Podcast Summary: "More Happier: Watercoloring, Novel-Writing & 80’s Bestsellers"
Happier with Gretchen Rubin
Hosts: Gretchen Rubin & Elizabeth Craft
Release Date: July 12, 2025
Introduction: Embracing Happiness Through Personal Interests
In this vibrant episode of Happier with Gretchen Rubin, Gretchen and her sister Elizabeth Craft delve into their personal journeys toward happiness by exploring their 25 for 25 lists. Gretchen shares insights into her daily watercoloring habit, while Elizabeth reminisces about her love for 1980s bestselling novels. Their conversation seamlessly intertwines personal anecdotes with practical advice on cultivating joy through meaningful activities.
Elizabeth's 25 for 25: Rediscovering 80’s Bestsellers
Rereading Beloved Novels
Elizabeth Craft reveals that her current source of happiness stems from revisiting classic 1980s blockbuster bestsellers. She mentions specific titles such as Other Side of Midnight by Sidney Sheldon and Scruples by Judith Krantz.
- Elizabeth Craft [00:40]: "All right, Gretch. This is very summer. I feel like what is making me happier is rereading all of these novels from the 80s that I love. Big 80s blockbuster bestsellers."
Motivation Behind the Choice
Elizabeth was inspired to revisit these novels after reading Climbing in Heels by Elaine Goldsmith Thomas, a novel set in the 80s about female Hollywood agents. This rekindled her appreciation for the era's distinctive fashion and culture.
Discussion on Cultural Nostalgia
The sisters discuss the unique vibe of late 80s movies and literature, highlighting how certain works remain enjoyable irrespective of their critical reception. Gretchen quotes G.K. Chesterton to emphasize the public's preference for specific genres, even if the quality varies.
- Gretchen Rubin [04:07]: “...the public likes a certain kind of literature and likes that kind of literature even when it is bad. Better than other kind of literature even when it is good.”
Impact on Happiness
Elizabeth appreciates the familiarity and escapism these novels provide, allowing her to connect with the past and understand cultural contexts like Beverly Hills, which she hadn't experienced before.
Gretchen's 25 for 25: The Challenge of Daily Watercoloring
Commitment to a Daily Habit
Gretchen Rubin discusses her goal of watercoloring every day, a task aligned with her upholder personality and her desire for structure. However, she acknowledges the challenges posed by her new puppy, Taffy, leading to occasional lapses.
- Gretchen Rubin [11:30]: “So doing something every day really appeals to me. And I really did not think that this would be that hard to do.”
Struggles and Adaptations
Gretchen shares the difficulty of maintaining daily watercolor sessions without feeling burdened. She contemplates being more flexible to keep the habit enjoyable rather than feeling trapped by strict rules.
- Gretchen Rubin [13:23]: “The point of it is to stay engaged. And so if I some days that just doesn't work. That's okay as long as I'm still achieving my ultimate aim actively.”
Strategies to Maintain the Habit
She reflects on techniques from her book Better Than Before, such as scheduling, cues, and pairing habits, to reinforce her watercoloring routine. Gretchen contemplates adopting her college roommate's husband's intense exercise regimen, which relies on spontaneous motivation, though she finds it unsatisfying.
- Elizabeth Craft [14:21]: “...if you're running around and you just simply never have that moment to say, oh, what do I need to do?”
Embracing Flexibility
Ultimately, Gretchen decides to loosen her strict approach, allowing herself to miss days without guilt, thereby fostering a more sustainable and enjoyable creative process.
- Gretchen Rubin [16:28]: “I've just decided to let myself be a little bit looser on this than I would usually choose to be.”
Family Traditions: Celebrating the Fourth of July
Creating Meaningful Traditions
Gretchen shares her efforts to transform the Fourth of July into a significant family holiday, integrating activities like jumping into a lake and watching classic 80s films. This initiative aims to establish lasting family traditions that foster togetherness and joy.
- Gretchen Rubin [05:00]: “One of my big project Emptiness endeavors is to try to make the Fourth of July kind of a major family holiday.”
Engagement and Participation
Despite minor hiccups, such as forgetting to serve certain dishes, the family enjoys the festive atmosphere, emphasizing the importance of continuity in traditions.
- Gretchen Rubin [06:12]: “So it was just really fun. It was beautiful. It wasn't too hot. So we just sat by the lake and talked and drank coffee and ran around after the Dogs.”
Planning for the Future
Elizabeth expresses enthusiasm for making the Fourth of July celebration a staple tradition, highlighting the success of the second year and looking forward to continued participation.
- Elizabeth Craft [07:34]: “Definitely next year, I want to be there.”
Spotlight Segments: Tools and Recommendations
Spotlight on a Tool: Bookshop’s 30-Day Summer Reading Challenge
Gretchen announces a collaboration with Bookshop for a 30-day summer reading challenge hosted within the Happier app. Participants can track their reading streaks and compete for prizes, enhancing their happiness through the joy of reading.
- Gretchen Rubin [17:09]: “Any reading counts. Novels, magazines, just a few pages before bed...”
Podcast Recommendation: Love with Jen Hatmaker
Elizabeth recommends Love with Jen Hatmaker, a podcast focused on honesty, joy, and courage, aligning with their shared values of fostering happiness.
- Elizabeth Craft [17:43]: “Jen is a New York Times bestselling author whose life's work is helping women show up for their honesty, joy, and courage.”
Balancing Creative Projects: Elizabeth’s Novel-Writing Journey
Navigating Multiple Roles
Elizabeth discusses the challenges of balancing her novel-writing aspirations with her demanding career in Hollywood. To prioritize her novel, she and her writing partner Sarah established "Novel July," dedicating the month exclusively to writing.
- Elizabeth Craft [21:20]: “Now, having said that, although, yes, we are making some progress...”
Overcoming Obstacles
Despite unexpected demands from Hollywood, Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between urgent tasks and important goals, striving to maintain focus on completing her novel.
- Elizabeth Craft [22:31]: “Urgent versus important... the novel is very important.”
Process and Progress
Elizabeth shares insights into their writing process, including major rewrites and the difficulty of concluding the story. Encouragement from loved ones, like Sarah’s stepmom Anna, motivates them to persevere.
- Elizabeth Craft [23:42]: “Anna had read what we had so far, and Sarah said she keeps asking her, when are you finishing the book?”
Future Plans
While acknowledging the complexities of meeting deadlines and aligning with optimal publishing times, Elizabeth remains optimistic about advancing her novel project.
Inspirational Quotation
Mark Twain on Goodness
Gretchen shares a favorite quote by Mark Twain from Following the Equator, resonating with her role as a "happiness bully" who encourages others to pursue goodness effortlessly.
- Gretchen Rubin [28:46]: “To be good is noble, but to show others how to be good is nobler, and no trouble.”
Closing Thoughts: Embracing the Journey to Happiness
The episode concludes with heartfelt exchanges between Gretchen and Elizabeth, reinforcing their commitment to personal growth and supporting each other's pursuits. Gretchen expresses excitement about reading Elizabeth's upcoming novel, symbolizing the mutual encouragement that underpins their relationship.
- Gretchen Rubin [29:32]: “The best time to start a happiness project is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”
This episode of Happier with Gretchen Rubin beautifully encapsulates the essence of finding joy in both nostalgic comforts and creative endeavors. Through candid conversations and shared experiences, Gretchen and Elizabeth offer listeners relatable insights into building lasting happiness through intentional habits and meaningful traditions.