More Happier: Design Your Summer & Why a Teammate's Touch Can Change an Outcome

Summary

Happier with Gretchen Rubin – More Happier: Design Your Summer & Why a Teammate's Touch Can Change an Outcome

Podcast: Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Hosts: Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft
Episode Date: July 11, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this engaging "More Happier" weekend episode, Gretchen Rubin and her sister Elizabeth Craft revisit their "Design Your Summer" projects—playful, intentional experiments to mark and enhance the summer season. The conversation explores Elizabeth's adventures in "off white delight" dressing (wearing only off-white clothes), her no-worry summer, and how Mah Jongg merchandise is bringing more fun into her life. Gretchen shares her reading challenges and sensory obsessions, leading to a lively discussion about the power of touch—particularly as seen among NBA players and what it can teach us about connection and performance. The episode is warm, relatable, and filled with both practical and whimsical insights.

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What's Making Us Happier [03:06–10:36]

Elizabeth's Mah Jongg Merch Mania

• Elizabeth delights in collecting Mah Jongg-themed gifts and accessories ("merch"): coasters, napkins, pouches, T-shirts, socks, and a tea towel.
  • “Let’s call it Mah Jongg merch. I love mahjong. I’m trying to incorporate mahjong into my life more and more.” – Elizabeth Craft [03:06]
  • The rising popularity ("moment") of Mah Jongg in the US means cuter, higher-quality merch is everywhere.
  • The merchandise isn’t just fun—it motivates her to play and host games.
    • “Having the merch actually makes you want to schedule more mahjong?” – Gretchen Rubin [04:23]
    • “Indeed it does. It absolutely does.” – Elizabeth Craft [04:29]
  • She draws a parallel to her other "identity stuff" like Corgi-themed items, emphasizing how these objects add whimsy to her life.
  • The merch also helps her feel seen and gives others a focus for gifts.

Gretchen’s Joy: Summer Freedom from Coats

• Gretchen revels in the simplicity of not wearing a coat during New York's warm months.
  • “I just love walking out of the apartment without a coat. I just feel so free and light.” – Gretchen Rubin [08:30]
  • She notes the trade-off: in winter, she doesn’t worry about sun protection; in summer, she's free from being cold, but must guard against the sun.
  • Elizabeth relates, noting the comfort of not having a sweatshirt as a "safety blanket."

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Design Your Summer Check-In [13:52–24:10]

Elizabeth’s Summer of Off White Delight

• Concept: Wear only off-white (bone) outfits throughout summer—both top and bottom.
  • “I am endeavoring to wear off white only as much as possible between Memorial Day and Labor Day.” – Elizabeth Craft [14:17]
• Experience: Fun and a bit of a challenge.
  • It sparks creativity with accessories, breaks routine, and marks the season.
  • “There’s something about that restriction that makes outfit planning more fun. Like, I’m doing more things with shoes and belts.” – Elizabeth Craft [15:13]
  • Practicality issue: keeping white clean is hard; she uses a tea towel while driving with coffee.
  • She’s not tired of it yet but allows occasional exceptions (for beloved summer clothes and for activities like hiking/exercise).
  • Off white "marks" the summer—she wonders if this will become a tradition.
  • Rule-following: she feels compelled to stick with her rule, even worrying about being “caught” wearing something else.

The No Worry Summer

• Goal: Set aside worry as a conscious practice.
  • Wearing off white helps reinforce mindfulness and the “design your summer” intention: “I am being mindful about it, and I know my other part of that is setting aside worry... they’re feeding each other.” – Elizabeth Craft [18:49]
  • She and the community embrace it through reminders: “I got bracelets that say, don’t worry, be happy.” [20:12]
  • Listeners have joined Elizabeth, and she aims for these habits to stick beyond summer: “I’m trying to think of it, I guess, as a practice where I acknowledge worry is gonna happen. It’s just not ruminating and dwelling.” [20:36]
  • Gretchen remarks: “I think you’re doing amazing!” [20:48]
  • Elizabeth credits the daily habit (off white) with making this her “most successful designer summer.”

Gretchen’s Summer Designs

• Wins:
  • Doodle sketching—engaging in online classes and enjoying the creativity.
  • Her “Summer of Virginia Woolf’s Diaries”—a reading challenge that provides deep intellectual satisfaction.
    • “Every summer, I give myself an ambitious reading aim... This was my Summer of Virginia Woolf’s Diaries. I finished volume one. I’m three quarters of the way through volume two.” – Gretchen Rubin [21:21]
• Stuck Points:
  • Not yet started: Rewatching the show “Girls” or writing photo album captions.
  • Admits the challenge of multitasking: “I really am a person who concentrates. I can’t multitask very well like that.” [23:19]

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Tool Spotlight: Daily Summer Recess [24:14–24:57]

• Idea: Build a “daily recess” (a dedicated time for play or exploration) into adult life.
  • “Many adults don’t get summer vacation, so you need to build in that play, exploration, and fun into the day in different ways.” – Gretchen Rubin [24:14]
• Gretchen has made a daily recess guide available with prompts at happiercast.com/recess.

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The Power of a Teammate's Touch [27:53–35:27]

Gretchen’s Five Senses & The Knicks

• Her interests in sensory experience and basketball intertwine.
  • “We do not spend nearly enough time studying the power of touch and how to use the power of touch to make ourselves happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative.” – Gretchen Rubin [27:56]
• Observing the New York Knicks (her “empty nest” project), she notes extensive physical contact among players: hand slaps, back pats, side hugs, and elaborate pre-play rituals.

Science Backs It Up

• There’s real academic research: “The Power of Human Touch: Physical Contact Improves Performance in Basketball Free Throws.”
  • “Teams that touch more do better... before the free throw line, they will touch the hands of every player on their team. Whether they miss it or make it, they will again touch the hands.” – Gretchen Rubin [29:37]

Memorable Example: The Missed Layup [32:06]

• Legendary Knicks moment: Josh Hart misses a crucial layup, feels the weight of disappointment, and is literally lifted up by teammates who reach down, grasp his hands, and pull him up.
  • “Jalen Brunson said, we said, ‘Get up. Next play. Moving on.’ That’s what really embodies this team.” – Gretchen Rubin [33:00]
• Gretchen is struck by what it would be like to receive that kind of support in any high-pressure situation.

Extending to Everyday Life

• The duo discuss how performance rituals in sports (team huddles, collective hand-stacking, etc.) could inspire teams and workplaces to build unity and resilience.
  • “All of us are performing in everyday life... Are there ways to... do that in some even kind of silly way before a team meeting?” – Gretchen Rubin [34:08]

Quote from Gretchen

• “Appropriate touch is powerful and part of our human nature.” – Gretchen Rubin [35:24]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is stuff that I am using. And... if someone’s going to give you a gift, they have an area to focus on.” – Elizabeth Craft [07:30]
• “Constraints bring freedom.” – Gretchen Rubin [17:44]
• “Wearing white feels light and free—and in American associations, it goes along with setting aside worry.” – Gretchen Rubin [19:36]
• “We may stand perfectly still, but our surroundings shift round and we are not in the same relationship to them for long.” – Elizabeth Taylor, quoted by Gretchen Rubin [35:31]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | Highlights | |-----------|------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:06 | What's Making Us Happier | Mah Jongg merch & freedom from coats | | 13:52 | Design Your Summer Check-In | Off white delight, no-worry practice, summer reading progress | | 24:14 | Spotlight Tool: Daily Recess | Building adult summer playtime | | 27:53 | Power of Touch & NBA Insights | Knicks team rituals, science of touch, supporting teammates | | 35:31 | Closing Quote & Reflection | Adaptation, change, and standing still |

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Tone & Style

The episode unfolds with a playful, confessional, and slightly whimsical tone. Elizabeth is practical, detail-oriented, and embraces rules with a sense of fun; Gretchen is philosophical and sensory-focused, always connecting daily life back to research and the question of happiness.

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Final Reflection

The episode beautifully intertwines the ordinary and extraordinary: summer wardrobes, group rituals, self-imposed challenges, and the universal longing for fun, connection, and growth. Whether you’re planning your own summer intention or pondering the science behind a fist bump, this episode will leave you with fresh ideas and a smile.

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Listeners are encouraged to consider:

• What would your daily recess be?
• How can a small sensory ritual—whether touching a hand or donning a signature color—lift your mood or mark your day?
• What’s one thing you could do to design your summer—with lightness, intention, and maybe a little whimsy?

