← Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Ep. 574: Are You Already Falling Behind on Your New Year’s Resolutions? Plus Ideas for “Move 26”
00:31:08
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- [00:00]
A
For a long time, food waste has just felt overwhelming to me. It was a problem I did not know how to solve. But most food waste happens right at home, which means small changes can really add up. And that is why we are so excited to tell you about today's sponsor, Mill.
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B
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A
Having Mill in our kitchen has really shifted the way I think about food waste. Fridge cleanouts used to feel discouraging when I saw so much going straight into the trash. Now everything goes into Mill instead. The kitchen stays fresh and it just feels lighter. But you have to live with Mill to really get it. Good thing. You can try it risk free for 90 days and get $75 off with code happy. Visit mill.com happier that's mill.com.
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B
Gretch, you and I both love Whole Foods Market. And Whole Foods Market is a perfect place to plan an indulgent and romantic evening at home. From gorgeous flowers to no antibiotics ever, steaks and special gifts like bath bombs, you will find everything you need for an unforgettable night at Whole Foods Market. You don't have to make a reservation at a restaurant, you can just create a beautiful night at home. Plus, they've got a great wine selection so you can add a bottle of wine to your romantic evening. Of course, you have to be 21 years or older for that and you must drink responsibly, right?
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A
And they also have flowers. The Whole Foods Market floral department has tons of gorgeous quality flowers with large blooms, vibrant colors and strong stems. Just the thing for a romantic night. You don't need to make a special trip to the flower shop. Taste the love all month at Whole Foods Market.
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B
Lemonade.
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A
Hello and welcome to Happier, a podcast where we talk about strategies and suggestions for making our lives happier. This week we'll talk about how we're embracing Determination Day, which is coming up and we share listeners great ideas for move 26 and 27 6. I'm Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, good habits, secrets of adulthood, human nature. I'm in my little home office in New York City and joining me today from Los Angeles is my sister, Elizabeth Craft. And Elizabeth, we're both really enjoying move 26.
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B
That's me, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in LA and yes, I'm finally back on my treadmill death scratch.
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A
Yay.
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B
Thank you to move 26 and 26 got me back on.
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A
Well, you know I take like a personal interest in your treadmill desk, so I'm very happy to hear that.
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B
Well, it was the best gift you ever gave me.
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A
It's definitely the best gift I ever gave for sure. But before we jump in, here are a few updates. In a previous episode I talked about how a friend of mine had a cotton candy machine and I was so astonished that you could have a home cotton candy machine and listeners had suggestions along the same lines.
- [03:22]
B
Mel said, As a child we had a small candy floss machine and it was indeed magical. At parties it was small and fairly slow, around five minutes for a small cone, which is a long time when there are half a dozen cousins ahead of you in the queue. But lots of fun. Another option could be to rent one for an event. My mom was in the PTA and helped organize the Kindy Gala, kind of like a fun fair to fundraise for the kindergarten preschool and they would rent a big industrial candy floss machine from the local party hire place to that could be a great option for those not wanting to invest a sizable chunk of money or clutter valuable storage space with an appliance you can only use a couple of times a year. I love that they call cotton candy candy floss.
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A
Yeah, that's so fun. Yeah, and it's a great idea to rent it. I heard you talk about the cotton candy maker and I wanted to recommend another wonderful gadget that is similarly thrilling. A chocolate fountain. I am a language teacher in an English language school in New Zealand, and during COVID when our borders were shut for almost 18 months, there weren't many international visitors to teach. During one particularly quiet period, we gave our school a deep clean, which included emptying out all the kitchen cupboards in the student area. Imagine our delight and bewilderment to discover three chocolate fountains, all different brands, buried away at the back. Three of us adopted a fountain each and over the following couple of years, my family periodically enjoyed our fountain at home when we had special guests or occasions that required a little pizzazz. There is of course a limit to how often you can enjoy a chocolate fountain, and so mine once again became disused, sitting at the back of a cupboard. I now teach an intensive exam class where students attend for three months before heading away to sit their exam. So to celebrate finishing, my collaborating teacher and I host a chocolate fountain farewell. It's such a fun and memorable Way to end an intense period of study. A sort of Willy Wonka esque feast of chocolate and whatever you want to dip into it. I think it'd be a great addition or an alternative to a cotton candy machine. Again, I didn't know that like an ordinary person could have a chocolate fountain. You had to be like an official gay lover. Yeah, so it's fun to know that these things are available to rent or to buy.
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B
And then Gretch On a totally different subject, Luke says, I was struck by a recent answer you gave to a listener who asked, I'm new to Happier and want to know where to start. You said, start right here and if you want to go back later. As a result, I've already taken one thing off my 26 for 26 list. Catch up on Happier. I was over a month behind and it loomed like a project. I'll happily rejoin where I I am and go back if the mood strikes me. Questioner who tips Rebel here. You may be the only podcast host who would approve of such an edit.
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A
Yeah, we say this to people all the time because there are completists who feel like they want to listen to every episode, and there's a lot of episodes at this point. So it's like, it's not homework. It's as much as you want. Don't stress out about it. We wouldn't want the podcast to be a source of complete stress for anyone. Elle had a great story. She said, you helped me turn an MRI into a positive experience. One of Gretchen's past words for the year was open, so I scheduled an open MRI since I am claustrophobic. Side note, I didn't know about this. And so for anybody who doesn't know, an open MRI is an MRI machine, which is a magnetic resonance imaging machine that's roomier. It has an open design, so the top, bottom and sides are much more open than the traditional scanner, which if you are claustrophob or larger or have trouble with your mobility, it makes it a lot easier to use so people can feel less anxious and more comfortable while still getting the benefit of an MRI machine. So that's an option. So she was just saying she scheduled an open mri. She continued, elizabeth reframes and loves sound baths. Thanks to Gretchen, I focused on my hearing sense, so I reframed the MRI experience to be a sound bath of different sets of rhythmic sounds and beats. I found the experience to be pleasing and relaxing. So that's wonderful because sometimes it's really important for our health to get access to this kind of testing, but it can be really hard. And so it's great that she found a way to do it in the way that worked for her.
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B
That reminds me, Gretchen, I try to do a mental exercise at the dentist of thinking of it as a spa treatment when I'm getting my teeth cleaned.
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A
Yeah.
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B
Oh, wow. It's not easy, but I try and it helps.
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A
Well, it's that old saying, if you can't get out of it, get into it. A spa treatment is all in the eyes of the behold holder for sure.
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B
That's right.
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A
So this week to try this at home suggestion is to embrace Determination Day. Determination Day is coming up soon. It is February 28th. Get ready.
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B
Yeah. So explain what it is and why it's important.
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A
Okay. So research shows that by the end of February, February 28, many, many people, maybe most people, have abandoned their New Year's resolutions. And so you could call this Discouragement Day, but no, let's not call it Discouragement day. Instead of feeling discouraged, it can be a day. Reevaluate and really do the hard work of saying something isn't working. Why not? And if you started an aim in January and you've slowed it down or stopped it altogether, February 28th can be sort of the moment to be a prompt to reevaluate. Because, you know, something that can happen at any time often happens at no time. And so this is a reminder, okay, let me reevaluate. Let me find a different way of doing something. If I'm not sticking to it, something's not working. How can I reassess and maybe shake things up and try to different way to achieve my aims?
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B
Yes, reframe. You succeed by failing. If you've found that one approach doesn't work, that is useful information. Now try something else and stay determined to meet your aim.
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A
Yeah. And I think sometimes people, if they've fallen off the wagon or they haven't done it, they sort of feel like they've blown their chances or they've sort of ruined it. And by having Determination Day, you kind of give yourself the auspiciousness of a fresh start. And I think for some people, that's very helpful, which is like, okay, now clean slate, I'm starting again. I think that can be really helpful. And so, you know, there's a few things you might think about. One is what didn't work for you and why? Maybe you set out to do something important like write in your journal first thing in the morning, but you're really not a morning person. And so you kind of switch the day part or like you wanted to read right before you went to bed, but then you just fall asleep right away. Maybe you're trying to do something on your own, like exercise, but you're actually an obliger. So you need outer accountability. Right. Figure out why things aren't working so you can be more effective in trying again.
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B
Can also also be helpful to reflect on the benefits, to keep ourselves energized. It can be useful to think of the rewards you're gonna get from this habit.
