Happier with Gretchen Rubin

A round-up of ideas for creating new morning habits, how to help your family form better morning habits, and why rethinking your daily routines can add more happiness and energy to your life.

Episode highlights

Get early morning light to reset your body clock (01:11)

Set a bedtime alarm (04:49)

Stop the morning snooze battle (09:42)

Build a rest ritual of 3-5 calming actions done before bed(22:38)

Mentioned in this Episode:

Chasing the Sun by Linda Geddes (Amazon, Bookshop)



Better Than Before (Amazon, Bookshop)

Alarmy alarm clock app

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
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A brilliant hack for getting more help with dinner, why a quest is more fun than a jaunt, and how we feel about desks.

Episode highlights:

Try This At Home: Cultivate a magpie mind [07:10]

Happiness Hack—Rename a chore to make it more appealing[16:00]

Know Yourself Better— How do you like to work? [26:00]

Demerits and Gold Stars: A sisterly trip to Dollywood [30:00]

Mentioned in this Episode:

Download the Creativity Bingo here

Plot Twist: Life, Craft, and the Messy First Draft by Harlan Coben (Amazon, Bookshop)

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (Amazon, Bookshop)

SongTeller: My Life in Lyrics by Dolly Parton (Amazon, Bookshop)

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I get such pleasure of thinking about iconic super-star Brad Pitt paying tribute to Chuck Palahniuk, and realizing what a gift he’d been given for his work.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For “Move Happier,” Gretchen talks with Marielle Segarra, host of NPR’s Life Kit, about ditching the all-or-nothing rule, making the most of everyday activities, and the importance of smell and lighting.

Episode highlights:

Reduce friction: set out your gear the night before [00:00]

The five-minute rule: tell yourself you only have to move for five minutes, and momentum carries you [00:00]

Strength training basics: bodyweight moves like air squats and wall push-ups, no equipment needed [00:00]

Why strength work matters for bone density, brain function, and joint health [00:00]

Mentioned in this Episode:

NPR Life Kit: How to move more this year, featuring Michelle Segarra and Katy Bowman

NPR Life Kit: It’s ok to run slow AF, featuring Martinus Evans

NPR Life Kit: Get into strength training

NPR Life Kit: How to stop procrastinating and start exercising

Move 26 in ‘26 resources

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss the happiness of a trip with old friends, a way to reframe the task of taking our pills, and a surprising fact about GLP-1s.

Episode highlights

Something Making Us Happier—Say “I’ve made this plan, come if you can,” & reframe prescriptions as “I’m lucky to live when my health issues can be fixed,” not “I have to take lots of pills”[00:00]

I’ve Been Meaning to Ask You: Perfume sales and GLP-1s[00:00]

Spotlight on a Tool—Find the full collection of Darker Secrets of Adulthood: Uncomfortable Truths for Our Complex Lives on Substack [00:00]

Mentioned in this Episode

NYT: “Rise of GLP-1s Leaves Food Industry Holding Party-Size Bag” [Insert Link]

Secrets of Adulthood (Gretchen’s Substack, including the Darker Secrets of Adulthood collection, Oct 21) [Insert Link]

Secrets of Adulthood book [Insert Link]

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz

Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show!

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices