Happier with Gretchen Rubin

We revisit one of our favorite happiness ideas: Treat Yourself Like a _____. Over the years, we've explored many variations on this theme, including treating yourself like a toddler, a dog, a teenager, and a professor. Sometimes it's easier to recognize what we need when we imagine we're taking care of someone else.

Revisited Highlights:

Episode 7: Treat Yourself Like a Toddler

Episode 243: Treat Yourself Like a Dog

Episode 438: Treat Yourself Like a Teenager

Episode 467: Treat Yourself Like a Professor

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Know Yourself Better Journal

Embracing Change Journal

Building Connections Journal

Connect with Us

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free 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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Why you should treat your home like a hotel, and a common blindspot that can lead to unnecessary conflict. Plus a relationship hack.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: treat your home like a hotel—declutter, fix small annoyances, and add small touches of luxury. [03:10]

Happiness Hack: A listener shares a tip on making helpful introductions [11:14]

Happiness Stumbling Block: Are you arguing that you are “right,” when you’re really talking about preferences? [04:20]

Demerits & Gold Stars: Gretchen's demerit: not taking away her old camera; Elizabeth's gold star: to her son Jack for his first solo flight [21:47]

Mentioned in this episode:

Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin

The “Strategy of the Lightning Bolt”

Secrets of Adulthood by Gretchen Rubin

Good Time Girls by Lael Morgan (Amazon, Bookshop)

House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds (Amazon, Bookshop)

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free 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

Many players and teams struggle during clutch time—but not every player or team faces that challenge. Never assume that your problems are the same as other people’s. 

Connect with Us:


Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com


Website: gretchenrubin.com


Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft


Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free 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

Gretchen shares a recent insight on feeling "anonymous" versus "present." We also discuss a lesson for Upholders and gift-worthy pop-up books.

Episode Highlights

Something Making Us Happier—Elizabeth's new Wordle streak milestone and Gretchen’s favorite pop-up books [00:36]

I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You— Gretchen’s insight on feeling “anonymous” vs. “present.” And a lesson for Upholders [12:01]

Spotlight on a Tool: Sign up for Gretchen’s Five Things newsletter! [12:44]

Mentioned in This Episode

Robert Sabuda pop-up books:

Peter Pan (Amazon, Bookshop)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Amazon)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Amazon)

Winter's Tale (Amazon, Bookshop)

The Night Before Christmas (Amazon)

The Twelve Days of Christmas (Amazon, Bookshop)

America the Beautiful (Amazon, Bookshop)

Peter Dahmen Pop Up Sculptures

Sign up for Gretchen's free newsletter, Five Things Making Me Happy

Connect with Us

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Website: gretchenrubin.com

Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free 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

“Treat yourself like…a person of interest” and try a month-long “self-stakeout” to track your habits. We also share an easy way to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit in your head. Plus we discuss three broad categories of empty nesters.

Episode highlights:


Try This At Home— Do a "self-stakeout": Imagine you're a detective and tail yourself for a month. What will you find? [06:43]

Happiness Hack— An easy trick for converting Celsius to Fahrenheit [12:08]

Know Yourself Better: We discuss three "empty nester" types: Relaxers, Rekindlers, and Reinventors [13:44]

Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth’s Demerit: not reading as much this summer as planned; Gretchen’s Gold Star: staying calm during a keyboard malfunction [20:23]

Mentioned in this Episode:

This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life by Lyz Lenz (Amazon, Bookshop)

The Diary of Virginia Woolf, Vol. 3 by Virginia Woolf (Amazon, Bookshop)

Free bingo cards and other 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