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A
Right? Right. Like, if you exercise, that actually gives you more energy and it makes it easier to fall asleep. And if you have endless zoom calls, it's easier to just stay in your chair. And so if you focus on, like, the benefits of it, that might help you stay engaged. But I think one of the most important ones is to think of new strategies. The strategy of distinctions is how might you do it in a way that's different from other people, like morning people or night people, or simplicity lover versus abundance lover? Do you like to be spontaneous or do you like to plan? Like figure it out. Or we love the strategy of pairing, which is with move 26, you can only listen to your favorite podcast while you're walking the dog. So those two things always go together. Accountability. Obligers need accountability. But a lot of people even have other tendencies benefit from accountability. That can be really helpful to plug in. I have a list of the 21 strategies that you can. So I'll post a link to that in case anybody wants to look at all the options.
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B
It can also help to make an investment, although this can get tricky, of course.
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A
Yes.
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B
So getting a beautiful tool or gear can make your habit more convenient or more enjoyable to keep. And for some people, investing money can actually make them more likely to stick.
- [11:39]
A
To it, as you intimated. Elizabeth, this is sort of a tricky one, because sometimes people enjoy the fun of getting all the stuff more than they enjoy doing it. I remember when I was starting my watercoloring journey, I made a rule that I couldn't buy any more supplies until I'd been watercoloring for two months. Cause I didn't want my eyes to get bigger than my stomach when it came to how much watercoloring I was actually doing. But having good tools definitely made it more fun. Watercolor is something where having good materials really affects your results. And so it was a good place to invest a little bit.
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B
And if it makes it easier to do, like a good reading light can actually make reading easier. And Therefore make you more likely to do it.
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A
Exactly, exactly. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. This is the line from Voltaire. You know, if you can't face cleaning the attic, just do one drawer. I always think about you with Orange Theory because you were aiming for 100 for 20, 25. You didn't hit 100. And I said, well, were you really upset that you didn't hit 100? And you said, well, but I did so many more than I would have done if I hadn't been aiming for 100. And I thought that was such a. That's obviously the most constructive way to look at it. Of course it would be exciting, and you want to aim high, but you're still much better off. So that is not a failure. That's like you did a ton of Orange Theory.
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Yes, and this year I'm gonna hit the hundred. I hope.
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A
I feel it now. What else? Elizabeth, when you think about Determination Day, is there anything that you're wanting to work on?
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B
Speaking of Orange Theory, Gretch, I am a little behind on my Orange Theory, so I need to step it up. I need to sprinkle in some three times a week classes with my two days a week. So I'm glad we're having determination for that. I am, however, doing great on rewatching Mad Men because once I started it, I can't stop. I'm already in Season five, I believe.
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A
Oh, it's so good. It's so good.
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B
How about you?
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A
Well, watercoloring, I really want to do it every day, but I have only done it several times. But I haven't been anything like doing it every day. But I think I'm getting better at reminding myself to do it for me. Much less arduous than 100 Orange Theater is. I've got my ticket 26, where I need to get tickets to 26 things in 2026. I have a handful of these, but like you, it's like I'm not keeping up the pace that I need to do if I'm going to hit 26. So I want to re engage with that. I want to make a list of 26 things that please me. I've only added one thing to that. So again, but the thing is, I'd kind of forgotten about it. So this is another reason that Determination Day is maybe you just kind of forgot about it. It's not even like you haven't been doing it. You sort of forgot that was even a thing. And, Alyssa, I think what's gonna happen with me, with girls, I predict is that it's gonna be like you and Mad Men. Once I start, I'll wanna just keep going and going and going. But it's kind of hard to start because I don't know, I always find it hard to start a new TV show.
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B
Yeah, it is hard to start a new TV show. I don't know why that is.
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A
Yeah. Even for you.
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B
Yeah. A lot of times, unless it's something I'm just desperate to see, it's hard to dive in.
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A
It's sort of like starting a new novel. You gotta get into it. And that's always.
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B
Yeah.
