Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Clear clutter fast with a courtroom-inspired trick, and we discuss how Upholders might set boundaries for unwanted accountability partners.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: A hack for decluttering by issuing an “order to show cause" [04:34]

Idea for Do-Spend September— A listener’s Do-Spend September upgrade turns into a housewide "Upgrade Week" [01:57]

Four Tendencies Tip: How Upholders might set boundaries with Obligers looking for accountability partners [12:11]

Happiness Hack: A clever way to repurpose empty Altoid tins [09:54]

Fun with the Five Senses: The nostalgia and whimsy of Jello [20:35]

Demerits & Gold Stars: Elizabeth’s Demerit: fallen off on dog-walking duties; Gretchen’s Gold Star: reviewed many books and podcasts [24:26]

Mentioned in this episode:

Altoid Tin Organizer Insert

Take the free Four Tendencies quiz

Rest Jump-Start Challenge on the Happier app

Dakota Born by Debbie Macomber (Amazon, Bookshop)

Blaming by Elizabeth Taylor (Amazon, Bookshop)

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

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

As the World Cup illustrated, in the happy moments of scoring a goal or celebrating, we may find it hard to stay focused on our aims.

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

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

Not sticking to a habit that’s important to you? Dan Harris and Laurie Santos join Gretchen to share how to spot what's holding you back — and get moving again.

Mentioned in This Episode:

10% Happier podcast

10% with Dan Harris app

The Happiness Lab podcast

Move 26 challenge & seasonal bingo card in the Happier app

The Move 26 in ‘26 Challenge

Connect with us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

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 some of our most useful Four Tendencies listener questions, including how to help a Rebel stick to exercise, work with a Questioner boss, and keep Obliger people-pleasing from getting in the way of dating.

Revisited Highlights:

Episode 43: Listener Round-Up of the Four Tendencies

Episode 120: Listener Questions about the Four Tendencies

Episode 280: Questions from Listeners about the Four Tendencies

Mentioned in This Episode:

The Four Tendencies in Action Workbook

The Four Tendencies Quiz

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

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

We talk about how to avoid the mental trap of the “sunk-cost fallacy.” Plus, why it’s so hard to plan for emergencies and the biases that keep us from preparing for risk.

Episode highlights:

Try This at Home: Avoid the sunk-cost fallacy—the mental trap that keeps us committed because of the time, money, or energy we’ve already spent [04:57]

Happiness Hack: Create a personal reading syllabus with deadlines to help you read more [12:58]

Happiness Stumbling Block: Six common biases that make it difficult to assess and prepare for rare but serious emergencies [16:03]

Demerits and Gold Stars: Gretchen’s Demerit: Turning into a Knicks bore; Elizabeth’s Gold Star: To her friend Mindy for a new exercise experience [24:11]

Mentioned in this episode:

The Ostrich Paradox: Why We Underprepare for Disasters by Robert Meyer and Howard Kunreuther (Amazon, Bookshop)

This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis and Clark by Craig Fehrman (Amazon, Bookshop)

Audition by Katie Kitamura (Amazon, Bookshop)

Rolling utility cart

Happier Labor Day resources

Connect with Us:

Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

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