A Little Happier: Do You Get Rattled Before Starting a Journey? Consider This Ritual.

The traditional Russian practice of “sitting on suitcases” is an excellent ritual for anyone setting off on a trip. 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 H…

More Happier: Start and Stick to Anything using the Four Tendencies [Revisited]

Why is it so hard getting yourself to do what you want to do? This overview of the Four Tendencies explains why motivation works differently for different people and how understanding how you respond to expectations can make follow-through easier.   Resources & links related to this episode: Four…

Ep. 571: Want to Join Us for a No-Spend February? Plus a Better Word for “Squats”

We share our plans for our next “No-Spend February”—our rules, our exceptions, and what we hope to learn.   We also share a more elegant term for “squats” and discuss an interesting self-knowledge question related to the makeshift. Resources & links related to this episode: Join us for No-Spend Fe…

A Little Happier: Would You Do For Someone Else What You Wouldn’t Do for Yourself?

A modern fable is an excellent illustration of a very popular loophole used to justify breaking good habits. 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 Happines…

More Happier: Ever Have a Foolish Desire to “Save” Things? And Why Coffee-Table Books?

We talk about the impulse to save things, such as stationery or fine china, even when it makes no sense. And we also talk about the puzzling popularity of coffee-table books. Resources & links related to this episode: Check out my new LinkedIn Learning course on the Four Tendencies How to Write Yo…

Ep. 570: Very Special Episode: How Do We Deal with the Loss of Our Beloved Father? Advice & Insights

In this episode, we talk about the recent death of our beloved father, Jack Craft—what we’ve experienced, what we’ve learned. We also share many tender, practical suggestions from listeners about how to manage this kind of a profound loss.  Resources & links related to this episode: Raymond Carver…

A Little Happier: After My Beloved Father Died, My Mother, Sister, and I Wrote This Obituary

We worked for several days on this obituary for my father. We wanted to capture his extraordinary spirit. 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 P…

More Happier: Do You Find It Hard to Plan a Party? And the Problem with “Everybody Likes Salmon”

We talk about a hack from the world of the Real Housewives that makes party-giving easier and more fun. We also discuss the question, “What’s an ordinary food that most people seem to like—but not you?” Plus the pleasure of a better tennis bag. Resources & links related to this episode: Sign up to…

Ep. 569: Do You Miss Having Time to Hang Out with Friends? Plus Listeners’ One-Word Themes

We explore the value of the German custom of the Stammtisch as a fun and easy way to strengthen friendships. We also share dozens of compelling one-word themes chosen by listeners for 2026—plus a strategy for elevating everyday life. Resources & links related to this episode: Learn more about Move…

A Little Happier: Do You Suffer from “Lost Wallet Syndrome?” I Do.

When we lose our wallet, we think finding it would make us happy forever, but once found, we quickly start taking it for granted again. Colette said of her life, "What a beautiful life. It's a pity I didn't notice it sooner." But we don’t have to lose our wallet to note the joy of possessing it. G…