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A
Yeah. Well, here's one thing did do. So I needed to pick a visual symbol for my one word theme, which is neighbor, which, oh my gosh, I love this theme so much. I'm so happy I picked it. So I picked pineapple, which is a traditional symbol of hospitality and welcome. But I want to say thank you to the many listeners who suspected that I did not know, which I did not know that an upside down pineapple is a sign that you are into swinging. And not the kind of swinging that you do on a swing set, the other kind of swinging, which I am not interested in doing. So I will keep my P right side up for sure. And speaking of my one word theme of neighbor, I also want to thank all the listeners who wrote to tell me about this video. It's Lady Gaga preparing. She did a cover of the theme song for Mr. Rogers neighborhood as for a Super bowl commercial for Redfin. And it's this sort of a behind the scenes black and white short video of her getting ready to record this. And it's so fun. I love a behind the scenes Elizabeth, you. And I love watching creative process. It's so interesting. But I have to say, listening to her sing, it really made me focus on the words. And they're so beautiful if you just think of them as the words. So here are the words. I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you so let's make the most of this beautiful day since we're together we might as well say Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won't you be my neighbor? Won't you please, Won't you please, please won't you be my neighbor? It just makes me want to cry because I just feel like it's so beautiful.
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B
It really is beautiful. And she sings it beautifully.
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A
Please won't you be my neighbor? So that really captured the spirit of my one word theme. So let us know if you do try this at home and how you use Determination Day to re engage with your resolutions. Let us know on Instagram threads, TikTok, Facebook. Drop us an email@podcastretchenrubin.com or as always you can go to the show notes this is happiercast.com574 coming up, we have.
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B
A completion hack but first this break. This episode is sponsored by Better Help. Sometimes it can feel like everyone has it all together in their love lives. Whether you're married, dating or single, the truth is most of us are still figuring it out and finding our way. I've been married 18 years. I still haven't totally figured out my relationship and one thing that can be very helpful in getting more connected in your relationship is going to therapy. A therapist can help you identify what's weighing your relationships down and find ways to brighten them again. BetterHelp has quality therapists that work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in the usa. Plus they will do the initial matching work for you so that you can focus on your therapy goals.
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A
With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 6 million people globally. Sign up and get 10% off@betterhelp.com GretchenRubin that's betterhelp.com GretchenRubin Gretch, it's a new.
- [18:27]
B
Year and we're all focused on well being and improving ourselves and our wellness journeys. And what better way to improve our lives than to listen to an audiobook. You know I am absolutely in love with Audible and with audiobook books. You'll be happy to know that the audiobook I am listening to right now was written by you, Gretchen. Her book Get It Done about how to get a big project done. Not surprisingly, I need help in that arena of my life and I love just listening to you reading your audiobook.
- [19:00]
A
Yeah, and you can level up your parenting, career, finances, sleep, relationships or mindset. The Audible Wellbeing Collection has everything to inspire and support you every step of the way. Elizabeth I love the idea that you're listening to my audiobook. Kickstart your wellbeing journey with your first audiobook free when you sign up for a free 30 day trial at audible.com Happier membership is $14.95 a month. After 30 days, cancel anytime. Listening to the top voices and well being sounds like self care to us. Audible. There's more to imagine when you listen.
- [19:33]
B
Gretch, you know I love the idea of a cocktail, but I just don't always love how alcohol makes me feel later, especially on a weeknight. But there is that moment when you want something, you know, grown up and intentional. You want to hear that ice clink in the glass. That is why I was so excited to try Little Saints. Little Saints is a real cocktail experience, just without the alcohol. They're 0 sugar, 5 calories, non intoxicating, and they're crafted to taste like your favorite top shelf cocktails. I love the Paloma especially.
- [20:10]
A
What I love is that they are designed for evenings hostings and winding down so it still feels special even on a regular night at home. They are enhanced with functional botanicals like lion's mane, reishi and damiana, which adds a subtle layer of calm and clarity. If you love cocktails but not the aftermath, Little Saints is worth trying. Use Code happier to get 15% off your first order. Visit littlesaints.com to discover your magic hour. Okay, Elizabeth, we got a happiness hack from a listener and this is a really useful hack. It's one of the ones where it's kind of obvious and you think, why didn't this occur to me? But it didn't. So it's very useful.
- [20:49]
B
Yes. This comes from Eliza. She says you talked about the difficulty of not finishing a book you have started and I definitely have the same issue. And also with film TV programs, I think that some of the issue comes from wanting to know what happens in the end. So I have started looking up a summary of the story so I can stop spending my time reading, watching, or listening to something I am not enjoying, but no longer feel that nagging sense of curiosity. Thought this might help others who wanna stop things halfway through. Gretch, this is such a good idea. And Sarah and I do this with each other. I hadn't thought of it so consciously, but if one of us isn't enjoying something that the other has finished, we'll say, well, just tell me what happens. And then once you know, you really do lose that urge to keep keep going.
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A
It's such an unsatisfying feeling when you're just reading, just from the pure raw curiosity of knowing what happens, but you're not enjoying the experience of getting there. So I think this is a great way to just save time and close that loop and then you can have the more time to read or watch the things that you really like. So I thought that was a great suggestion.
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B
Yes.
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A
And now for a Four Tendencies tip. This is a suggestion that comes from Mary.
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B
Mary said I had to write to thank you for saving a recent trip to Disney Disneyland. I've been many times and like to get to the park when it opens so we can spend less time in lines. My boyfriend had not been to Disneyland since he was a small child and didn't have memories of the long lines for rides. I had told him before the trip and once we got there that I wanted to leave the hotel room at 7am so we could get to the park early on the first day of the trip. I was ready to go at 7am but he wasn't ready until 7:30. Once we got on the shuttle after waiting in a giant line, I was upset and frustrated that he didn't respect what I'd said was important to me. Then it hit me. He's a questioner. This was just like the time Gretchen asked her husband to pick up turkey at the deli. I told him what I wanted but didn't explain why it was important. On the ride over to Disneyland, I explained what I knew about getting ahead of lines at the park. We also had lightning lane passes and there are ways to maximize your afternoon time in the parks, but this can only be done after you enter the park. We had two more days in Disneyland and he was up and ready to walk out the door by 7am both days. If I didn't know about the four tendencies from your book and podcast that I'm sure I would have stayed frustrated and upset the first day and possibly the rest of the trip. Oh, can't I identify with this one?
- [23:33]
A
Yeah, if you don't know what we're talking about, take the quiz on my website. There's a bunch there about the four tendencies. But yeah, I had this problem all the time before I knew about questioners and the was a questioner because I was like, why are you being so inconsiderate? Or why don't you respect what I've told you is important to me? And then once you realize questioners just need to know why and if you just take the time and explain why, they will get on board. But if you don't explain why, they're very likely to resist. And that's just what questioners do. And so I love the idea that there was such a simple and straightforward solution. It's just a good example. Like you can have a five minute conversation that can save you a lifetime of argument. He just didn't know why you cared. He's like, it's a half an hour difference. What difference does it make? It's like at Disney it makes a big difference.
- [24:21]
B
Yes, it can cause an hours long delay in a ripple effect.
- [24:26]
A
Wait, and speaking of Disneyland, here is a mnemonic I just read about this in my 5 things newsletter, but I'm so I get such a kick out of this I have to mention it again. So I could never remember which Disney theme park was in California and which one was in Florida. Disneyland is in la. Disney World is in Orlando.
- [24:46]
B
Ah, okay, right. Being in la, that's not a problem I have, but I can imagine others not remembering which is which.
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A
This is right up there with lefty loosey righty tighty for me. I will invoke it for the rest of my life. And now move 26 and 26. This is our annual challenge for 2026. We challenge listeners to move for 26 minutes every day in 2026. Everybody. We got so many fun responses from listeners.
- [25:12]
B
Yes, Connor said. I love the idea to move 26 and 26. I have been thinking about how I'd apply this to my life because I already exercise multiple times a week and I want to make the challenge worth it. So I brainstormed what I struggle with and I figured it out. First. I want to walk outside more than I do. So I will take the two part of 26 and walk twice a day. A morning and evening walk to clear my head and be completely proud present. I also want to incorporate movement into my workday. Sometimes I will catch myself sitting for hours at a time and will feel stiff when I finally do get up to get water or end the day. So my strategy will be to stand up and move around six times during the workday. Maybe I'll do some squats like you suggest, or maybe I'll take an appointment on the phone while taking a short walk. I really am excited about this plan.