Transcript

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Ad/Promo Voice]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

Hello, we're here for More Happier a podcast where we get happier. It is the weekend. It is observations and reflections with a looser vibe. Hey Elizabeth.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Hey Gretch.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So today we are going to hear about how our design year summers are going and I am going to talk about something that I have been thinking about a lot ever Since I started Operation Knicks Knowledge to appreciate the New York Knicks. But first, something making us happier. Elizabeth, what's something making you happier?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, Gretch, let's call it mah Jong merch. So I love mah jong. I'm trying to incorporate mahjong into my life more and more on a regular basis, and people around me have decided, oh, Liz is a great person when I want to give her a gift, to give her something mah jong related. And I am enjoying it so much because, you know, mah Jongg is having a moment in the United States.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It is.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And the merch has really improved.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So I'd say a few years ago, if you looked up mah jong items, they wouldn't be that great. But now they're getting cuter and cuter and nicer and nicer. Sarah gave me some mah Jong coasters.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I love a coaster. We were just talking about how great coasters are.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. And they're such a good. And now, of course, I'm like, oh, I need to have mahjong games so I can put out my coasters. But I've got napkins, I have pouches. I have a T shirt. I'm like, oh, I need to play mahjong so I can wear the mahjong T shirt my friend gave me.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

Right.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I've got socks, really adorable socks. Now, of course, I want to then wear them and have them show when I play mahjong. So I'm trying to figure that out.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So are you saying that having the merch actually makes you want to schedule more mahjong?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Indeed it does. It absolutely does.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And it makes me want to host. Sarah also gave me this really pretty tea towel Mah Jong tea towel, which would be perfect for hosting. And I have to say, when one hosts mahjong, people really do get a kick out of seeing mahjong stuff. For instance, when I hosted, I ordered these little cocktail napkins that have all kinds of different Mah Jongg phrases on them which are kind of funny.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

Like what?

[Elizabeth Craft]

For instance, one says pause, never mind. Which is something that people say all the time in the game when they're thinking about whether or not they want to pick up a tile. And everybody got the biggest kick out of it. One person even took some of the napkins home because she wanted to show her daughter. So I'm just loving it because it's like an identity thing.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. It's like how you embrace Corgi Nation. Yes. And all of a sudden, you had Corgi paperclips and a corgi magnet on your fridge and Corgi water bot and Corgi Christmas ornament. And it was just corgi, corgi, Corgi.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And I love it. And I still love corgi stuff as well. In fact, I was just looking at some leggings a friend sent me. The back of them is like a Corgi butt. And they're just absolutely ridiculous.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I can't picture that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I gotta say, I'll send you the photo.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay.

[Elizabeth Craft]

But, yeah, I don't know. I guess it's the thing we keep talking about, like, adding whimsy to life. And this does add whimsy to life.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

It's also practical.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's also stuff that I will actually use. I will use coasters and napkins and socks.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

I don't know.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's just nice.

[Gretchen Rubin]

But can I say one of the things that's encouraging to me is that you say, well, it makes me want to play mahjong more. Because I do feel like sometimes the buying of the things becomes the things that you enjoy, and then you never go ahead and do the stuff.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Because a lot of times there's tremendous pleasure in buying the stuff. Like, I felt this way when I started watercolor. I just wanted to buy more and more and more watercolor color tools and papers and pens and this set of paints and that set of paints. And what about this workbook? And I had to say to myself, no, you can't buy anything more until you've just watercolored.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

And buying this stuff made me feel like I was doing watercoloring, but I wasn't doing watercoloring. So it's good that you have this mahjong stuff, but you're like, well, the reason that I have these Mah Jong napkins is because I will put them out when people come over to play Mah Jong. So that's very constructive because the point of it is really to have more mahjong in your life. And to do that, you have to play it right. And look, organizing a game of a bunch of people coming over to play mahjong is a lot harder than ordering a set of mahjong tea towels off the Internet.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I just think we always need to make sure that the pleasure of the stuff doesn't replace the harder pleasure, but the much greater pleasure of the using.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. And again, we are all trying not to acquire stuff, so that is something to be aware of. But, yes, I do feel like this is stuff that I am using. And Also, again, this is gifts. The sort of thing if someone's going to give you a gift, they have an area to focus on. I am not myself. Although I did get those cocktail napkins. I am not ordering up a bunch of mahjongs.

