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 for great creativity.





To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy



Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 for great creativity. 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

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

With the holiday crunch in full swing, here are three practical hacks that can make this week easier to manage.

Resources & links related to this episode:
Listen to Happier episode 96


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. 

With the holiday crunch in full swing, here are three practical hacks that can make this week easier to manage.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/podcast-episode-96-set-your-holiday-intention/">Listen to Happier episode 96</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;

More Happier: Hacks to Avoid a Holiday Meltdown This Week [Revisited]

Intro & Update

Try This at Home

Elizabeth Reviews Her 25 for '25 List

Gretchen Reviews Her 25 for '25 List

One Huge Gold Star

Resourse

Wrap Up

As part of “Design Your Year,” each of us made a list of 25 things we wanted to accomplish in 2025; here, we report on what we got done—and what we didn’t.

Resources & links related to this episode:
Happier in Hollywood Substack 
Simon Haisell's Footnotes and Tangents
Allie Coyle Photography
The Earth Room created by American artist Walter De Maria
Click here to find everything related to the Design Your Year challenge


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. 

As part of &ldquo;Design Your Year,&rdquo; each of us made a list of 25 things we wanted to accomplish in 2025; here, we report on what we got done&mdash;and what we didn&rsquo;t.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com/">Happier in Hollywood Substack&nbsp;</a></li>
<li>Simon Haisell's <a href="https://footnotesandtangents.substack.com/about">Footnotes and Tangents</a></li>
<li><a href="https://alliecoylephotography.pixieset.com/">Allie Coyle Photography</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.diaart.org/visit/visit-our-locations-sites/walter-de-maria-the-new-york-earth-room-new-york-united-states">The Earth Room created by American artist Walter De Maria</a></li>
<li><a href="http://happiercast.com/designyouryear">Click here to find everything related to the Design Your Year challenge</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. 565: Did We Get Everything Done on Our “25 for ’25” Lists? We Review & Reflect

A familiar story about Gandhi is apocryphal, but nevertheless illustrates one of my Secrets of Adulthood: If we’re trying to encourage or enforce a particular behavior, we should be willing to observe that behavior ourselves.

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. 

A familiar story about Gandhi is apocryphal, but nevertheless illustrates&nbsp;one of my Secrets of Adulthood: If we&rsquo;re trying to encourage or enforce a particular behavior, we should be willing to observe that behavior ourselves.
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;

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

In 1 playlist(s)

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips