Podcast Summary: Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Episode 564: Revealing…the Annual Challenge for 2026! Plus a Report on Read 25 in 2025
Release Date: December 10, 2025
Hosts: Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft
Network: The Onward Project / Lemonada Media

Main Theme

This episode focuses on the annual “Happier” podcast tradition: announcing the new challenge for the upcoming year as part of designing your year more intentionally. The hosts reflect on the success of the "Read 25 in 2025" challenge, share listener stories, and reveal the 2026 challenge—"Move 26 in 26." The episode also covers listener feedback, the value of habit pairing, and how movement can contribute to happiness, energy, and creativity.

Key Sections & Discussion Points

[01:55] – Personal Updates & Listener Letters

• Personal Context: Both hosts are recording together from Kansas City while visiting their ailing father. They express comfort in keeping the podcast going during a difficult time.

  • “Our father is super interested in our podcast...so we’re gonna keep going.” – Gretchen Rubin [02:34]

• Listener Letter – Pairing Habits for Recovery:

  • Darcy shares how she returned to self-care post-divorce by pairing daily walks with only listening to the Happier podcast.
    • “That’s pairing…you both made me feel inspired and motivated, gave me some great tips, gave me some chuckles, and overall just made my life happier.” – Darcy, read by Gretchen [03:15]

• Listener Letter – Party Planning Courage:

  • Taylor describes overcoming “hostess neurosis” after hearing episode 559, hosting a party for kindergarten moms, and cultivating new friendships.
    • “Once one person gets it going, then other people find it easier to follow.” – Gretchen Rubin [05:28]

[05:48] – Try This at Home: Annual Challenge Tradition

The Three Elements of Designing Your Year:

1. Annual List (e.g., 25 for 2025)
2. One Word Theme
3. Annual Challenge (linked to the year’s number)

• Recap of 2025’s Challenge:
  Read 25 in 2025 became a standout success. Both Gretchen and Elizabeth joined a family “War and Peace” slow-read, inspired by their mother.

  • “We talk about War and Peace in our family as if it were like a sitcom.” – Gretchen Rubin [06:59]
  • The benefits of book groups and slow reads are highlighted as great ways to connect.

[08:40] – Innovations: Reading Retreats and Decluttering

• Reading Retreat Insight:

  • Hosts share their positive experience going to Los Olivos for a book retreat based on listener suggestions.
    • “We went and just had the most wonderful two days…eating and then just going back to the room and reading.” – Elizabeth [08:49]
  • Listener Amanda recommends the literary-themed Hotel Sylvia in Oregon for a reading retreat, describing themed rooms and cozy settings. [09:32]

• Dealing with Book Clutter:

  • Listener Stephanie, a financial therapist, combines her reading challenge with decluttering by giving away 100+ books.
    • “Letting go of books has become a no brainer.” – Stephanie [12:47]
  • Gretchen and Elizabeth emphasize the library as a communal “storage space” for books and the joy of physically visiting one. [13:19]

• Wider Impact:
  The reading challenge spurred huge engagement through the Happier app and bookshop.org, showing a renewed collective enthusiasm for reading. [14:17]

[19:00] – Annual Challenge Reveal: Move 26 in 26!

The Big Reveal [19:00]

• 2026 Challenge: Move 26 Minutes a Day
  • “Drumroll…All right, Gretchen, it is…Move 26 for 26. We are going to move 26 minutes a day in 2026!” – Elizabeth [19:00]

Rationale & Flexibility:

• Inspired by past movement challenges and feedback, this one is broader than "Outdoor 23 in 23," making movement more customizable.
• Any form of movement counts—walking, yoga, dancing, stretching, swimming, etc.
  • “There is no one right way. It’s just moving your body. You could do it all at once, you can break it up…” – Gretchen Rubin [19:37]

Tracking Progress:

• Suggestions include photo logs, “Don’t Break the Chain” trackers, and, new for this year, a seasonal bingo card in the Happier app.
• Bingo card adds playfulness and variety: “If you get blackout, you will get a special gift. This is actually something that will be mailed to you.” – Gretchen [20:00]
• Bonus paired audio content will be released to make moving more fun. [21:12]

[21:12] – Hosts’ Movement Plans

• Gretchen:

  • Will incorporate mini-sets of squats throughout the day: “I found that 12 squats is challenging but it’s something that I can do quickly and feel like I get something that invigorates my body.” [21:17]
  • Plans to add purposeful walking during visits to the Met museum, aiming to cover new areas on each visit. [22:03]

• Elizabeth:

