5 Things from the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast
Taylor Swift and choosing the right tool
Congratulations to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce on their engagement! Gretchen discusses Taylor Swift’s songwriting style and how it illustrates the power of choosing a tool that makes work a joy.
Seven happiness myths
Gretchen and Elizabeth revisit a classic episode debunking seven myths about happiness. But just because you know something is a myth doesn’t mean you can’t occasionally fall for it.
Weird fun
Gretchen poses a Know Yourself Better Question: What surprising thing do you do for fun? Listeners weigh in with all the unusual things they find satisfying — rounding up shopping carts, polishing silverware, vacuuming freshly bathed cats. What would you add to the list?
Beware the impulse to disengage
Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss why feeling lonely, purposeless, or overwhelmed often makes people instinctively disengage from the things that could help them feel better (and what to do instead).
A Happiness Lesson from Friends’ Central Perk Coffee Shop
A little humor can get you far, especially in an uncomfortable situation. Gretchen finds an excellent example from an episode of Friends.
The Audible romance collection will satisfy every side of you
Hear modern rom-coms from Lily Chu, the latest romantasy series from Sarah J Maas and Rebecca Yarros, regency favorites like Pride and Prejudice, plus all the really steamy stuff. Your first love story is free when you sign up for a free 30-day trial.
INTERVIEW
Dan Buettner
In his groundbreaking Blue Zones research, National Geographic explorer and bestselling author Dan Buettner uncovered the secrets to longevity and happiness from the world’s longest-lived populations. In his new podcast THE DAN BUETTNER PODCAST, he shares the practical habits, mindsets, and wisdom that set the stage for a thrilling, fulfilling life at any age. His new cookbook, The Blue Zones Kitchen One Pot Meals, is available now.
Q: Can you suggest something we might try to help ourselves to become happier, healthier, more productive, or more creative?
(Re)Curate your immediate friend group. Health, Happiness and even loneliness is measurably contagious. The best long-term strategy for increasing your own happiness and health is to spend less time with unhappy/unhealthy friends and proactively bring new friends into your immediate social circle.
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?
You’re going to spend most of your waking hours working. Make sure you choose a job that fuels your passions and curiosity, not just your bank account.
Q: What simple habit boosts your happiness or energy?
Changing your habits is a waste of time. They fail for almost all people almost all of the time. Change your environment. I wrote a book called Blue Zones of Happiness that marshals in all of the evidence based ways you can optimize your surroundings for better happiness.
Q: Is there a particular motto that you’ve found very helpful?
Your capacity to enjoy life is greater when you’re younger. So borrow resources from your older self (money, time, love) to augment the enjoyment of youth.
Also, we have a family saying. When people ask us how we are, we always say, “This is the Best Day of our Life”. It’s contagious. Moreover, people don’t want to hear about your problems.
Q: Has a book ever changed your life? If so, which one and why?
“Nudge” by Richard Thayer and Cass Sustein. It provides the scientific underpinnings as to how and why to set up your surroundings for success.
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