Podcast Summary: Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Episode 567: Do You Feel Unprepared for the New Year? Plus Roller-Derby Names
Date: December 31, 2025
Hosts: Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft
Main Theme
This episode focuses on practical and creative ways to enter the New Year with intention and clarity. Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss the importance of structured reflection, setting goals, and using whimsical psychological tools like roller-derby alter egos to support positive self-talk. The sisters also reflect on their “Read 25 in ’25” reading challenge and share personal experiences of maintaining habits during challenging times.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Listener Feedback on Medication Lists
(02:49 – 04:33)
- Listener Laura: Appreciates advice on updating medication lists; reminds to include all forms of medication, vitamins, and supplements.
- Listener Evelyn: Suggests taking a photo of your medication list and describing pills for emergencies.
- Elizabeth admits: She’s guilty of not knowing her medication dosage when seeing the doctor.
- Quote:
“This is so obvious, but I have to say I was so focused on the pill of it all that I forgot of course there’s many different forms that medications … can take.” (Gretchen, 03:35)
2. New Audiobook Announcement: “Get It: How to Complete Your Dream Project”
(04:33 – 05:29)
- Gretchen announces her new audiobook releasing January 8th, focused on tackling large projects (not just habits).
- Gretchen: “It was a project about a project. And it was a very fun project.” (05:24)
- Elizabeth and her writing partner, Sarah, are interested for their own novel project.
3. “Try This at Home”: Look Back and Look Forward
(05:29 – 13:20)
- Exercise Context: Structured year-end tradition Gretchen does with friends—one session to look back, another to look forward.
- Involves reviewing last year’s goals, milestones, and failures to inform the coming year’s aspirations.
- Encourages creative, visual mapping with big markers, good-quality paper, and even stickers.
- Doing it with others adds accountability, outside insight, and relational bonding.
Look Back:
- Review “Design Your Year” sheets, calendar, and photos.
- List milestones (both happy and difficult, e.g. their father’s death, new puppy, publishing milestones).
- Recognize patterns, surprises, and forgotten accomplishments.
- Quote:
“It’s always amazing how much more happens in a year than you remember.” (Gretchen, 07:23)
Look Forward:
- Set aspirational, less-specific intentions: adventures, repeat/continue good habits, big projects.
- Consolidate on one page for clarity—color coding, boxes, stickers “brings it to life.”
- Sometimes themes take years to fully emerge or resolve.
- Quote:
“It’s a really satisfying exercise. It’s really clarifying exercise.” (Gretchen, 09:53)
Elizabeth: Plans to try this with Sarah, both individually and as a team.
4. Happiness Hack: Elevate Your Party with a Home Cotton Candy Maker
(17:31 – 19:26)
- A friend introduced Gretchen to the idea of a home cotton candy maker ($250 range, easy to clean, great for parties, feels special).
- Elizabeth: Points out it’s less expensive compared to magicians or entertainers and “a crowd pleaser.”
- Quote:
“There’s a spectacular nature to making your own cotton candy.” (Elizabeth, 18:52)
5. “Know Yourself Better”: Roller-Derby Names for Positive Self-Talk
(19:32 – 24:02)
- Listener Abigail reminds hosts about using a roller-derby alter ego for self-encouragement—a topic from earlier episodes.
- Based on “distance self-talk” research (referring to oneself by name or nickname—gives perspective and confidence).
- Mindy (listener & derby player): "When I’m trying to pump myself up, I will call myself by my derby name..."
- Elizabeth: “My roller derby name you’ll remember is Lightning Lizzie, because my personal symbol is a lightning bolt... it makes me feel good because... it makes me feel loved when I’m called Lizzie.” (21:18)
- Gretchen: “The Arrow”—symbolizes speed, precision, certainty, and relates to her zodiac sign, Sagittarius.
- Playful discussion on superhero vibes and how easily these names slip from memory if not revisited.
- Encourages listeners to come up with their own roller-derby names for the new year.
6. Reflection: “Read 25 in 25” Annual Challenge
(25:40 – 31:00)
- Both found daily reading deeply rewarding: highlights include the “War and Peace” slow read with family (hosted by Simon Hazel’s Substack).
- The shared reading was their last big family activity with their late father, making it especially meaningful.
- Elizabeth discovered a renewed love for classic literature.
- Gretchen realized the value of stopping books she isn’t enjoying and found joy in audiobooks while rereading, not with new texts.
- Both plan to maintain their reading habits beyond the challenge.
- Quote:
“Is there anything better than reading for 25 minutes a day?” (Gretchen, 25:51)
“But all of us need to make a commitment not to let reading fall out of our lives now that it’s no longer the annual challenge.” (Gretchen, 30:25)
7. Happiness Demerits and Gold Stars
(31:09 – 34:57)
Demerit: (Gretchen)
- Recalls a vivid dream where she accidentally insulted someone—reminds herself (and listeners) to be thoughtful with words.
- Quote:
“Maybe it was my unconscious mind reminding me, like, take a minute. Yes, think about your words. Don’t get careless. Don’t say drive by mean things, because there’s no point to that.” (Gretchen, 33:02)
Gold Star: (Elizabeth)
- To herself, Gretchen, and their mom for continuing to exercise during the difficult period after their father’s passing.
- Exercise is a tribute to their father’s values and helps with coping and maintaining health.
- Quote:
“I think for the rest of my life, I will feel... compelled to exercise because I know dad would be happy about it.” (Elizabeth, 34:25)
8. Resources and What They’re Reading
(34:57 – 36:17)
- "Happiness Project Revisited" course starts soon.
- Elizabeth is reading Full Tilt by Janet Ivanovich.
- Gretchen is reading The Rim of Mourning by William Sloan.
Notable Quotes
- “It’s always amazing how much more happens in a year than you remember.” — Gretchen (07:23)
- “There’s a spectacular nature to making your own cotton candy.” — Elizabeth (18:52)
- “My roller derby name ... is Lightning Lizzie ... it makes me feel loved when I’m called Lizzie.” — Elizabeth (21:18)
- “But all of us need to make a commitment not to let reading fall out of our lives now that it’s no longer the annual challenge.” — Gretchen (30:25)
- “I think for the rest of my life, I will feel... compelled to exercise because I know dad would be happy about it.” — Elizabeth (34:25)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 02:49 – Listener Feedback: Medication Lists
- 04:33 – Gretchen’s New Audiobook Announcement
- 05:29 – “Look Back, Look Forward” Exercise
- 17:31 – Party Hack: Cotton Candy Maker
- 19:32 – “Know Yourself Better”: Roller-Derby Names
- 25:40 – Reflection on “Read 25 in 25”
- 31:09 – Demerit: Dream Misstep
- 33:30 – Gold Star: Maintaining Exercise After Grief
- 34:57 – Resource & Book Mentions
Tone & Style
Friendly, encouraging, and warmly self-reflective. The sisters balance practical advice with personal anecdotes and gentle humor.
Takeaways
- Year-End Reflection Is Key: Both looking back and looking forward create clarity, motivation, and emotional connection—to your own life, and to those you reflect with.
- Creativity and Playfulness Matter: Whimsical strategies like alter ego self-talk can genuinely boost motivation and self-knowledge.
- Habits Sustain in Hard Times: Tribute and commitment to meaningful habits, such as exercise and reading, become even more important amidst grief or upheaval.
- Listeners' Contributions Enrich the Show: Practical listener advice and ideas fuel recurring segments and traditions.
- Continuous Learning: The hosts model curiosity—reflecting on what works, revisiting old ideas, and integrating new techniques and insights year after year.