5 Things from the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast
Move happier with the Strategy of Pairing
This year’s annual group challenge is Move 26 in ’26: move your body for 26 minutes every day in 2026. Have you tried the Strategy of Pairing to help strengthen your movement habit? You pair something you want to get yourself to do with something you must do or love to do, such as listening to your favorite podcast only while walking. Listen to the first 26 minutes of Gretchen’s new audio book Get It Done: How to Complete Your Dream Project on a special episode of More Happier and give it a try.
Dealing with the loss of their father
In this episode, Gretchen and Elizabeth reflect on the recent loss of their beloved father; they share tender memories and trade observations about the complicated process of navigating grief.
A hack for making gatherings festive
Elizabeth identifies a hack for making parties more fun, inspired by the Real Housewives’ examples of what not to do.
No-Spend February is back!
For February, Gretchen and Elizabeth are challenging themselves not to make unnecessary purchases. Hear their rules and what they’re counting as “necessary,” then design your own no-spend month with our free worksheet. Don’t worry if you’re starting your no-spend month a few days late—as Voltaire said, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
Whimsy goals
According to Google Trends, whimsy is having a moment. Searches for “year of whimsy,” “how to add more whimsy to your life,” and (our favorite) “how to be more type B” spiked in January. If you’re looking for ideas to add more whimsy to your life, here’s an episode packed with suggestions.
Resources for designing your year
The start of a new year is a natural time to pause, reflect, and make changes. But it’s not the only time you can do it.
Get the tools and inspiration you need to design a happier year.
INTERVIEW
Jonathan Goodman
Jonathan Goodman has spent thirteen winters exploring the world—first solo, then with his wife, and now with their three children—challenging educational conventions while building multi-million-dollar businesses. His new book, Unhinged Habits: A Counterintuitive Guide for Humans to Have More by Doing Less, is out now.
Q: Can you suggest something we might try to help ourselves to become happier, healthier, more productive, or more creative?
Know how people always say to celebrate the process? Well, I’ve got a simple framework for doing it called the 4S Celebration Protocol.
For every important project in your life, identify two to three key milestones along your journey, and complete this sentence for each:
After I ____, I will ____, with ____.
A few examples:
•After completing five networking interviews ➞ Nature hike with a parent
•After finishing the outline/blueprint phase ➞ Live music or comedy show with your best friend
•Completed first thirty days of the planned exercise routine with 80% adherence ➞ Couples massage with spouse
A simple way to add richness to personal or professional growth is to design shared experiences with people you love at definable waypoints that signify process wins along the way of achieving individual goals.
Q: Do you have a Secret of Adulthood? A lesson you’ve learned from life the hard way; something you’d tell your younger self?
There’s a principle in Christianity that I like, which basically says that we never own anything. All that exists is a loan from God. Everything was God’s property before we arrived and will be returned to him after we die.
I like this because it puts into better perspective the concept of ownership. Getting more isn’t the point. Being more useful and enjoying more of what we have during our short time on this earth is the point. Which, in turn, frees us from the burden of ownership.
Q: What simple habit boosts your happiness or energy?
Dr. Gloria Mark’s concept of cognitive snacks has helped me reduce brain fog and improve my energy throughout the day. The idea is to take small, informal, mindless, low-effort activities throughout the day.
Your brain needs a rest. I like physical cognitive snacks like cleaning dishes, light gardening, or going for a walk. Others enjoy analog game snacks like doing crosswords, sudoku, and puzzles.
Q: Is there a particular motto that you’ve found very helpful?
The fastest way to earn a seat at the table is to host the meal.
Q: Has a book ever changed your life? If so, which one and why?
At age 23, I was a personal trainer in Toronto earning $25 an hour. A client told me that I had potential and gave me a book to read. Once done, I wanted more. So I went to the library and began devouring books on psychology, anthropology, and business. Within a year I was full with clients, my hourly rate increased to $41.80 and I got promoted to senior trainer. Within five years I’d built a business that eventually allowed me to retire and write full-time by the age of 35.
Books truly do change lives.
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