Ep. 55: The dilemma of switching bags, do you prefer long or short discussions, the story of the Monkey and the Banana--and scratch-n-sniffs! Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/55; 774-277-9336.





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Ep. 55: The dilemma of switching bags, do you prefer long or short discussions, the story of the Monkey and the Banana--and scratch-n-sniffs! Want to get in touch? @gretchenrubin; @elizabethcraft; podcast@gretchenrubin.com; happiercast.com/55; 774-277-9336. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: <a href="https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy">https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy</a> Learn more about your ad choices. Visit <a href="https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices">https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices</a>

Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen’s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully. 

Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/  

Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen&rsquo;s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully.&nbsp;
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media <a href="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-stringify-link="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://lemonadamedia.com/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

How to Build Happier Habits into Your Daily Life

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

The Problem of Switching Bags, Do You Prefer Long or Short Discussions, and Scratch-n-Sniffs.

Ep. 55: The Dilemma of Switching Bags

Intro & Update

Try This at Home

Reveal...for 26!

Happiness Hack

Demerits & Gold Stars

Resource

What We're Reading

Wrap Up

We report on our experience with the “Design Your Year” exercise of the annual challenge: Read 25 in ’25. We also reveal the annual challenge for 2026—join us.

Resources & links related to this episode:
Move 26 in 2026 
Visit the Happiness Project shop 
The science-backed trick that soothes an itch better than scratching
Elizabeth: is coming into the end of War and Peace (Amazon, Bookshop) 
Gretchen is reading: Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift (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 transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. 

We report on our experience with the &ldquo;Design Your Year&rdquo; exercise of the annual challenge: Read 25 in &rsquo;25. We also reveal the annual challenge for 2026&mdash;join us.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/design-your-year-2026-tools/">Move 26 in 2026</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="http://happiercast.com/shop">Visit the Happiness Project shop</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/09/29/how-to-stop-itchy-skin/">The science-backed trick that soothes an itch better than scratching</a></li>
<li>Elizabeth: is coming into the end of War and Peace (<a href="https://amzn.to/3KcNehZ">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781400079988">Bookshop</a>)&nbsp;</li>
<li>Gretchen is reading: Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift&nbsp;(<a href="https://amzn.to/4pPrUhB">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781101971727">Bookshop</a>)</li>
</ul>
 Get in touch: <a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

Ep. 564: Revealing…the Annual Challenge for 2026! Plus a Report on Read 25 in 2025

Do You Feel Like an Employee of Your Former Self? Renowned novelist Ian McEwan makes a funny observation about book tours that’s applicable to many familiar situations.

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. 

Do You Feel Like an Employee of Your Former Self?&nbsp;Renowned novelist Ian McEwan makes a funny observation about book tours that&rsquo;s applicable to many familiar situations.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li></li>
</ul>
 Get in touch: <a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

A Little Happier: Have You Ever Felt Like an Employee of Your Former Self?

Make entertaining easier. These simple hacks take the stress out of hosting and help you focus on what really matters: enjoying the people you’re with.

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. 

Make entertaining easier. These simple hacks take the stress out of hosting and help you focus on what really matters: enjoying the people you&rsquo;re with.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li></li>
</ul>
 Get in touch: <a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

Ep. 55: The Dilemma of Switching Bags

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