[Gretchen Rubin]

But you also like things that are very tailored to a purpose. Like, you love something that's customized or has initials on it. And I feel like mahjong coasters is like that. Yes, you could use them anytime. But it's particularly fun to have them out while you're having people over for mahjong. Again, it's elevating. It gives people a kick in a pretty modest, useful way.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So thanks to everyone who's given me my new mah jong merch.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I really, really wish that I enjoyed games, but I just don't like games.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I bet Eliza and Eleanor would love mahjong.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah, actually, they probably would. They love games.

[Elizabeth Craft]

What about you, Gretch? What's making you happier?

[Gretchen Rubin]

You know, it's warm now, and I'm a person who runs very cold. And we've had a very cool season here in New York City. It's been very, very pleasant, beautiful weather, a lot of days, and I just love walking out of the apartment without a coat. I love just snapping on a leash and walking out the door without putting on a coat. I just feel so free and light. It just feels like a treat every time. But I realized, however, that if I'm going out for any kind of long walk, I have to worry about sun protection. Like, do I need to grab a baseball cap? Do I need to have a long sleeve shirt? Do I need my Sun Glo? So I realized in the winter, I feel so free because I don't have to worry about sun exposure because I'm all covered up. And in the summer, I don't have to worry about being cold. And so either way, I win.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

That's good.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Either time. There's something that I'm happily free from, but of course it comes with its downsides. But that's okay. So right now it's not having to have the coat.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah, I agree. I think there is something so freeing about just walking out of the house and not bringing a coat or a sweatshirt, because I am the person who brings a sweatshirt every day.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I do, too.

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's like 100 degrees, and I'm like, let me grab my sweatshirt. And I almost never use it, but it's like a safety blanket. But if you're just going to be outside, you can count on the weather. The problem is when you start going inside and the air conditioning is blasting.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

No.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Then I have to bring something heavy.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah. Your love of this reminds me of one time the thing that was making me happier was LA summer traffic. Traffic is much lighter in summer and it is that thing of like just having a more ease of life in the summer.

[Commercial Narrator]

Yes.

[Gretchen Rubin]

But it's funny because when it's hot out, I'm like, how could I? It seems like it must be so much trouble to pull on a heavy coat and weigh yourself down. How could I ever make myself do that? But of course then when it's cold, I'm like, oh my gosh, where's my heaviest coat? Let me put this thing on. It doesn't seem like such a burden when you need it. Then just feeling so free from it. It's one of the pleasures of summer.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, indeed. All right, Gretch, Coming up, there's something you've been meaning to ask me. But first, this break.

[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Ad/Promo Voice]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Gretchen Rubin]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

I love that they're spill proof and machine washable.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

so you can wipe it away.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

And when it's time for a deeper clean, you just remove the rug from the cushion non slip pad and put it in the washing machine. Plus they're oeko tex certified so they're safe for kids, pets and anyone spending time on the floor. Honestly, I think Tumble figured out how to make a rug that's both beautiful and practical. Machine washable Rugs made better For a limited time only, our listeners get 10% off plus free shipping at tumbliving.com happier that's t u m b l e living.com forward/happier after your purchase they will ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them

[Elizabeth Craft]

our show sent you okay Elizabeth, I've

[Gretchen Rubin]

been meaning to ask you about your summer. We did design your summer and I want to hear how your off white delight is going. You've talked about your nowhere worry summer cause listeners have been asking but is there any further observations, reflections about People are so intrigued by this. No worry Elizabeth. Tell us more. But first start with off white delight. Do you feel constrained by it? Does it feel burdensome? Is it great for decision fatigue? Tell us all.

