Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Hollywood legend Kevin Hart shares his insights and stories about how to deal with the “monsters” that lurk inside each of us. We also share listeners’ imaginative ideas for better holiday decorating, and we review the steps for helping to save someone—or ourselves—from choking. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @Li...

In Elizabeth Strout’s novel “Oh, William!” a character recalls the loving help she was given, and how she never forgot it. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Leave a voicemail message on: 774-277-9336 For information a...

We offer many suggestions for holiday gifts, of all kinds: substantial gifts, stock- stuffers, experiences-as-gifts, and handmade. We also share a hack for helping a long line to move more quickly, and we talk to scientist and writer Temple Grandin about her new book, “Visual Thinking.” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRub...

Reflecting back on the ritual of dismissal from my daughter’s day camp, I’m reminded of the importance of moments of transitions—for children and for adults. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Leave a voicemail message...

We talk about why Elizabeth managed to make so much progress on her “Summer of Health” and a new hack for getting more reading done—plus we discuss a way to make the holidays easier and more fun. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com...

We talk about the question, “Have you ever saved someone’s life?” and ways that we might save a life. We also discuss readers’ suggestions about ways to use packing cubes, time capsules, and how to encourage a student to show up to school on time. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show note...

When a friend told me that she felt hurt that her husband didn’t want to read the draft of her memoir, I was reminded of a line from ancient philosophy. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Leave a voicemail message on:...

Inspired by listeners, we discuss the suggestion to buy ourselves flowers. We also discuss an easy way to carve out an extra hour each day and talk about why writing a manifesto is a great creative tool for making our lives happier.  Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email eve...

The old story about “The Bear and the Two Hikers” is funny, and it also conveys a helpful truth: Sometimes, to succeed, we don’t have to be perfect, we just need to do a little better than someone else. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenru...

We talk about the satisfaction of creating an easy and fun family tradition, and why it’s so satisfying to use your strengths to help someone else. We also talk about why sharing an enthusiasm is a great way to cultivate a friendship. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email ev...

We talk about why you might create a time capsule as a way to hold on to memories. We also discuss an easy way to make a party more fun, and consider a listener’s question about how to help a Rebel student arrive on time. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here...

In 1820, English writer and cleric Sydney Smith wrote a letter to an unhappy friend with suggestions for how to cheer up. Most of the 19 items on his list would still work today. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Leav...

To celebrate our 400 th episode, we share listeners’ answers to the question, “From the previous 400 episodes, what favorite ideas or hacks have helped you to become happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative?” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week her...

Laughing about the fact that something I wrote was “boring and confusing” helped me stay open to criticism. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Leave a voicemail message on: 774-277-9336 For information about advertiser...

We talk about the satisfaction of dealing with doctors’ appointment, share some great travel hacks, and explore how the terminology of devices has seeped into everyday conversation. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter L...

We talk about how we can give a gift to our future-selves by starting to prepare for the holidays early. We also share a listener’s hack about getting great photos, and we talk to Whole30’s Melissa Urban about practical strategies for establishing healthy boundaries. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get t...

The touch of another person can be powerful. In Kate Bowler’s thought-provoking memoir, “Everything Happens for a Reason,” she tells a doctor that if he’s going to deliver bad news, he needs to be holding her hand. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http:...

We talk about how and why we might rest our senses, discuss an easy hack for making family vacation time more pleasant, and talk to author Laura Vanderkam about concrete strategies for getting more done—including getting more fun. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every...

Paul McCartney describes himself as a “Beatles fan.” Perhaps, after so many years, he’s experiencing the band from the outside as well as from the inside. It’s interesting to consider that perhaps we, as devoted fans, experience some piece of art as deeply, in our own way, as the artist who created it. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagr...

We talk about the happiness of spending the weekend with our parents in our hometown of Kansas City, reminisce about “Flower Fridays,” and discuss the question whether we want to wear shoes. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#new...

We talk about why we should stop “phubbing” (phone snubbing) people during conversations. We also share suggestions from listeners about simple ways to get more organized, clear clutter, and take medication consistently.  Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here...

Fashion icon Diana Vreeland said of her husband, “I can remember always pulling myself up, thinking, ‘I must be at my very best.’” Her observation points to a tension within love: love is unconditional, and love is demanding. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week...

We talk about why we observe the birthday of our spiritual teachers, discuss the challenge of the “arrival fallacy,” share a hack about creating more kitchen counter space, and tackle a listener question about being a happiness bully. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email ev...

A story from ancient Greece reminded me how much we humans value literature in all its forms. Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Leave a voicemail message on: 774-277-9336 For information about advertisers and promo co...

We talk about the special quality of childhood friendships, why it’s nice to be back in a routine after the summer, and ask the question, “Do we have a mall in our life?” Get in touch: @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com Get in touch on Instagram: @GretchenRubin & @LizCraft Get the podcast show notes by email every week here: http://gretchenrubin.com/#newsletter Leave a voic...