  • Plans to use the challenge as an Obliger to get back on her treadmill desk, boost her health, and walk her dogs more often.
    • “I know that this challenge will get me back on the treadmill desk because as an Obliger, I feel very obligated and accountable to these types of things.” [23:01]
  • Notes benefits for her blood sugar as a type 1 diabetic. [23:53]

• Both highlight that “movement” can be anything: yoga, Pilates, hiking, dancing, etc. [24:45–25:16]

• They discuss movement’s benefits for health (physical, mental, emotional, creative):

  • “A lot of people say that they exercise for sanity, not vanity.” – Gretchen Rubin [25:36]
  • Host tip: Doing 10 jumping jacks for a quick mood boost. [26:25]

[26:33] – Listener Involvement & Community Accountability

• Listeners are encouraged to share their approach to the Move 26 in 26 challenge and to use social media or email to stay connected and inspired.
  • “We’re always really intrigued by how creatively people approach these challenges…” – Gretchen [26:33]
  • Show notes: happiercast.com/564

[31:31] – Science-Based Happiness Hack: Soothe an Itch (Not by Scratching!)

• Citing research from the Washington Post, Gretchen explains that rubbing or brushing an itchy spot (even near the area) is more effective and less damaging than scratching. [31:31–33:08]
  • “You don’t even need to touch the precise spot that’s itchy…that’s especially helpful if there’s kind of a sore spot that you want to avoid making worse.” – Gretchen [32:49]

[33:08] – Demerit & Gold Star Section

• Elizabeth’s Demerit: Repeatedly letting clutter pile up on her treadmill desk, thus blocking her from using it. She commits to clearing it off for the new challenge. [33:14]

  • “I have to clean off my treadmill desk so that I can get back on it for Move 26.” – Elizabeth Craft [33:45]

• Gretchen’s Reflection: Habits can disappear or reappear quickly—reminds listeners not to be discouraged by setbacks. [34:42]

• Gold Star: Both hosts give heartfelt thanks to the nurses caring for their father, noting their kindness and skill. [35:24]

  • “We’ve had a lot of questions, we’ve had a lot of fear, and they’ve just been this constant presence that’s so reassuring…” – Gretchen [35:57]

[36:13] – Resource & Reading Update

• Resource: Design your Year Guide workbook (limited supplies), available for those who like to write out their intentions and organize the upcoming year. [36:13]

• Reading: Both are finishing "War and Peace" (as part of their family slow-read tradition).
  Gretchen is reading "Mothering Sunday" by Graham Swift. [37:01]

[37:08] – Closing & Call to Action

• Reminder: Try the Move 26 in 26 challenge and share your experiences.
• End with their traditional sign-off:
  • “Onward and upward.” – Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft [37:48]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the power of starting now:
  “You’re never behind. You can always jump in where you are.” – Gretchen Rubin [12:47]
• On friendship and initiative:
  “Once one person gets it going, then other people find it easier to follow.” – Gretchen Rubin [05:28]
• On exercise and energy:
  “Moving around tends to energize you… it really helps manage the mind and the body in a healthful, constructive way.” – Gretchen Rubin [26:25]
• On community:
  “We can all learn from each other, so if you have a great idea, let us know.” – Gretchen Rubin [26:33]
• On gratitude for caregivers:
  “They’ve just been this constant presence that’s so reassuring to us, and it’s so important to us that we feel like our father is surrounded by tender care.” – Gretchen Rubin [35:57]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:55 – Personal context: Visiting their father; show must go on
• 03:15 – Listener stories on pairing, recovery, and building community
• 05:48 – Annual challenge tradition: Recap of Read 25 in 2025
• 08:40 – Innovation: Reading retreats and tackling book clutter
• 13:19 – Decluttering and libraries
• 14:17 – Broader impact: How the 2025 challenge spread
• 19:00 – Big reveal: Move 26 in 26 challenge
• 21:12 – How Gretchen & Elizabeth plan to “move 26”
• 24:45 – Expanding what “movement” means
• 31:31 – Happiness hack: How to soothe an itch, science-based
• 33:14 – Demerit: Cluttered treadmill—the reality of sticking to habits
• 35:24 – Gold star: Thanks and praise for nurses
• 36:13 – Resource: Design Your Year workbook
• 37:08 – Reading updates and closing

Takeaways for New Listeners

This episode delivers both warmth and practical encouragement. It offers fun, manageable ways to foster happiness and self-improvement and models how reflection on habits, community, and self-care can help you thrive—even during life’s hard seasons. The annual challenge, Move 26 in 26, invites everyone into mindful, joyful movement and highlights the Happier podcast’s signature emphasis on flexibility, accountability, and connection.