Podcast 126: Look for an Under-Used Area of Your Home, Dealing with Perfectionism, and Clear Instructions about How to Rate and Review a Podcast. | Gretchen Rubin                                  [Skip to content](#content)   [ ![](https://gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/gretchenrubin-logo-768x344.png) ](https://gretchenrubin.com)

    - July 19, 2017

# Podcast 126: Look for an Under-Used Area of Your Home, Dealing with Perfectionism, and Clear Instructions about How to Rate and Review a Podcast.

   Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Ep. 126: Do You Struggle with Perfectionism?

![Ep. 126: Do You Struggle with Perfectionism?](https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/d3516e80-34f6-11f1-8af6-cb8312e209c0/image/f255fc2790d879c623f0beb2f1ec2fbc.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress)

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        <a class="elementor-toggle-title" tabindex="0">EPISODE NOTES</a>

**Update:** Congratulations to Elizabeth and Sarah, who are about to hit a milestone for their podcast “[**Happier in Hollywood**](http://happierinhollywood.com/)” — tomorrow is their tenth episode. Teaser: in that episode, they interview the brilliant host of “[**Side Hustle School,**](https://sidehustleschool.com/)” [**Chris Guillebeau**](https://chrisguillebeau.com/). Who is a Rebel, if you’re curious. **Try This at Home**: Look for an under-used area of your home. Create your own “nook” like my daughter Eleanor or a “Cozy Club” like Elizabeth and Emilie. We mention the try-this-at-home tip from episode 72, of [**having room of your own**](/podcast/podcast-72/). [![1pix](/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1pix.jpg)](/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1pix.jpg) [![](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/eleanor-room2.jpg)](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/eleanor-room2.png) [![gretchen rubin](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/eleanor-room1.jpg)](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/eleanor-room1.jpg) **Stay tuned for the promised photos of the Cozy Corner — I thought our mother had the photo, but in her own recent efforts to clear space, she sent the photo to Elizabeth, and Elizabeth needs to find it. So hope to update with that soon! **Happiness Hack**: When listener Korrine realized that she often cut her laps short when she was walking a one-mile loop, she switched to walking around a lake in a 2.7 mile circuit — no way to cut it short. She’s using several of the habit-formation strategies that I discuss in [***Better Than Before***](/books/before-after/buy-the-book/). **Happiness Stumbling Block**: Perfectionism — a very common stumbling block. If you want to read more about [**satisficers and maximizers**](/happiness_project/2006/06/are_you_a_satis/), read [**here**](/happiness_project/2006/06/are_you_a_satis/). **Send in your anti-perfectionist mantras!** Here are some good ones: - “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
- “Sometimes there are many right choices.”
- “Don’t get it perfect, get it going.”
- “There’s no wrong answer here.”
- “Don’t spend your time rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.”
- “Enjoy the fun of failure.” (I write about this last one in**[ *The Happiness Project*](/books/the-happiness-project/about-the-book/).)**

**Elizabeth’s Demerit**: Elizabeth gives herself a demerit for not rating or reviewing other podcasts — even though we ask for people to rate and review *our* podcast all the time. She (and I) simply didn’t know how to do it. Turns out that it’s easy! For written directions, scroll down [**here**](/podcast-subscription-instructions/). [![1pix](/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1pix.jpg)](/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1pix.jpg)[![gretchen rubin recording podcast](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/gretchen-rubin-recording-podcast1-e1500487043355.jpg)](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/gretchen-rubin-recording-podcast1.jpg) **Gretchen’s Gold Star**: In related news, I give a gold star to all the listeners who have so generously rated and reviewed us already. We so appreciate it — it really does help new listeners discover the show. ---

**Three Resources:**1. **Want a new podcast to listen to, with the same vibe as** ***Happier***? [**The Onward Project**](https://www.theonwardproject.com/) is the family of podcasts that I’ve launched, for podcasts that are about “your life–made better.” Check out these great shows: *[**Side Hustle School**](http://chrisguillebeau.com/announcing-side-hustle-school/)* and *[**Radical Candor**](https://www.radicalcandor.com/blog/podcast-episode-1/)* and **[*Happier in Hollywood*](http://happierinhollywood.com/)**.
2. I’ve announced my book tour schedule, and I’d love to see a lot of “Happier” listeners at events. [**Info here**](/about/live-events/).
3. If you want to pre-order my book [***The Four Tendencies***](/books/the-four-tendencies/about-the-book/) (and it’s a big help to me, if you do), go [**here**](/books/the-four-tendencies/buy-the-book/).

**If you want easy instructions about how to rate or review the podcast**, look [**here**](/podcast-subscription-instructions/). Remember, it really helps us if you do rate or review the podcast — it helps other listeners discover us. **I do weekly live videos on my [Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/pages/Gretchen-Rubin/41949341743) to continue the conversation from the podcast — usually on Tuesdays at 3:00 pm ET**. To join the conversation,[ **check the schedule.**](/about/fb-live-video/)## As always, thanks to our terrific sponsors

Check out [**Smith and Noble**](http://www.smithandnoble.com/happier), the solution for beautiful window treatments. Go to [**smithandnoble.com/happier**](http://www.smithandnoble.com/happier) for **20% off** window treatments and free in-home or on-phone design consultations and free professional measuring. Also check out [**Texture**](https://www.texture.com/?utm_source=pd_oxfordroad&utm_medium=radio&utm_campaign=happier). Get access to all your favorite magazines — including back issues and bonus video content — in one super-convenient place. Try the app [**Texture** ](https://www.texture.com/?utm_source=pd_oxfordroad&utm_medium=radio&utm_campaign=happier)**for free** by going to [**Texture.com/happier**](https://www.texture.com/?utm_source=pd_oxfordroad&utm_medium=radio&utm_campaign=happier). Also check out **[ThirdLove](https://www.thirdlove.com/happier),** the lingerie brand that uses real women’s measurements to design better-fitting bras. **Try one of their bestselling bras for free, for 30 days, by visiting [ThirdLove.com/happier](https://www.thirdlove.com/happier).** [![1pix](/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1pix.jpg)](/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1pix.jpg)[![Happier with Gretchen Rubin - Podcast #126](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/podcast126-300x300.jpg)](/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/podcast126.jpg)

   #### RESOURCES

    The Happier app is on Twitter!

Follow @thehappierapp for Know Yourself Better questions, ideas for aims, and more. And if youu2019re usingu0003the app, be sure to tag us in your Tweets u2014 weu2019d love to hear what youu2019re working on and how youu2019re usingu0003the app. For 30% off select items from the Happiness Project collection, use code HAPPIERSUMMER30u0003at checkout. You'll get 30% off on purchases of t-shirts, travels mugs, water bottles, and pouches.

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  #### DISCOVER MORE

# Like what you see? Explore more about this topic.

- [Habit Change](https://gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/habit-change/), [Health](https://gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/health/)

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