[Elizabeth Craft]

In some ways, all of the above. So in case anyone doesn't know, I'm having a summer of off white delight where I am endeavoring to wear off white only as much as possible between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So off white only you mean not like an off white shirt and jeans? You mean like off white top and bottom?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes, exactly. And it came about because we always talk about your signature color. And then I decided finally that my signature color was gonna be bone, which is off white. And then I don't know, I wore one day an off white outfit and it, it just felt bold and fun and I thought, oh, maybe I'll do this all summer. Then I landed on it. Well, it is super fun because there's something about that restriction that makes outfit planning More fun. Like, I'm doing more things with shoes and belts.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Because the color is the same. But it is true. Let me just say that white is very hard to keep clean.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I was thinking about that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yeah. Oh, my gosh.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I have started. When I'm driving, I put a tea towel over myself.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

Oh.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Because I often drink coffee when I drive, and spilling coffee on whites is a disaster. So now I'm driving with one of my corgi teeth.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I was going to say. Or it could be a mahog tea towel. Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So that is true. Also, am I getting sick of it? Not yet, but I could imagine getting really sick of it. Also, I realized I have these other clothes that I really, really want to wear.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Right.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So I think I have to incorporate the exceptions. It's the exceptions, of course, that prove the rule, because I don't want to not wear something summery that I love because I missed my chance. So doing a little bit of that, and I've decided I just can't think about it at all for exercising or hiking, for obvious reasons.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Right, right, right. Well, do you feel, like, the decision fatigue, like, oh, I know what I'm going to wear because I'm only choosing between these parts of my closet. And is that true, or is it just a different kind of decision fatigue? Because now you're putting that towards the shoes and the belts and all that.

[Elizabeth Craft]

No, it does help. Decision fatigue, for sure. And I do think it's really marking summer.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I mean, part of it is that thing you and I discuss of summer just seems to slide by.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And this really is marking summer.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Right. It's such a summery way of dressing. It's not even like a summer of navy blue. It just does feel very, very summery. Do you think you might do this every summer?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, I've been pondering that. We'll see. I was thinking, is there something else I would do? But off white in summer makes sense. I don't know what else I would do. I mean, I'm not gonna do like your friend who wore all pink. I'd be starting too much from scratch. It just isn't me. Would I have a summer of wearing all black? Which would sort of be the opposite, but also possible. So I've been thinking about it, but maybe I will just embrace this for summ. I mean, now I have more off white clothing, of course, than I've had before. I bought several things so that I could sustain this. It's just interesting to put anything like this out into the world.

[Gretchen Rubin]

No, it's. Constraints bring freedom. Now, you mentioned that you have other summery clothes that you don't want to go to waste or that you want to wear, but you live in la. Do you think you'll be able to wear them anyway? You just wear them after Labor Day.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That's true. And after Labor Day. But certain things just don't look right in the fall. They're just summery, no matter what.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Summer cotton dress or something. Yeah.

[Elizabeth Craft]

But so far I really have been sustaining it. And I will say I went out to dinner with Jack and Adam one night wearing jeans and an off white shirt, and I told them I'm like, I hope I don't run into anyone who knows about my summer of off white delight. I mean, it is in my mind so strongly. I'm such a rule follower. So now that I've set this as a rule.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Right.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I have to be wearing off white at all times.

[Gretchen Rubin]

That's very funny.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So it's fun.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

You know what?

[Elizabeth Craft]

It's fun.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It sounds very fun. Yeah. It feels like white is the only color that would work with unless you had a lot of yellow because otherwise you'd be just building up so much stuff. Interesting. Well, how about no worry? How is the summer of no worry going?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, no worry is great. So set aside worry is my other big thing this summer.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

Now I will say I think wearing

[Elizabeth Craft]

off white is helpful with that because I am constantly reinforcing that I am designing my summer and that it is summer and that I am being mindful about it. And I know that my other part of that is setting aside worry. So I realize they're feeding each other.

[Gretchen Rubin]

There's a very good hack built into that pairing well. And because we have to choose our clothes every day, unless we completely committed to a uniform like Steve Jobs or something, it's a good thing to be like, I am choosing this. What else am I choosing? I am also choosing to set aside worry. It's a very good sort of built in reminder of this is what I want from this summer. And wearing white feels light and free. And in American associations, it doesn't always have that association, of course, culturally, but this feels light and airy and wispy. And that goes along with setting aside worry.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. So I think that's been helpful. Listeners have been incredibly helpful. We've had a ton of discussions. We did a very special episode about worry and how to deal with worry. Listeners have joined me in setting aside worry for the summer.

[Gretchen Rubin]

People are enchanted by this idea.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I got bracelets that say, don't worry, be happy. So I kind of feel like I'm being taken along in the wave of listeners who want to embrace not worrying. And I am hoping that it really takes hold and is something that I bring into my life in general. And as I was telling you, I'm trying to think of it, I guess, as a practice where I acknowledge worry is gonna happen. It's just not ruminating and dwelling, and I'm really trying to drill down on not stewing.

