Happier with Gretchen Rubin

We share our "Design Your Summer" plans—an annual tradition. We also discuss a common happiness stumbling block–an item that’s too nice for its purpose—as well as a know-yourself-better question related to chores.

Resources & links related to this episode:


Download the Design Your Summer guide here

Start Designing Your Summer here on the Happier app

Elizabeth: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Amazon, Bookshop) 

Gretchen: Casting Off by Elizabeth Jane Howard, which is part of the Cazalet Chronicles (Amazon, Bookshop)

Get in touch: [email protected]

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. 
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A trainer gave us good advice about our new puppy, Taffy: sometimes, a casual attitude is more calming than the most earnest reassurance.

Get in touch: [email protected]

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. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We check in on our “Move 26 in ‘26” progress and discuss adding more whimsy to the month of May–plus a clever April Fools prank. We also highlight a helpful tool to get started on spring cleaning.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Click here if you'd like to join "Move 26 in '26"

Here are easy and fun ways to start decluttering 


Someone at a Distance by Dorothy Whipple (Amazon)

Get in touch: ⁠[email protected]⁠

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. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We talk about why you should treat yourself like a grandchild (or a toddler, puppy, professor, or factory), and we share a helpful tip if you’re trying to do certain things every day. Plus we discuss a listener’s question about meeting inner and outer expectations as an Upholder. 

Resources & links related to this episode:

My Four Tendencies personality framework

Take the "Four Tendencies" quiz

Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle

Graduation Gift Guide

Simon Haisells "slow reads"

My book Secrets of Adulthood makes for a great graduation gift 

Elizabeth: The Mona Lisa Vanishes by Nicholas Day (Amazon, Bookshop) 

Gretchen: ‘Salem’s Lot by Stephen King (Amazon, Bookshop)

Get in touch: [email protected]

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. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A surprising formula to create a compelling title provides the name for a card deck of creative inspiration.

Resources & links related to this episode:

If you’d like to look at the Muse Machine, and maybe even buy one for yourself, you can check it out here.

Get in touch: [email protected]

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. 
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices