Do You Need More Comfort or Adventure? Plus More Tips for Designing Your Summer

Summary

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Episode: Do You Need More Comfort or Adventure? Plus More Tips for Designing Your Summer

Date: July 4, 2026
Hosts: Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft

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Episode Overview

This episode centers on intentional summer planning, focusing on ways to create a more memorable, enjoyable, and manageable summer. Gretchen and Elizabeth revisit some of their favorite strategies and listener-submitted hacks for “Designing Your Summer,” including the power of music, self-understanding (comfort vs. adventure), the metaphor of leaving extra room (in suitcases and life), and a sensory approach to filling summer with meaningful experiences.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Designing an Intentional Summer

• Both hosts emphasize the importance of proactively planning the summer you want, rather than just letting summer “happen” and feeling regretful come September.
  • Elizabeth: “Every year, I have this fantasy version of summer in my head and suddenly it’s September and somehow I never went to the beach once.” (02:24)

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2. Try This at Home: Choose a Summer Song

Timestamps: 03:13 – 06:20

• The idea is to consciously pick a song to serve as the “theme” for your summer, deepening the season’s memories.
  • Gretchen: “This is a way to focus it on the summer…so that it really is a nostalgia machine.” (04:23)
• Discussing the connection between music and memory, referencing the “Nostalgia Machine” website.
• Both Gretchen and Elizabeth independently chose "I've Got a Feeling" (The Beatles) as their summer song—a comical sister moment.
  • Elizabeth: “It’s so happy. It makes me feel so good. It’s so brilliant. So we have the same summer song!” (06:01)
• They encourage listeners to pick and play their summer song intentionally to create lasting memory links.

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3. Know Yourself Better: Do You Prefer Comfort or Adventure?

Timestamps: 06:20 – 09:29

• Gretchen poses the question: do you prefer comfort or adventure?
• Elizabeth’s Insight: “It depends who I’m with. If I’m in charge, I prefer comfort. If someone else is in charge, I prefer adventure.” (06:54)
• Discussion includes the practicalities and anxieties of planning adventures, the value of understanding personal and social preferences to resolve conflicts, and recognizing these tendencies in both big and small choices.
  • Gretchen: “It can help you work out conflict because you can understand why something that sounds very appealing to you does not sound appealing to someone else.” (08:34)
  • Elizabeth: “…you can understand why you might be having conflict about making plans.” (07:57)

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4. Packing Tip: Leave Extra Room in Your Suitcase

Timestamps: 12:03 – 16:56

• Gretchen shares a practical and metaphorical tip: leave extra space when packing.
  • “It’s about making room for new things to come in, just like in the suitcase.” (13:19)
• Both hosts reflect on the psychological comfort and opportunity that comes from not overstuffing—whether it’s a suitcase, closet, or calendar.
• The idea extends to keeping an “empty shelf” (from Gretchen’s book Happier at Home) and resisting the urge to fill every space.
  • Gretchen: “There’s just satisfaction in having that margin. I love a broad margin to my life.” (14:45)

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5. Try This at Home: Explore the Five Senses of Summer

Timestamps: 16:56 – 21:29

• Listener Dakota shares her approach: designing summer activities around each of the five senses, inspired by losing taste/smell after COVID.
  • Listener (read by Elizabeth): “This summer I chose to have a summer of the senses…making a vision board with one thing I want to do for each of my senses.” (17:18)
• The hosts share their own sense-themed plans for summer (sight, sound, scent, taste, touch), with Elizabeth focusing on a trip to Kansas City and Gretchen exploring New York.
  • Elizabeth (on Kansas City): “There’s nothing that feels like summer to me like being in Kansas City.” (20:55)
  • Gretchen: “Music can do so much to bring back memories in an atmosphere of time.” (06:20)
• Both agree that frameworks like “senses” help turn infinite options into actionable plans.