[Gretchen Rubin]

You wanted to go to New York City, and that happened. So that you're doing really well for designing your summerlist. I think you're doing amazing.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

Thank you. Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

You know what? This is definitely my most successful designer summer, and I think it is because I have this very practical thing of wearing white. Well, you could say it's not practical to wear off white, but it's practical in that it shows up every day.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And so it stays top of mind, and it's always keeping things top of mind.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yep.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

But how about you?

[Elizabeth Craft]

How's your design, your summer going?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, I would say it's a little bit and not as being as consistent as you. So I have not started watching Girls, which I wanted to start this summer. Haven't started that yet. Even though I really want to. I just. It's like that hurdle of getting into a new show. I have done nothing about writing the captions for my photo albums. I've made these photo albums. Now I need to write the captions. They're just stacked up on a coffee table. I need to do these captions. But I have been doing doodle sketching. I'm taking these online classes and doodle sketching, which I'm really enjoying. I have been doing that. And the most important thing that I've started is my Summer of Virginia Woolf's Diaries. So every summer, I give myself an ambitious reading aim, like my Summer of Proust or my summer of rereading. And this was my Summer of Virginia Woolf's Diaries. I finished volume one. I'm three quarters of the way through volume two. It's a very particular kind of reading, and so I really enjoy it. But then I'll put it down and then read a novel or a nonfiction book and pick it up again because you're just in someone's racing thoughts, and she writes about how she's tumbling through her. So there'll be these moments of incredibly beautiful writing, but then a lot of it, you sort of don't really understand what she's talking about. There's a ton of footnotes to explain who the people are. So I'm really enjoying it. But it's a very particular kind of reading. But speaking of reading, I know a lot of people like to have a reading aim, and that is something that you can do in the happier app. You can have a reading queue in the happier app. And let's say you get a great reading recommendation. You can put it in there. I know a lot of people are trying to manage their reading and do more reading and enjoy their reading more and track their reading. If you download the [e-mail] or just get it wherever you want your apps, you can manage your reading queue there. And that's really great if you're trying to do that with your reading.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I'm just thinking maybe you should watch girls while you do your photo album captions. Or do you need to concentrate?

[Gretchen Rubin]

I think Girls is something where I really want to be paying attention. And this is what I realized is kind of a misconception that I have. I used to think, oh, I can do the photo album captions while I'm watching something else, Even something that I've watched a million times, like the Office. But in the end, I always start just paying attention. I'm not good at multitasking. It would have to be something that was kind of like a news program or something where I could kind of listen with one ear and write the photo captions. I really am a person who concentrates. I can't multitask very well like that. And that's the problem is I keep thinking, oh, I'll do the photo album captions while I'm doing something else. And it's like, I don't know that I really can. I don't know what that would be. So that's the thing. No, but girls, I think I would need to pay very, very close attention.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, I think you can still accomplish all of the things that you want to do to design your summer. You just gotta get on it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I know.

[Elizabeth Craft]

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

[Gretchen Rubin]

One thing I love thinking about in how to design your summer is to give myself a daily recess. I love taking a daily recess, but many adults don't get summer vacation, so you need build in that play exploration and fun into the day in different ways. I put together a guide with prompts and ideas to help you figure out what kind of recess would actually be most enjoyable for [e-mail] recess. Super fun.

[Elizabeth Craft]

That is fun. I remember when I was in first grade, I was allowed to stay inside during recess because I just didn't like going outside and I still remember the deliciousness of being inside during recess.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Love an indoor recess.