- [26:05]
A
I love this. I will say that I am no longer doing squats. I'm doing grand plie. But that's a great idea. Yes, this is great. I mean going outside for a walk is great. A walk and talk is great. Dividing it into sections so it fits into your schedule. These are all terrific ways of getting to move 26. Karen said. I've been getting back into more regular yoga recently and have been toying with the idea of challenging myself to do daily yoga or as many days as possible. That still counts in 2023. I use the Down Dog Yoga app which lets you customize almost every aspect of the practice, including the length of the session, and I found that 25 minutes is my ideal amount of time it's long enough to really sink into the practice, but short enough for every day. Also, I like one minute of savasana, which brings the total practice to 26 minutes. So this challenge both comes at the perfect time for me and is the perfect amount of time for me to make. I also wanted to recommend to Gretchen the Hugo winning podcast eight Days of Diana Wynne Jones, on which two authors discuss each of the children's author's books in depth with great insight and joy. As a former English major and current book editor, it's lovely to think about writing beyond what we like and dislike or the craft of writing. I'm also enjoying the Swifty and the Scholar where a former English professor reads Taylor Swift's lyrics as poetry. Can I just say thank you very much, Karen? I am deep into eight Days of Diana Wynne Jones. It is absolutely delightful. It is making me want to reread all of Diana Wynne Jones but and I get such a pleasure out of hearing this. So I love the fact that you're doing more yoga and I love the fact that you love Diana Wynne Jones, a children's author who everybody should read.
- [27:43]
B
Elizabeth says, I love this year's challenge to move 26 and 26 and wanted to find a way to make it part of my 26. Running is an activity that definitely improves my happiness, but it can be hard to motivate to get out on the trails as often as I would like, even though I know I'll be glad I did after the first fact. Then I thought of a twist on your theme. What if I aim to run 26 miles a month, tacking on two to the 26th to make it a marathon a month in 2026. Broken down over a month, it's a manageable commitment if I stick to running on a regular basis. And already it's been fun to keep track of my progress one run at a time. Gretch. I mean, I can't believe we didn't think of this.
- [28:30]
A
No. And the 26 is such a specific number. This is brilliant. And it is very fun to think a marathon a month. I mean I feel like that could be like a whole movement.
- [28:39]
B
A hundred percent. That sounds like a book title.
- [28:42]
A
Yeah. A marathon a month 26.2 and 26. Rue said. I love the annual challenge and the list and one word themes and I am so on board. Something I noticed though, and this is a very question and response, is that I had to write a set of guidelines about what counts. For example, I decided that walking Only counts if it's outside or inside if it's on a treadmill. I then went through various activities to decide whether they were movementy enough. For example, is stretching movement. By spending time deciding my own Definitions ahead of January 1st, I felt that I was more ready to start. Kind of a decide, then don't decide vibe. The overarching principle I used was, is this in the spirit of the challenge challenge? If so, I decided it counts. It struck me as quite a questioner thing to do to need to pose and answer a lot of questions before starting. Also, as a tangent, I really was sorry to hear of the loss of your father. Sometimes when I don't feel like exercising, it is your dad's words that spring to mind. How amazing that he has had such an impact on people who never even met him. My thoughts are with you and your family at this time. Anyway, to end on a high, I really am looking forward to the move 26 in 26 challenge. Especially with a young child. Exercise has dropped from my priority list. And this is a great way to reactivate that. This is so great. It is so questionnaire to be like, I have to decide what's in, what's out, customize, make all the decisions, figure it out in advance. And Elizabeth, nothing would make dad happier to think that he played a role in helping people stick to their exercise.
- [30:18]
B
Yes. And for anyone who hadn't heard, what he always said is that if you put on your running shoes and the door closed behind you, that counted as exercising. But of course, once you have on your running shoes and you're out the door 99 times out of 100, you're gonna run.
- [30:35]
A
Yeah. He really believed in the value of exercise, and he loved to exercise. So he would be tickled, as he would say, to think that he was helping. And we've heard this from a lot of people that that slogan really helps people stick to their exercise routine. So thank you, everybody. These are great suggestions and such imaginative responses to the challenge.
- [30:54]
B
Yes. All right, Gretch. Coming up, I have a mothering demerit. But first, this break.
- [31:08]
A
You know, Elizabeth, I'm in the empty nest phase, which I'm also calling the open door phase. And I've talked to people a lot about that empty nest transition. And one thing that is a challenge for many people is healthy eating. When the kids are gone, it's easy to slip into really bad habits. Habits. And that's why hungryroot is such a great solution. Hungryroot takes care of the weekly meal planning, recommending healthy recipes tailored to your taste, nutrition preferences and health goals. Hungryroot makes it simple to eat healthier without overthinking it. One of my big things is that I don't eat sugar and they have an option with less sugar.