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6. Listener Summer Hacks Roundup

Timestamps: 24:38 – 32:42

• A smorgasbord of practical, crowd-sourced travel and summer tips:
  • Memory Triggers: Buy a book on your trip to remember it by; keep a travel journal; buy a new perfume/body spray to evoke trip memories later.
    • Karen: “When you’re on a trip, find a bookshop and buy a book…every time you see it…it will remind you of your trip.” (24:38)
    • Colleen: "Buy a new perfume or body spray and use it on your trip. Whenever you use it when you get home, it will evoke memories from your travels.” (26:57)
  • Packing & Logistics: Use packing cubes, mesh laundry bags, reusable tote bags, extra towels for pets, spoon/fork for grocery snacks, bring two chargers, track what you actually use, dark clothes for easy washing, label passports, pack anything that can leak in a plastic bag.
  • Emotional Prep: Pack a sense of humor (“At some stage you will need it.” – Kim, 29:52), remember mishaps often make the best memories, and embrace “less is enough."
  • Hygiene & Sleep: Bring your own pillowcase for better sleep, try on everything you pack, and keep dirty and clean clothes separate.
  • Tech & Organization: Take photos of room keys/parking spots, and make use of packing lists for efficiency.
• Both hosts are enthusiastic about these tips, often adding their own twists and affirming listener submissions.
  • Elizabeth: “I just gave packing cubes to someone graduating high school for college. They’re the kind of thing that for the rest of your life you could use.” (31:45)
  • Gretchen: “Pack snacks. That’s a hack for me.” (31:56)

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7. Spotlight on a Tool: The Happier App

Timestamps: 33:32 – 34:06

• Gretchen spotlights the “Design Your Summer” feature in the Happier App, allowing listeners to set summer intentions, bucket lists, themes, and track activities to prevent summer from slipping by unnoticed.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Summer Planning:
  • “It’s very easy to assume that summer will just happen the way we want it to happen. But it can be so helpful to think ahead.” — Gretchen (02:36)
• On Memory and Music:
  • “It really helps tie us to our memories.” — Gretchen (06:20)
• On Self-Understanding:
  • “When we know ourselves better, it helps our relationships with other people.” — Elizabeth (09:21)
• On Packing as a Metaphor:
  • “I love the fact that it’s empty. I guard that shelf with my life!” — Gretchen (14:45)
• On Listener Community:
  • “I love a sticker—and this is a great way. You’re creating a keepsake and getting to do fun things with stickers.” – Gretchen (25:57)
  • “Pack your sense of humor. At some stage you will need it.” – Kim (29:52)
  • “Remember, mishaps often make the best memories.” – Gretchen (29:57)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Choosing a Summer Song: 03:13 – 06:20
• Comfort vs. Adventure: 06:20 – 09:29
• Leave Room in the Suitcase (Literal & Metaphorical): 12:03 – 16:56
• Five Senses of Summer: 16:56 – 21:29
• Listener Summer Hacks: 24:38 – 32:42
• Pet Travel Tip (Towels): 33:19 – 33:28
• Spotlight on Tool – Happier App: 33:32 – 34:06

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Listener Takeaways

• Be intentional: Plan what experiences you want this summer—don’t let it pass by default.
• Memory cues matter: Use music, scent, or small rituals to anchor your memories.
• Know yourself: Identifying your (and others’) comfort vs. adventure tendencies can ease summer planning.
• Leave space: Both physically and mentally, space allows for expansion and the unexpected.
• Use your senses: Designing experiences around all five senses can make ordinary days special.
• Crowd wisdom: Leverage smart, creative hacks from the Happier community to make travel and summer smoother.
• Use tools: Apps like Happier can help track and realize your summer ambitions.

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Episode Tone

Friendly, practical, and supportive—full of laughter, candid confessions, and hear-it-from-the-sisterly wisdom, this episode will leave listeners feeling inspired, equipped, and just the right amount of "happiness bullied" into making the most of summer.

Transcript

[Gretchen Rubin]

Lemonade. This message comes from Harvard Business School Executive Education now is the time to invest in yourself and change the world with your voice. Our programs connect you with faculty at the forefront of their fields, introduce you to a global network of leaders, and help you step into your full potential. The next chapter is yours. The Let us help you write it. Apply today to accelerate your future. Learn more at HBS ME Accelerate. That's HBS ME Accelerate. You can focus on exercise, nutrition, all the things you're supposed to do for your health. But if you are not sleeping well, it is very hard to feel refreshed.

[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, and I also love that it automatically starts when you get into bed, so it feels seamless. Visit www.sleep.me Gretchen to get up to $255 off your Chilipad 2.0 with code Gretchen. This special offer is available for happier listener, limited time. Order it today with free shipping and try it out for 30 days. You can return it for free if you don't like it with their sleep trial, visit www.sleep s l e e p.me Gretchen and see why cold sleep is your ultimate ally in performance and recovery. Hello, we're here for More Happier A podcast where we get happier. Join us for some weekend listening. It's observations and reflections, but with a looser vibe. Hey Elizabeth.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Hi Gretch.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Now that summer's almost here, we are sharing some of our favorite tips from the past decade of the podcast that can help you actually create the summer you want to have instead of just imagining it.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Which I desperately need. Because every year I have this fantasy version of summer in my head and suddenly it's September and somehow I never went to the beach once. That's happened a few years.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I know exactly how you feel. That's why we love the idea of Design youn Summer, because it's very easy to assume that summer will just happen the way we want it to happen. But it can be so helpful to think ahead. What will make summer feel fun? Memorable? Restorative? What is it that we need? What do we want? So today we are revisiting a few ideas that can help summer feel More memorable and intentional things, from choosing a summer song to thinking about whether you want more comfort or more adventure this season.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, let's jump in.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And now for the Try this at home. Our Try this at home is to choose a summer song. And this can either be you're looking for, like, what is the song of the summer? Or you can choose your own song to mark this particular summer. Yes, we were partly inspired this because Elizabeth, on the last more happier episode, we talked about the Nostalgia Machine, this super fun site where you can enter a year and it pulls up a screen filled with all the top songs. I mean, a lot of times you can also watch the music videos associated with them. And it's just super fun to pick, like, the year you graduated from high school or college or any year that sticks out to you and remember all the songs that you were listening to at that time. And so this is a way to focus it on the summer.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, I mean, usually, Gretchen, every summer there's just one song that's huge. Right? Like in 2019, Gretchen. I remember the song was Old Town Road, which was a little a lil Nas X song that featured Billy Ray Cyrus. And it was like, that was the summer song. And there's always that one song. And what I love is when you hear it, then later it just brings to life that feeling.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, and that's the thing, I think is we really want to connect with, is to sort of say, this is this time, this is happening now, partly to enjoy it in the moment. So we're really like, ooh, this is the song of the summer. But then also in the future, so that you really have created that conscious link and so that it really is a nostalgia machine. And it really does help you reconnect. Like, oh, that's the summer when we went to the beach all the time. Or that was the summer when it rained so much. Or that was the summer when we had a dance party. Or there's just a lot of ways that it can help us connect with memories. Because, you know, I have such a bad memory for everything in my own life. I'm always looking for these ways to try to make memories more concrete and more accessible.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, and then it's fun during the summer, if you choose a song, well, then it's fun to look for the song and say, is this it? Is this the summer song? Or if you choose it, it's fun then to play it. You know, when you're in the car, even if you're driving your kid day camp or going to Work to play your summer song. It kind of goes with design your summer, like, make summer special.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Now, I don't know what the big new song is gonna be for this summer, but for me personally, the song of the summer is gonna be I've Got a Feeling Elizabeth. You know, after watching the Get Back documentary and just hearing them play that song, it got me just realizing how much I love that song. That's my song for the summer.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. And that's the Beatles Get Back documentary, which we have been talking about so much. The funny thing, Gretchen, is, and this is our sister connection, out of all the songs of the decades, I also picked I've Got a Feeling you did? Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

That's bonkers.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Now, granted, you and I have been talking a lot about how much we love that song, but. Yeah, no. As soon as we said we were gonna pick a summer song, I'm like, oh, that's my song. It's so happy. It makes me feel so good. It's so brilliant. So we have the same summer song, but that'll help us remember it even more. It'll help us connect it to the summer.