[Elizabeth Craft]

All right, Gretch, coming up, there's something you've been meaning to tell me, but first, this break.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I've been trying to say yes more to little adventures. Nothing huge, just getting out of the routine and going somewhere different for the day. And it really makes you appreciate having a car that feels solid and comfortable where you're not thinking about the drive, you're just focused on where you're going. That's what stood out to me about the Defender. It has that rugged design, but it also feels really thoughtful inside and I like that there's a full lineup from the two door 90 to the 110 and the 130 with seating for up to eight. So it really fits different kinds of

[Ad/Promo Voice]

plans and it's built with those durable, purposeful materials so you can actually use it without worrying about every little thing. It also has features that make driving feel easier, like Clearsight technology and the PIVI Pro system so you can keep track of where you're going and everything you want to listen to along the way. Plus, with up to 89 cubic feet of cargo space and available three rows, it gives you a lot of flexibility depending on what you're bringing with you. You explore the full Defender [e-mail] One

[Gretchen Rubin]

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. That's why we keep coming back to Quints. I've been especially loving their European linen pieces. They're lightweight, easy to wear and somehow look polished without requiring any effort.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

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 this episode is brought to

[Commercial Narrator]

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[Elizabeth Craft]

All right, Gretch, we're back. What have you been meaning to tell me?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay, so this is the collision of several things that I'm interested in. First, okay, you know, I wrote the book Life in Five Senses, so I'm so focused on the value of the five senses to make our lives happier. In writing Life in Five Senses, I realized how much I love the sense of touch and how I hadn't even realized how much I love the sense of touch. And I've really come to believe that we do not spend nearly enough time studying the power of touch and how to use the power of touch to make ourselves happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative. Okay, so cut to Operation Knicks knowledge. I love the Knicks. And, you know, part of my empty nest project was to see, like, can I make myself interested in the Knicks? Yes, I can make myself interested in the Knicks. And as everybody has pointed out, I picked the best possible tent to get interested in the Knicks because it's exactly when I started getting interested in them that they started being this incredibly successful team. In fact, many people have said, gretchen, maybe you're the reason that they're doing so well, because the minute you started paying attention, I started paying attention with Karl Anthony Towns when they traded for Kat. It's been a great run. So they just won the NBA championships. It's fantastic. But so one of the things that I've thought a lot about as I've been watching these players is how much they touch each other. There is so much hand touching, patting each other on the back, arms around shoulders, fist bumps. And then, like, when they walk out, they'll do these sort of funny, like, jump up and bump each other, these whimsical rituals that they have. But what I've really been focused on is hand touching. And I've thought, has anybody studied this pattern among, you know, professional basketball players? Well, yes, indeed, there is. There is a study called the Power of Human Touch. Physical contact improves performance in basketball free throws. And what they've shown is, is the teams that touch more do better. And this is particularly Interesting with the free throw, because with the free throw, it's like the pressure is on, right? You're just standing there at the free throw line. Every eye is on you. You're shooting that basket. You're going to make it or miss it, you know, without anybody else's help or interference. There's a lot of pressure there. And what you'll see is that before they go to the free throw line, they will touch the hands of every player on their team. And whether they miss it or make it, they will again touch the hands of every player on their team. And I just thought that this was absolutely fascinating because I thought I would love to be in a situation when I'm in a high stakes performance and I've got colleagues all around me, when everybody would, like, grasp my hand and say, we got you, or like, it's okay. I just thought it was so interesting to see this actually makes a difference in their performance.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And Gretch, everyone talks about that with basketball, of how much the players touch each other. You know, what it reminded me of is a lot of performers, before they go out, do like a huddle. They hold hands and make a circle and say, have a great show. Sometimes they do a prayer. And that always seems like an interesting, effective ritual.

[Gretchen Rubin]