- [31:44]
B
Most resolutions die within a few weeks of the new year, but Hungryroot makes eating healthier so easy that you can seriously stay on track with your health goals or new diet past January January Take advantage of this exclusive offer for a limited time get 40% off your first box plus get a free item in every box for Life. Go to hungryroot.com gretchenrubin and use code gretchenrubin that's hungryroot.com Gretchen Rubin Code Gretchen Rubin to get 40% off your first box and a free item of your choice for life. Gretch, you know that I love Quint. Quint is all about elevated essentials that feel effortless. It's designed for layering and mixing. Each piece helps build a timeless wardrobe made to last. The Quince Mongolian cashmere sweaters are in my rotation almost daily. I've got black, I've got red, I've got white, I have crew neck, I have V neck. They are so soft and luxurious. I just want to have every single one.
- [32:48]
A
They've got wardrobe staples with quality that's made to last. They have 100% organic cotton sweaters. They have premium denim with stretch for all day comfort luxury cotton cashmere blends that's perfect for the changing season. It's everything you need for a wardrobe that actually lasts. Refresh your wardrobe with quint. Go to quint.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 to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com Gretchen Gretch, you and I both.
- [33:25]
B
Love Whole Foods Market and Whole Foods Market is a perfect place to plan an indulgent and romantic evening at home. From gorgeous flowers to no antibiotics ever, steaks and special gifts like bath bombs, you will find everything you need for an unforgettable night at Whole Foods Market. You don't have to make a reservation at a restaurant. You can just create a beautiful night at home. Plus they've got a great wine selection so you can add a bottle of wine to your romantic evening. Of course, you have to be 21 years or older for that and you must drink responsibly, right?
- [34:05]
A
And they also have flowers. The Whole Foods Market Floral department has tons of gorgeous quality flowers with large blooms, vibrant colors, and strong stems. Just the thing for a romantic. You don't need to make a special trip to the flower shop. Taste the love all month at Whole Foods Market. Okay, Elizabeth, this is an even numbered episode. That means it's your turn to talk about a demerit. What is this mothering demerit?
- [34:31]
B
Well, I just have tasks for Jack that I have not completed. For instance, there's a doctor's appointment. He needs to do that again. It's not urgent, so I can put off making the appointment, but I have to make that appointment. I need to get a key made for him, for our house. Believe it or not, he doesn't have a key to our house, which is nuts. And he needs to take his driver's license, permit test, his written test. He's ready to take it. He's done the preliminary steps, but it's going to take me either making the appointment or sort of assisting him in making the appointment.
- [35:10]
A
Quotations. Yes, yes.
- [35:12]
B
To get it on the board books. And these three things I just haven't done. So I'm hoping by announcing it to the world, I'm prompted to quickly remedy the situation.
- [35:24]
A
There are just some times where you're like, I'm just looking at my to do list, and I simply do not want to do these things. Even if you know that they're not hard.
- [35:31]
B
Yes, I know I could do all of these things within half an hour, including making the key.
- [35:37]
A
This just reminds me of that old proverb, the stewing is worse than the doing. I'm sure that these have drained you far more than the actual doing of the task would be. I mean, one thing to do is just put it on the calendar to set aside an hour on Monday and just say, I'm just going to do these things, come what may, and get them off my mind, because it is draining.
- [35:54]
B
I should do that. But how about you, Gretch? What's your gold star?
- [35:58]
A
Well, I like to give a gold star to all the designers who come up with these clever logos. I get such a tremendous kick out of clever logos. I wrote about this somewhat in Life in Five Senses. I started collecting them. And so one is. Is the FedEx logo, which, if you have not looked closely at the FedEx logo, you may not realize that it has a hidden arrow in it, which is, of course, very much like speeding toward your delivery. And the funny thing was, for life and five senses, I wanted to include a picture of a FedEx truck. And so I was standing, taking pictures of the truck, and the driver noticed me doing this and came over and was like, what are you doing taking pictures of the truck? Which I was like, okay, fair enough. That is really weird. And I'm like, it's because the logo. It's because of the hidden arrow. And he's like, what are you talking about? I'm like, there's a hidden arrow on the logo on your truck. And he had never seen it before. So that was fun. But I was thinking about this recently, because if you're looking at your phone, if you have the Apple podcast logo, the tile, the purple tile that has the icon that is for Apple podcast, it struck me that it's a pun, it's a visual pun, because you could interpret it as a microphone with sound radiating out of it, or it could be a person listening to sounds. I was like, oh, that's so interesting, because both are so suitable, the microphone and the person.