[Gretchen Rubin]

No, it'll be that focus on a particular song, identifying it, registering it, listening to it. It'll help us remember for the rest of our lives. Because music can do so much to bring back memories in an atmosphere of time. It really helps tie us to our memories. Yes. And now for a know yourself better question. And, Elizabeth, I love this know yourself better question. And it's the question of if you have to choose, do you prefer comfort or adventure? So, Elizabeth, do you prefer comfort or adventure?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, Gretch, I thought about this when you asked me, and what I realized is it depends who I'm with.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Ooh, interesting.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So if I'm in charge, if I feel like I'm gonna be the person in charge, I prefer comfort. But if someone else is in charge, I prefer adventure. So a great example of this is Sarah. So Sarah, my writing partner, co host of Happier in Hollywood, when Sarah and I are together traveling, she's more in charge. She's just better at being in charge. And so I feel very safe with her making decisions and knowing that she'll figure out what needs to be done. So I love our adventures. But if I'm in charge, let's say of planning a family trip, I prefer comfort. And it's just because it's easier. And I feel more confident when I'm planning comfort.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, adventure always feels riskier. The stakes are higher. It's a lot more challenging to plan something adventurous. The itinerary. How far do you go? What do you do if it's raining really hard? Where is everybody going to eat?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Exactly. So, Gretchen, for the adventure versus comfort, it's a good distinction because it helps you know what you want at a particular time. Because, I mean, I think sometimes we want comfort, sometimes we want adventure. And if you're with somebody who really leans one way or the other, that's good to know, because then you can understand why you might be having conflict about making plans. And by the way, it doesn't just have to be about a trip. Comfort or adventure can be, are we going to go to a movie today? Or are we going to go walk around a neighborhood we've never been to? I mean, it can be small or it can be big.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Right. And it can help you work out conflict because you can understand why something that sounds very appealing to you does not sound appealing to someone else. Because if you keep suggesting adventure after adventure after adventure and nothing's working for them, they might just seem like, well, they don't want to have any fun, but it's actually because they're seeking comfort or vice versa. If you want comfort, comfort, comfort, but somebody wants novelty and challenge, it's easier to understand how you can arrive at something that's gonna work for both of you if you understand why you might be feeling that difference.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Or let them go have an adventure with someone else.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Right, Exactly. But then you would know why. Then it would be like, it's not personal. It's just that I'm looking for something else with this afternoon or this weekend or this vacation or whatever.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So, Gretchen, as always, when we understand ourselves better, when we know ourselves better, it helps our relationships with other people.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Exactly.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Coming up, we share a packing tip that applies to a lot more than just packing. And one of Gretchen's favorite ways to make summer feel more memorable. The first is break.

[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

from Harvard Business School Executive Education. Now is the time to invest in yourself and change the world with your voice. Our programs connect you with faculty at the forefront of their fields, introduce you to a global network of leaders, and help you step into your full potential. The next chapter is yours. Let us help you write it. Apply today to accelerate your future. Learn more @hbs me accelerate. That's hbs me accelerate. This episode. Elizabeth Our Try this at home tip is Always leave extra room in the suitcase. And this was inspired by my book tour because I was committed to the idea of I was only going to take a carry on bag and I had a little bit of extra space as I was getting ready to leave and I thought about, well, I'll just cram in some alternative outfits, maybe an extra sweater. And then I thought, you know what? I should leave some extra space. I shouldn't cram it full. I should give myself some room.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, this sounds like something that's literally true. Like literally people should leave room in a suitcase. And then it's also metaphorically true somehow.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, no. I Think it is metaphorically true. Cause it's about making room for new things to come in, just like in the suitcase. Like, if I go and somebody gives me a book that I wanna pack, I have room for this extra book. Or, you know, if I want to frame one more family photo and put it in my apartment somewhere, it's not like everything is thrown into disarray because I've crammed my place so full that there's no room for anything else to be added.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, I feel like it. Having that little extra room, whether it be in the suitcase or, you know, in your house or in your mind, gives you more of a feeling of calm. Like, as you know, Gretch, I've discussed numerous times on our podcast, I'm doing our renovation of our house. And, you know, I have the new closet in my bedroom.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. Gorgeous.

[Elizabeth Craft]

One thing. Thank you. One thing I noticed is I have still empty shelves in the closet. But I do have more clothes that need to theoretically go into the closet. Like, I have various sort of baskets and, you know, storage boxes that have, like, hoodies and jeans and all this stuff. And it's like, I don't want to put them in the closet because I like, like having those empty shelves. I like having that extra space. And so I've found myself, which is probably a good thing, thinking, what can I get rid of so that I don't have to cram this closet full.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Absolutely. And this is, you know, the luxury of space. And in Happier at Home, my book about how to be happier at home, one of my resolutions was somewhere to keep an empty shelf. And I, like, have an absolutely empty shelf. And I'll post a link to a video where I show the empty shelf, because people are always saying to me, like, is that shelf still empty? I'm like, yes. I guard that shelf with my life because I love the fact that it's empty. There's just satisfaction in having that margin. I love a broad margin to my life. And that room in the suitcase, that room on the shelf, it just. It just makes you feel more expansive.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah. And then in a very literal sense for the suitcase, I feel like you don't dread packing to go home when you have. When you know that it's going to be easy to shut your suitcase.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Because Gretchen, for example, I have a new carry on bag. And what I didn't realize when I got it is that it's just slightly smaller than my old carry on bag, which, like, the wheels came off of. So I can't possibly use It. And so it's like now I'm jamming it, I'm stuffing it full every time I go somewhere. So I think I need a new carry on bag that has just that little bit of extra room.

[Gretchen Rubin]

But you know, it's occurring to me that maybe this is actually kind of related to a know yourself better question, which is do you like to have room in the suitcase or do you like, like to use every available inch? Cause I think that on reflection, there are some people who really take great delight in taking advantage of every possible space. Like you think of something like on HGTV that show tiny houses and it's like they make such cunning use of every available opportunity. There is sort of a gratification that comes from that. For me, the gratification of the empty shelf is much larger. But I know that there is that sort of person who loves every hook, every drawer, every divider, you know, every pocket being taken advantage of.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah. And to the point of the suitcase. There's probably thousands of videos one could watch online of people packing suitcases and like rolling things and putting things in bags and dividing them and using every inch. So yeah, you know, floats your boat.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. If you have a lot of ideas about how to load a dishwasher, you may have a lot of ideas about how to how to properly pack a carry on bag. So listen, this week our Try this at home tip is to explore the five senses of summer. This is kind of a twist on the Design youn Summer idea. And this was inspired by a listener.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, this comes from Dakota who says, I thought I'd share my design this summer with you guys. I manage an ice cream store so summer is the busiest time of the year for me. I that results in a lot of early mornings and late nights and an overall feeling of dread on warm, beautiful summer days. Typically I forego fun things in waiting of cooler temps and shorter work days. This summer I chose to have a summer of the senses. I was inspired by your talk of the senses. Both my husband and I had Covid this summer so we lost both our sense of taste and smell. Mine didn't return for nearly 60 days. This summer I am planning on making a vision board with one thing I want to do for each of my senses. As an example, I bought tickets to an outdoor concert to see dueling pianos and an Elton John cover band. What a treat. Having five things to do this summer is giving me a little more structure and things to look forward to that normally I would say I'm too busy to Do?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, of course. I love everything five Senses related. So this is like a mashup of the Five Senses in Design youn Summer. So I love this idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. And it's nice to have an angle like, as we say, like, infinite choices can be hard. So in some ways it's nice to say, okay, I'm going to design it around the five senses, and that'll sort of give you a direction.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. So listen, let's talk about some of our ideas. What we will do.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Here in New York City, I got tickets to this Van Gogh immersive experience, which is sort of this, what it sounds like. Van Gogh immersive experience. I'm not exactly sure what to expect, but I was like, wow, that sounds like something I want to check out. I'm doing a sound bath. I know you've been meaning to do a sound bath. The Integratron.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I love sound baths. Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. So I'm finally signing up for one. So then we can swap impressions of the sound bath experience. There is a wonderful perfume store called Fueja that's near my apartment. It's perfumes arranged very systematically according to type. And I really, you know, I love anything systematic. And I just want to go back in and say, smell. Every single smell. I'm going to explore that for taste. You know, on my 21. For 21, I had that. I wanted to have a taste party, which I have not done, but I want to have a taste party inspired by my time at Flavor University. Touch. I don't know what I want to do for Touch. Anybody got any ideas for Touch? Let me know. I love Touch, and I just can't figure out how to work that into my summer plans. How about you, Elizabeth? What are you going to do for exploring the five senses of summer?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, it's funny, Gretchen, because when we started talking about this idea, I realized that all of the sense experiences I wanted were all in Kansas City. I have not been to Kansas City since December 2019, which is insane. I'm dying to go. And we actually have plane tickets. We're going for the Fourth of July. So I'm centering all of mine around Kansas City. So I want to obviously see mom and dad. Also want to see the Kaufman Gardens, which are these beautiful gardens that we often walk to with dad.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Gorgeous.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I want to hear the cicadas. Some people don't like the sound of cicadas. I love cicadas. That is my favorite sound.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's so Kansas City.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's so Kansas City. Yes. And Then smell again. I want to smell summer in Kansas City. It's just a very particular smell of the sort of heavy air.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Green. Yeah, it's a very green.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Smells green. Exactly. And I. And there's nothing feels like summer to me. Like being in Kansas City.

