Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Little Happier: The Paradox at the Heart of the Open-Door Stage

I've come to see a great paradox at the heart of the "Open Door" stage: I want my daughters to know they're essential to my happiness, and also that my happiness doesn't

Use Daylight Savings to Rethink Your Morning Routine

A round-up of ideas for creating new morning habits, how to help your family form better morning habits, and why rethinking your daily routines can add more happiness and

A Secret to Creativity? Cultivate a Magpie Mind

A brilliant hack for getting more help with dinner, why a quest is more fun than a jaunt, and how we feel about desks. Episode highlights: Try This At Home: Cultivate

Little Happier: A Superstar's Unforgettable Thank-You

I get such pleasure of thinking about iconic super-star Brad Pitt paying tribute to Chuck Palahniuk, and realizing what a gift he’d been given for his work. Connect with

Exercise Tips from NPR’s LifeKit: Could Watching TV Actually Help You Get Moving?

For “Move Happier,” Gretchen talks with Marielle Segarra, host of NPR’s Life Kit, about ditching the all-or-nothing rule, making the most of everyday activities, and the

More Happier: Do you “Get to” or do you “Have to?”

We discuss the happiness of a trip with old friends, a way to reframe the task of taking our pills, and a surprising fact about GLP-1s. Episode highlights Something M

Ep. 608: Have You Ever Regretted a Good Decision? (Temporarily)

A listener shares a Know Yourself Better discovery, Elizabeth reports on what she learned from her Summer of Off-White Delight, and a recommendation for a new daily game.

Little Happier: What Seems Important Isn't Always What Is Important

Aphorisms are short, sharp, and easy to remember, and here are four surprising examples of one of my own: "What seems important isn't always what is important." Connect

More Happier: Lean into Fall with the Five Senses

We revisit some of our favorite try-this-at-home tips for tapping into our five senses this fall. Some ideas might turn into new annual traditions; others might be fun fo

Ep. 607: Do You Love Whimsy? Celebrate a New Holiday with Us

We discuss how we’re using whimsy to find the right date to celebrate our “How do we learn what everyone knows?” day, and listeners share their brilliant tips for elevati

Little Happier: A New Moral for An Old Fable

I've always loved Aesop's fables, but I've come to think the accepted morals don't always fit the stories. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com Website:

More Happier: Embrace a Party Theme, Plus a Lesson About How to Fight Right

Turn party-planning stress into fun with a theme, and why one person downplaying can lead the other to overreact. Episode highlights: Something Making Us Happier: Embr

Ep. 606: What We Learned from “Do-Spend September,” Plus What’s Safe in the Microwave & Try a Day Pass

Here’s what we learned from our own Do-Spend September, and how to get a luxury-resort experience for a fraction of the cost. Plus: really, what can go in a microwave? E

Little Happier: Dolly Parton Always Knew Just What to Say

Remembering the gracious words Dolly Parton used to decline a statue in her honor—and how that moment captured her humility, her love for Tennessee, and her commitment to

More Happier: Helping Rebel Kids with School—and Other Rebel Questions Answered

We revisit some of our most useful Four Tendencies conversations about Rebels, including listener advice for navigating school and ADHD, what actually motivates Rebels, a

Ep. 605: Why You Should Leave the House, Plus Why Sometimes You Don’t Need to Have an Opinion

We discuss why we should make an effort to leave the house. Plus, a stumbling block related to “having a take,” and a simple hack for reconnecting with people. Episode h

Little Happier: Some of My Favorite Rules, Paradoxes, Laws, and Razors

Whether through science, personal observation, or humor, short statements of these human “laws” help us understand that world we live in. Connect with Us: Email: podca

More Happier: A Lesson from the Real Housewives, Plus a Tool for Dealing with Shared Work

What reality TV can teach us about miscommunication, plus a simple tool for dealing with shared work based on your tendency. Episode highlights: Something Making Us Ha

Ep. 604: Clear Clutter With a Courtroom Hack, Plus How to Decline a Request for Accountability

Clear clutter fast with a courtroom-inspired trick, and we discuss how Upholders might set boundaries for unwanted accountability partners.  Episode highlights: Try Th

Little Happier: A Lesson from the World Cup: Danger and Temptation Don’t Always Appear When We Expect

As the World Cup illustrated, in the happy moments of scoring a goal or celebrating, we may find it hard to stay focused on our aims. Connect with Us: Email: podcast@g