tr...
Jun 10, 2026•37 min•Ep. 590
A crisis involving the design of the 59-story Citicorp Center illustrates lessons in creativity and the value of constant reevaluation. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jun 08, 2026•4 min•Ep. 58902
We revisit dozens of excellent hacks from listeners about how to make traveling more convenient and less stressful—plus we include some of our own travel-hack discoveries. Resources & links related to this episode: You can start Designing Your Summer on the Tools page of the Happier app, or download the app here Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier ap...
Jun 06, 2026•26 min•Ep. 58901
We discuss why reflecting on a milestone moment—even a difficult one—can be a meaningful happiness practice. We also add a new suggestion to our "treat yourself like" series, and explore a know-yourself-better question about the patterns we fall into before a big trip or challenge. Resources & links related to this episode: Not sure what to purchase this Father’s Day? Take the Gift-Giving Quiz Elizabeth: Brittney Spears, The Woman in Me ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Gretchen: Marking Time by Elizabe...
Jun 03, 2026•35 min•Ep. 589
My daughter’s tattoo taught me an important lesson in parenthood: nothing can become between me and my daughters and cast a shadow. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jun 01, 2026•4 min•Ep. 58802
We explore a surprisingly divisive question: would you eat dinner for breakfast? We also discuss how people learn the unwritten rules of everyday life. Plus, the pleasure of being able to watch, listen, and read as many times as you like. Resources & links related to this episode: Life in Five Senses ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Quiz: What's Your Most Neglected Sense? "Design Your Summer"—download the Happier app Ann Truitt, Turn: The Journal of an Artist ( Amazon ) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenru...
May 30, 2026•34 min•Ep. 58801
We discuss how to make the most of your weekday evenings by setting small, intentional plans. We also talk about an everyday activity that feels so familiar that it (wrongly) feels safe. Resources & links related to this episode: Laura Vanderkam, Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Before Breakfast and Best of Both Worlds podcasts hosted by Laura Vanderkam Check out my free newsletter, “5 Things Making Me Happy.” Elizabeth: Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow ( Amazon ...
May 27, 2026•30 min•Ep. 588
We should give ourselves healthy treats because when we give more to ourselves, we can ask more from ourselves. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 25, 2026•4 min•Ep. 58702
In this Roundtable Conversation, we discuss caregiving. With actress and podcast host Yvette Nicole Brown, author and podcaster Courtney Martin, and AARP’s senior director of caregiving Rita Choula, we talk about the challenges and satisfactions of caregiving, and how planning can help. Resources & links related to this episode: Yvette Nicole Brown, Squeezed Courtney Martin , The Wise Unknown Rita Choula Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gre...
May 23, 2026•49 min•Ep. 58701
We share our "Design Your Summer" plans—an annual tradition. We also discuss a common happiness stumbling block–an item that’s too nice for its purpose—as well as a know-yourself-better question related to chores. Resources & links related to this episode: Download the Design Your Summer guide here Start Designing Your Summer here on the Happier app Elizabeth: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Gretchen: Casting Off by Elizabeth Jane Howard, which is part of the Cazalet Ch...
May 20, 2026•39 min•Ep. 587
A trainer gave us good advice about our new puppy, Taffy: sometimes, a casual attitude is more calming than the most earnest reassurance. Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 18, 2026•4 min•Ep. 58602
We check in on our “Move 26 in ‘26” progress and discuss adding more whimsy to the month of May–plus a clever April Fools prank. We also highlight a helpful tool to get started on spring cleaning. Resources & links related to this episode: Click here if you'd like to join "Move 26 in '26" Here are easy and fun ways to start decluttering Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple ( Amazon ) Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best...
May 16, 2026•33 min•Ep. 58601
We talk about why you should treat yourself like a grandchild (or a toddler, puppy, professor, or factory), and we share a helpful tip if you’re trying to do certain things every day. Plus we discuss a listener’s question about meeting inner and outer expectations as an Upholder. Resources & links related to this episode: My Four Tendencies personality framework Take the "Four Tendencies" quiz Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle Graduation Gift Guide Simon Haisells "slow reads" My book Secrets of A...
May 13, 2026•31 min•Ep. 586
A surprising formula to create a compelling title provides the name for a card deck of creative inspiration. Resources & links related to this episode: If you’d like to look at the Muse Machine, and maybe even buy one for yourself, you can check it out here . Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode...
May 11, 2026•5 min•Ep. 58503
As a part of the “Move 26” challenge, podcaster (“The Secret Life of Books”) and professor Sophie Gee joins for a literary walk. We explore the Metropolitan Museum together and look for items related to the iconic children's novel “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.” Resources & links related to this episode: Secret Life of Books podcast, hosted by Sophie Gee and Jonty Claypole From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E. L. Konigsburg ( Amazon , Bookshop ) J...
May 10, 2026•36 min•Ep. 58502
We’re revisiting a listener-favorite episode from 2015, recorded as we cleared out Elizabeth’s closet. It's a hilarious discussion of many clutter-clearing ideas you can use right away. Resources & links related to this episode: Check out the Organization Hub on my website dedicated to my favorite tips, hacks, and advice for getting organized Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project...
May 09, 2026•28 min•Ep. 58501
We explore how asking paired questions can lead to more open, engaging conversations. We also discuss the “end-of-history illusion”; we keep changing more than we expect. Plus we share a simple hack for using photos to reduce worry. Resources & links related to this episode: Michael Melcher Writes Substack newsletter The House by the Sea by May Sarton ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Sign up for the "5 Things Making Me Happy" newsletter Elizabeth: Liars by Sarah Manguso ( Amazon , Bookshop ) Gretchen: ...
May 06, 2026•30 min•Ep. 585
A massive hangover cured someone of her fear of flying. What’s the lesson? Resources & links related to this episode: Four Tendencies personality framework You can take my quiz here to find your tendency . Happier at Home Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts ap...
May 04, 2026•5 min
We discuss the happiness of connecting with childhood friends and the reemergence of Lena Dunham. We also discuss an easy yet effective April Fools’ prank, and how long it takes to feel at home in a new place. Resources & links related to this episode: Check out Spring Bingo in Happier App Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript ...
May 02, 2026•26 min
We discuss why it’s helpful actually to search for a solution, and we share an easy hack for giving yourself accountability. Plus, we explore an insight about how long it takes to feel at home in a new place. Resources & links related to this episode: Watch my Home Makeover video with Clutterbug and check out the resources we created for viewers Armrest covers Face Washing Wrist Bands Ikea Shoe Cabinet Wall Street Journal article: Has your dream renovation become a nightmare? Maybe ...
Apr 29, 2026•34 min•Ep. 584
Even though it’s absurd to say, there are features of everyday life that do seem oddly anachronistic. Resources & links related to this episode: Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app. Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Apr 27, 2026•4 min
We talk about why clutter causes so much conflict at home—and how thinking about Clutter-Blindness, the Endowment Effect, and the Four Tendencies can help you handle it more effectively. Plus, practical strategies for living with a messy family member and saying goodbye to sentimental clutter. Resources & links related to this episode: Visit my Organization Hub for 9 practical tips for deciding what to keep Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about ...
Apr 25, 2026•36 min