[Gretchen Rubin]

The hot, hot summer in Kansas City. Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, taste. I want to taste Winsteads. Gretchen, I have not had a Winsteads burger in the longest time. I've gone in my life by a lot. So I need that Winstead's cheeseburger. And then for touch. I want to hug mom and dad. I have not seen them. You've seen them. But I have not in all of this time. So I'm very, very excited to be with them.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. Oh, it's making that way you'll really focus on drinking in the Kansas City experience. Coming up, a roundup of some of our favorite listener inspired hacks for making summer easier, more fun and more manageable. But first, this break.

[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

this episode is brought to you by Google Health. Stop chasing someone else's definition of health. What matters is what's healthy for you. Google Health offers a new kind of coach built with Gemini for effortless tracking, sleep insights and holistic coaching tailored to you. Visit googlestore.com to learn more and start a new relationship with your health. Requires Google Account, Google Health App Internet and Google Health Premium subscription features subject to change availability and results vary. Not intended for medical purposes. Works independently of Gemini Apps. Check responses for accuracy. Okay, now this week our Try this at home is to try these summer Hacks. We have a smorgasbord of summer hacks sent in by listeners. So fun.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, Karen says, when you're on a trip, find a bookshop and buy a book. Not necessarily what about that place? Although it could be but one you want to read. Then when you're reading it after your trip and every time you see it on your bookshelf after that it will remind you of your trip. It's amazing how often you can find bookshops all over the world with sections of books in English. I just bought Killers of the Flower Moon in Bari, Italy, for example. Also, finding the bookshop itself can be a fun little expedition and often you see streets in a city you might not have walked down otherwise.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This reminds me of my secret of adulthood that a quest is more fun than a jaunt. So going to look for a bookstore is like a fun thing to do in a new city. Stacy says, I'm in the middle of a trip right now. We are doing a road trip with a family wedding in the middle and hiking along the way, which has meant a weird combo of clothes. We got a used cooler, some plastic plates and some actually really nice kitchen knives with sheaths at a thrift store in our starting city, Phoenix, and have been picnicking along the way to save money. It's also been hard for vegetarians to find decent meals in these smaller southwest towns and tourist sites. Also, I brought a plain water bottle and have been adding souvenir stickers to it along the way. Ooh, I love a sticker and this is a great way. You're creating a keepsake and getting to do fun things with stickers. I love that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Danita says a notebook or travel journal. It's great to jot down notes or memories to enjoy later. I recently found one from a trip I took years ago. There were little details I had forgotten, but as I read my notes, I could see it in my mind and enjoy the memories all over again. Yeah.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And I should mention that we've heard from listeners that they use my five Senses Journal or the one Sentence journal in this way. So if you're interested in that, check out those journals on my site. Jenny Bell says pack one mesh laundry bag for the entire family to share. It takes up almost no room but is invaluable. As clothes get dirty, throw them in whether you're doing laundry on the trip or after you get home. This always saves a lot of time. Very good idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. And I like keeping the dirty clothes separate from the clean clothes. It makes them feel like they're still clean.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. Good point.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Marie Claire says less is enough. My latest mantra.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I mean, easier said than done.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So true.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Colleen has a suggestion that we've discussed before, but because it's kind of a Life in Five Senses hack, I can't resist including it. Buy a new perfume or body spray and use it on your trip. Then whenever you use it when you get home, it will evoke memories from your travels. Lovely.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Karen says I make sure all my clothes mix and match. Yes. I have taken to that philosophy when packing and that is very helpful.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. Julia says always pack your own pillowcase. It will feel like home when you sleep. And that makes it easier to sleep. This is sort of next level, Elizabeth. I've never thought to do that, but it's a good idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It is. Especially for people who have trouble sleeping away from home.