- [37:13]
B
I always see the microphone. Microphone, but once you said it, I clearly saw the person.
- [37:18]
A
Oh, see, I saw the person.
- [37:20]
B
Oh.
- [37:21]
A
And only recently saw the microphone. This is like, is the dress black and blue or yellow and gold? Oh, interesting. Oh, well, people tell us, which one do you see? And while you're there, you can rate and review us. It's right there.
- [37:32]
B
And while they're there, they should subscribe to your new podcast. Since you asked.
- [37:36]
A
That's right.
- [37:36]
B
I say new. You're in your second season, but compared.
- [37:40]
A
To this, compared to us, yes.
- [37:42]
B
Quite, quite new.
- [37:43]
A
Yeah. And of course, they're both available on any podcast app that you use. I was just thinking about the fun of the clever logo and the resource for this week. If you are listening to this and thinking, you know, I started strong on January 1st, but something isn't working, I did make a free Determination Day resource to help. It will walk you through. Yna may have stalled out for you, and it suggests how to figure out the concrete strategies to try and stay so you can Download that@happiercast.com resources and Elizabeth, what are we reading? What are you reading?
- [38:18]
B
I am reading Unspeakable Silence, Shame, and the Stories we choose to Believe by Brooke Nevills.
- [38:25]
A
And I am reading the School of Night by Carl Uwe Knausgaard. And that's it for this episode of Happier. Remember to try this at home. Embrace Determination Day. Let us know if you tried it and if it worked for you.
- [38:41]
B
Thanks to our executive producer, Chuck Reed and everyone at Lemonada.
- [38:44]
A
Here's your rhyming reminder. If the show brightens your day, send others our way.
- [38:51]
B
Until next week. I'm Elizabeth Craft.
- [38:53]
A
And I'm Gretchen Rubin. Thanks for joining us. Onward and upward. So, Elizabeth, I really want to hear the whole story of the treadmill desk. You're really back on it?
- [39:13]
B
Yes. I mean, I'm telling you, as an obliger, having to move those 26 minutes makes all the difference. And when it hits 26, it's not like I just stop.
- [39:23]
A
Right.
- [39:24]
B
But it gets me on. It's all about getting on as always, always.
- [39:28]
A
And then if you're using it, it doesn't get piled up with stuff. So then, because that was sort of keeping you from using it, but now it stays clear.
- [39:34]
B
Is yes, yes. Clear enough.
- [39:42]
A
From the onward project.
- [39:47]
B
Hi, Gretchen, Craig Robinson and my little sister Michelle here we host a new podcast called IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. We know you're the queen of giving advice, so we wanted to get a few tips from you. You know, Gretchen, a lot of our listeners are going through some major life changes. What advice do you have for folks who are trying to stay grounded in the midst of major life transitions?
- [40:14]
A
Craig and Michelle, I am so happy to be talking to you. Here are a few questions that might help us gain perspective. So consider questions like this. What activities take up my time but are not particularly useful or stimulating for me? Do I spend a lot of time on something that's important to someone else but is not very important to me? If I could magically change one habit in my life, what would I choose? And here's a question. Question. Would I like to have more time in solitude, restorative solitude, or would I like to have more time with friends? You know, just thinking about questions like this can help us start to figure out how we might make our lives happier. With greater self knowledge, we're better able to make hard decisions that reflect ourselves, our own nature, our own interests, our own values. In my own case, I have found that the more my life reflects my nature, the happier I get and the more grounded I feel when I'm going through a period of major change or transition. For more great advice, search for IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson. Wherever you get podcasts, you can listen to Issa Rae on letting go of certain friendships, Keke Palmer on why disappointment is actually the key to career success, Seth and Lauren Rogan on caring for aging parents and so many more.