Update

Coming to you from Kansas City! Elizabeth and I are joined in the studio by my twelve-year-old daughter Eleanor.

It’s so fun to see what people are posting in the #happierpodcast feed — keep them coming during this month of January!

Try This at Home

Eleanor suggests keeping a running list of your favorite things.

I mention The Happiness Project One-Sentence Journal: A Five-Year Record. Writing one sentence each day turns out to be a great, manageable way to memorialize your life.

Happiness Hack

For a fun family activity, try an “Escape Room.” These are physical adventure games, where you try to discover and use clues to open the door to “escape” a room.

Know Yourself Better

What’s your one-word or one-phrase theme for the year? This exercise helps you discern your most important aims for yourself.

My word is “Delegation.” Elizabeth’s theme is “Self-control.”

Gretchen’s Demerit: I almost never drive in New York City, and I always tell myself, “Oh, I’ll drive a lot in Kansas City,” but I only drove twice during this trip. I write about my struggles with driving in my book Happier at Home.

Elizabeth and Eleanor’s Gold Star: Winstead’s! How we all love the burgers at Winstead’s!

Resource

• You can sign up for both my free newsletter and my “Moment of Happiness Newsletter,” here.