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And Julia has another one. I try on everything I'm packing before I leave to make sure it is still comfortable and matches. I also note what I'm wearing each day to ensure I have something for every activity. It prevents me from over packing. This is really good because I have a tendency to pack clothes that I haven't worn in a while. Thinking like, oh, I haven't worn this in a while. I'll pack it. So I'll make sure to wear it, but there's a reason I haven't worn it. Yes. And then it might not work very well. So this is a good hack.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Barb says pack a spoon. That way you can stop into a grocery store and grab a yogurt or even a pasta salad for a quick snack.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, I pack a fork too. I find them really useful. Jess says pack all dark colored clothes. Easier to wash everything in one go rather than needing to separate your lights and darks. Plus, dark clothes don't show stains as easily. Also, you need fewer shoes than you think. Depending on the type of trip, a pair of comfortable smart sneakers will probably do it in every situation. It certainly would have been enough for my current trip to Japan. That's good because shoes take up so much space and they're so heavy.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. We have another Gretchen who says I always pack a lightweight reusable tote bag. One that can lay flat Athleta bag. Any tote bag that I got for free as it can be used as a pool or beach bag. Or if I buy too much for my luggage, I can carry it on and check my bag. I do this. You do this. Gretchen. This is one of my favorite hacks. Yeah. Also a small handheld battery operated or USB chargeable fan. Good for on planes before the air is on. Hotel rooms, standing in lines at airports. I was once told by a flight attendant that many of them carry them for those exact reasons.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Excellent. Hallie says put names on masking tape on the outside of the passport. It sounds silly, but it's surprisingly helpful for families or groups to know which passport is which without having to flip open to the picture page each time. I'm gonna do this. I have to say I thought the passport was like a sacred document that you couldn't do that to. But I think as long as you're like on the COVID it should be fine. And it is a pass to have to put them open.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And you never know which page the photo is on. I'm always having to remember where. Now where's the photo?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, and then what if you grab the wrong one and you're off and you know what I mean, this is a really good. That's a good hack.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Kim said, pack your sense of humor. At some stage you will need it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, yes. And remember one of my secrets of adulthood. Mishaps often make the best memories. Krista says I always pack a pashmina with me when I travel. It has so many uses. Covers my head when the sun is too strong, covers shoulders when going into a church or mosque, scarf or shoulder wrap if you're chilly. Or just to add personality to an outfit. It rolls up and fits in a purse. Endless uses. I always have this when I travel because I get so Cold.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. I even like just putting it over myself, laying on the bed and reading or something, rather than messing up the nice bed. Yes. Shannon said. Before a trip, I make a list on my phone of everything I'm packing, which of course helps stay organized during the packing process. But after the trip, I go through the list in reverse, identifying all the things I packed but never bothered to use or wear. This helps me plan for the next time away. Eliminating clothes, accessories, toiletries that I'm prone to think I need but actually don't.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Good. Chantel said. New one after this week's trip to Toronto, bring two phone chargers, one for the hotel, one for the rental car. Maps can really drain a battery.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Minda says bring an empty water bottle that you can fill after you pass through security. Always good to have water on hand. And you know, most airports now have water bottle filling places, dispensers. You know you're getting nice, clean, cold water.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. Genesis says packing cubes can keep you organized and save space, especially when packing for a family. Well, one thing I'll say is you can also use a plastic bag if you don't want to buy packing cubes. They're clear, which a lot of people like that in the packing cube. But Elizabeth, you and I are big fans of the official packing cube. You gave them to me.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, we are.

