We can accept ourselves and also expect more from ourselves.
In my work, I investigate unexpected truths about everyday life—and identify ways we can take happiness from the transcendent to the concrete.
Secrets of Adulthood is Available Now!
The #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before distills her key insights into simple truths for living with greater satisfaction, clarity, and happiness.
FEATURED
“There is no right way to create a happier life, just as there is no best way to cook an egg”
–Gretchen Rubin
Secrets of Adulthood
FEATURED QUIZ
Spring Gift-Giving Made Easy
Mother’s Day, graduations, and spring birthdays are just around the corner. When you take the Gift-Giving Quiz, you’ll learn your recipient’s gift-appreciation profile—Easy-to-Please, Tried-and-True, Enthusiast, or Connoisseur—and be able to make a great choice.
BIG IDEAS
Your Year, Your Way: Design Your Year
“New year, new you” is a funny phrase. January 1 might mark the start of a new year, but you’re still you.
And that’s a good thing, because the key to starting a new habit or accomplishing an aim is to figure out an approach that works for you.
Ready to start designing your year? You’re in the right place.
JOIN THE CHALLENGE
Read 25 in '25 With Gretchen Rubin and Bookshop.org
Gretchen Rubin is partnering with Bookshop.org for her annual group challenge which, this year, is to read 25 minutes a day in 2025. Throughout the year Gretchen Rubin and Bookshop.org will highlight all the great ways to bring the joy of reading into your life with monthly resources, challenges, content, and tips to help people build the valuable habit of setting aside time to read every day.
FEATURED ARTICLE
Aphorisms and the Power of Big Truths in Small Packages
Discover why aphorisms—short, powerful truths—are the perfect way to distill life lessons in Secrets of Adulthood, my upcoming book on wisdom for modern life.
FEATURED ARTICLE
Gretchen Rubin’s Recommendations: Making Organizing Simpler
Complicated organizing systems take too much work to maintain. Here are some ways to keep things simple and sustainable.
FEATURED PODCAST EPISODE
Friendship Roundtable: How to Make, Keep & Deepen Friendships
First in a new discussion series on happiness, Gretchen is joined by Laurie Santos (host of “The Happiness Lab” podcast) and Reshma Saujani (founder of Girls Who Code).
Together, they explore how their friendships have changed over time, how to handle conflict, and how to make new friends in adulthood.
FEATURED TOOL
Spring savings are here—take 20% off now
Get what you need to stay motivated, express yourself, and keep your goals in sight—all at up to 20% off. These items won’t be available at these prices for long, so act now!
Subscribe to Gretchen’s newsletter.
Gretchen Rubins “Five Things Making Me Happy” newsletter is one of today’s most popular newsletters. You’ll get a weekly round-up of what’s making Gretchen happy, as well as practical tips, research, and resources about how we can make our lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative.
Join more than one million subscribers and sign up for free. Find the most recent newsletter here.
WHAT'S NEW
Discover the latest articles and podcast episodes.
CURATED COLLECTIONS
Explore Gretchen Rubin’s work on these popular topics.
Tap in to the power of your five senses as a path to a happier, more mindful life.
Unexpected insights and concrete suggestions about how to create a happier life.
Helpful tips, tools, and strategies for building (and breaking) habits.
Understand yourself and others with Gretchen Rubin’s personality framework.
ABOUT GRETCHEN
About Gretchen
Hi, I’m Gretchen Rubin. For more than a decade, I’ve been studying human nature—the science of the soul. My happiness project is to understand myself, the people around me, and how we can move from good intentions to concrete actions to build happier lives.