I did an appearance on a talk show in Canada, and I noticed that the hosts did that. They formed a circle and each one would say, I've got your back, and put her hand on the back of the person in front of her in the circle. So it was like, I've got your back, I've got your back. I've got your back, I've got your back. With people, like, patting each other on the back. I was so struck by that because it was so obviously a moment of unity. We're gonna approach this as a team. And I think it's just very reassuring to have this human touch. And in fact, there's a moment, and I wanna do a little happier about it, but I can't resist talking about it now, too. So, of course, there's the championship of the Knicks against the San Antonio spurs. And there was this game 4, which is already this legendary game. I was there in person with Jamie, which for the rest of my life, I'll be talking about it. It was one of the most extraordinary basketball games ever. Even I, as a newbie, appreciated, oh, my gosh, this is historic moment. So they had this incredible return from 29 points. I mean, it was just extraordinary. It was so close and they were just within distance. You Know right where they could pull ahead. And Josh Hart, who is really, really close friend with Jalen Brunson, who's a star performer, the mvp, the team captain, he misses this wide open layup that he definitely should have been able to make, and it would have put the Knicks in the lead when they were just one point behind the Spurs. And it was a heartbreaking moment. It was right at the end. It was huge, right? You know, you just think of Josh Hart, the self blame, the disappointment. Ugh, it's so close. Why didn't they do it? Why didn't they do it? And in the end, they did. You know, spoiler alert. They do win. It's fine. And actually, Josh Hart is quite funny about this. And he's like, oh, I just missed it. So that OG Anunoby could have this amazing shot and he could get the credit for it. So he's very funny. What was interesting to me was Jalen Brunson was asked, what one play do you think embodies this entire title run? And he said it was Josh Hart missing the layup. So Josh Hart misses the layup and, like, play goes on for a few seconds, and then somehow Josh Hart ends up on the floor. He's on the floor, and there's this moment where you see him put his head in his hands. Immediately, Jalen Brunson, Karl Anthony Townes, and Jose Alvarado, they run to him, they bend over him, they outstretch their hands, and they pull him to his feet. And Jalen Brunson said, we said, get up. Next play. Moving on. And he said, that's what really embodies this team. And I think that is this moment of being literally pulled to your feet in a moment of reassurance by your team. We think of this, okay, these are NBA performers. And then you're saying, okay, but then it's maybe other kinds of performers, too. But all of us are performing in everyday life. And of course, touching is. It's so powerful. So there's a lot of things. It's also kind of dangerous. And there's many kinds of touch that are not appropriate, but it is making me think, are there ways to. What do you call it when you stack your hands up? Like, what's that called when everybody puts their hands and is like, go team that thing, whatever. Could you do that in some even kind of, like, silly way before a team meeting? Because even though it's silly, people might. I think they would actually feel reassurance about that or, like, finding ways to do this. I don't know. I just. But anyway, because I'm so interested in the power of touch, I was very interested to see that academic research had been done and did confirm that kind of natural feeling that this was something that helped people.

[Elizabeth Craft]

I love it, and I love that now sports are part of your research.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, it's funny because if you listen to the little happier episodes, the period where every other one was about Dolly Parton, I thought I was done with Dolly Parton. Here's one more insight about Dolly Parton. And then there's all my teachers. I love a teaching story. And it's like, I think she said all the big ones. It's like, oh, no, I found another one. And I have my America feeling, which are all my America feeling ones. And now I have the basketball series, which is like, is zero a number for the purposes of a basketball jersey and things like that. You don't have to be good at something to be good at something. Speaking of free throws, Mitchell Robinson, that guy can hit one out of two, and everybody touches his hand beforehand and everybody touches his hand after because he's just really bad at free throws. Anyway. So I'm gonna look for ways to incorporate touch, appropriate touch, into everyday life and look for examples of it because I think it's powerful and it's part of our human nature.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Yes. Finally, what is our quote this week?

[Gretchen Rubin]

This comes from Elizabeth Taylor's novel, A Game of Hide and Seek. And as she would say, no, she is not that Elizabeth Taylor. She has a different Elizabeth Taylor. If we do not alter with the times, the times yet alter us. We may stand perfectly still, but our surroundings shift round and we are not in the same relationship to them for long. Just as a chameleon matching perfectly the greenness of a leaf should know that the leaf will one day fade.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Love it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

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. So Elizabeth is off white Delight only clothes related, or might you get an off white phone case or an off white baseball cap or an off white mug?

[Elizabeth Craft]

Well, I am carrying a bag that is off white. And Gretchen, it's a bag that I got some cozy earth sheets in.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

Oh.

[Elizabeth Craft]

And I had saved it because I'm like, this is a good bag. It has a zipper.

[Gretchen Rubin]

This is my thing about packages being so nice.

[Ad/Promo Voice]

Yes.

[Elizabeth Craft]

So I happened to save that. And now it's my summer off white bag. But I'M not doing mugs and things

[Gretchen Rubin]

like that now spiral out of control.

[Elizabeth Craft]

Not doing shoes? No. Although I already have white Birkenstocks, so that's handy.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Good.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. Now, I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited premium wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal, so there goes my big idea. Idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment

[Gretchen Rubin]

of 45 for 3 months, $90 for 6 months or $180 for 12 month Plan required $15 per month equivalent taxes and fees Extra initial plan term only greater than 50 gigabytes. Me slow when network is busy. See terms.