[Gretchen Rubin]

For Christmas. I use them all the time. You gave them to Liz and Eleanor. They use them constantly. Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I just gave them to someone graduating high school for college. Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

They're the kind of thing that for the rest of your life you could use those packing cubes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So here's my hack.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And it's related to the Ziploc bag, which is pack anything that can leak in a plastic bag. And this could just be like a grocery store plastic bag. But you never regret it because it's rare that they leak, but when they leak, it's so bad it's completely worth the effort to put something in a plastic bag and pack snacks. That's a hack for me. And here's a hack that I just saw Jamie use and it reminded me of how clever this is, which is take a picture of your room key or your room so that you remember it if you don't. Or like where you parked your car, because it's easier to think, oh, of course I'll remember it. And then you just don't think of it. And then it's a big hassle. So just taking that quick photo can save you a lot of time and energy.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Well, Gretch, here's my hack. And this is for anybody who's traveling with dogs. Like a road trip. Cause, you know, Adam and I have found we love taking Nacho and Daisy away for a few days. My hack is bring more towels than you think you need. So we always bring a couple of towels when we have the dogs with us. And I found it's good to bring maybe an extra couple because somehow they'll get wet, they get dirty. You can put it over your lap if they're gonna sit on your lap in the car for some reason and maybe shed.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's just good that when you have a dog, it's just better to have a towel than not have a towel.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes. Good hack.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Okay, Gretch, what is our spotlight on a tool this week?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, if these hacks for designing your summer were useful to you, you might want to try out actually designing your summer using the happier app. I worked with a terrific team to build a new tool that helps you map out everything you want to do so you don't reach the end of summer and wish you'd done more. You can set a summer bucket list. You can choose a one word theme for the summer. You can pick all the books you want to read. You can start designing your summer on the tools page of the happier app or download the [e-mail] so Elizabeth, are you feeling happier?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, I am feeling happier. Thank you to Chuck. Bye, Gretch.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Bye Elizabeth. The best time to start a happiness project is 20 years ago. The second best time is now. One thing I've learned about summer dressing is that the pieces you love most are usually the simplest ones, the things you reach for again and again because they're comfortable, versatile, and always seem to work. Work. That's why we keep coming back to Quince. I've been especially loving their European linen pieces. They're lightweight, easy to wear, and somehow look polished without requiring any effort.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Quince makes elevated essentials using premium materials like European linen, organic cotton, and washable silk, but without the traditional markup. Their linen pants, dresses and tops start at just $32, and their soft denim and organic cotton sweaters are perfect for cooler summer evenings. I also love their 14 karat gold jewelry. Simple pieces that instantly pull an outfit together make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince.com Gretchen for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada too. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.com Gretchen for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Gretchen.