Little Happier: Are You a Clutch Player or a Fast Starter?

Why you should treat your home like a hotel, and a common blindspot that can lead to unnecessary conflict. Plus a relationship hack. Episode highlights: Try This at Home: treat your home like a hotel—declutter, fix small annoyances, and add small touches of luxury. [03:10] Happiness Hack: A listener shares a tip on making helpful introductions [11:14] Happiness Stumbling Block: Are you arguing that you are “right,” when you’re really talking about preferences?  [04:20] Demerits & Gold Stars: Gretchen's demerit: not taking away her old camera; Elizabeth's gold star: to her son Jack for his first solo flight [21:47] Mentioned in this episode: Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin The “Strategy of the Lightning Bolt”  Secrets of Adulthood by Gretchen Rubin  Good Time Girls by Lael Morgan (Amazon, Bookshop)  House of Suns by Alastair Reynolds (Amazon, Bookshop) Connect with Us: Email: [email protected] Website: gretchenrubin.com Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free quiz. Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show! Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gretchen shares a recent insight on feeling "anonymous" versus "present." We also discuss a lesson for Upholders and gift-worthy pop-up books. Episode Highlights Something Making Us Happier—Elizabeth's new Wordle streak milestone and Gretchen’s favorite pop-up books [00:36] I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You— Gretchen’s insight on feeling “anonymous” vs. “present.” And a lesson for Upholders [12:01] Spotlight on a Tool: Sign up for Gretchen’s Five Things newsletter! [12:44] Mentioned in This Episode Robert Sabuda pop-up books: Peter Pan (Amazon, Bookshop)  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (Amazon)  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Amazon)  Winter's Tale (Amazon, Bookshop)  The Night Before Christmas (Amazon) The Twelve Days of Christmas (Amazon, Bookshop) America the Beautiful (Amazon, Bookshop)  Peter Dahmen Pop Up Sculptures  Sign up for Gretchen's free newsletter, Five Things Making Me Happy  Connect with Us Email: [email protected] Website: gretchenrubin.com Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free quiz. Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show! Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Treat yourself like…a person of interest” and try a month-long “self-stakeout” to track your habits. We also share an easy way to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit in your head. Plus we discuss three broad categories of empty nesters.  Episode highlights: Try This At Home— Do a "self-stakeout": Imagine you're a detective and tail yourself for a month. What will you find? [06:43] Happiness Hack— An easy trick for converting Celsius to Fahrenheit [12:08] Know Yourself Better: We discuss three "empty nester" types: Relaxers, Rekindlers, and Reinventors [13:44] Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth’s Demerit: not reading as much this summer as planned; Gretchen’s Gold Star: staying calm during a keyboard malfunction [20:23] Mentioned in this Episode: This American Ex-Wife: How I Ended My Marriage and Started My Life by Lyz Lenz (Amazon, Bookshop)  The Diary of Virginia Woolf, Vol. 3 by Virginia Woolf (Amazon, Bookshop) Free bingo cards and other resources  Connect with Us: Email: [email protected] Website: gretchenrubin.com Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft Take Gretchen's free Four Tendencies quiz Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show! Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

George Orwell’s observation about work performed by machines is very relevant to our discussions of AI. Connect with Us: Email: [email protected] Website: gretchenrubin.com Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft Learn more about Gretchen's Four Tendencies personality framework and take the free quiz. Enjoyed this episode? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or rate us on Spotify—it helps other listeners find the show! Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We revisit listener-favorite hacks for cultivating summer fun. If you want to make the most of the weeks ahead, these practical ideas can help you add more fun, adventure, and whimsy to everyday life. Revisited Highlights: Episode 146: Introduce a note of whimsy Episode 178: Schedule a weekly playdate with yourself Episode 98: Give yourself a quest Episode 477: Embrace fun plans Mentioned in This Episode: Share your Summer Recap in the Happier App Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices