Gretchen Rubin's Blog, page 268

Nine Things You Can Do Every Day – Even When You Can't Do Anything Else.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.

We all promise ourselves to do better, but it can sure seem impossible, some days. I try to keep a list of things that I can do every day. Even when I forget to write in my one-sentence journal or I don't make it to the gym, I try to make sure I hit all these items.

That way, even if I feel like I had a day when I got nothing accomplished, I can comfort myself, as I climb...

Are You in a Book Group? Want a Reading Group Guide?

Happiness is a great book group meeting! I'm in three book groups -- one in which we read books aimed at adults, two in which we read book aimed at children and young adults. Being part of these books groups is among the joys of my life.

So I'm a big fan of book groups. In general, I've heard, book groups don't choose books that are only available in hardback, so I've been surprised to hear from a lot of people that their groups have read The Happiness Project.

It's thrilling to imagine a...

"There Is Certainly No Greater Happiness..."

"There is certainly no greater happiness, than to be able to look back on a life usefully and virtuously employed, to trace our own progress in existence, by such tokens as excite neither shame nor sorrow."
-- Samuel Johnson

* A reader sent me the link to this fabulous item on etsy -- a great, stylish way to track resolutions. I love it!

* Want to launch a group for people doing happiness projects together? I'm in a group like that myself, and I love it! If so, read more here and sign up

"There Is Certainly No Great Happiness..."

"There is certainly no greater happiness, than to be able to look back on a life usefully and virtuously employed, to trace our own progress in existence, by such tokens as excite neither shame nor sorrow."
-- Samuel Johnson

* A reader sent me the link to this fabulous item on etsy -- a great, stylish way to track resolutions. I love it!

* Want to launch a group for people doing happiness projects together? I'm in a group like that myself, and I love it! If so, read more here and sign up

Schedule Time for Play.

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just jump in right now. Each Friday's post will help you think about your own happiness project.

One of my favorite resolutions – but also kept with great difficulty – is to Schedule time for play. I often get teased about this resolution, because people think it sounds incongruous, and even silly, to schedule...

Happiness Is…A Great Book Event in Toronto.

I had such a great time in Toronto – I'd never been to Toronto, or even Canada, before this trip. I met a lot of interesting people during the day, and last night the famous Heather Reisman of Indigo Books and I had a conversation at one of the wonderful Indigo bookstores.

Interesting note about Toronto: I saw a street sign that said, "Pedestrians obey your signals." You don't see this in New York City! We dart out the minute we see a break in traffic.

* Interested in starting your own...

"Marriage is About...Tea, Doctor's Appointments, Trivia, Quirks."

From time to time, I post short interviews with interesting people about their insights on happiness. During my study of happiness, I've noticed that I often learn more from one person's highly idiosyncratic experiences than I do from sources that detail universal principles or cite up-to-date studies. I'm much more likely to be convinced to try a piece of advice urged by a specific person who tells me that it worked for him or her, than by any other kind of argument.

The relationships...

Nineteen Tips for Cheering Yourself Up -- from 200 Years Ago.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.

I've posted this list before, but I love it, so am supplying it again. I read it in a biography of the English writer Sydney Smith, in Hesketh Pearson's The Smith of Smiths. In 1820, Smith wrote a letter to an unhappy friend, Lady Morpeth, in which he offered her tips for cheering up.

I have my own variety of tips lists for cheering up, and I was interested to hear what someone from...

In a Happiness-Project Group Near Westchester? NY Times Reporter Is Interested...

Are you in a happiness-project group in the New York City/Westchester area?

A New York Times reporter is investigating for a possible article and would be interested in getting in touch with you, if so. If you'd be willing to speak about your experience, please email me at grubin@gretchenrubin.com, and I'll pass along your email address. I really appreciate it.

I'm in a happiness-project group myself -- one started by someone else! I love it!

* If you're intrigued by the idea of people...

What Was Your New Year's Resolution? Are You Keeping It?

It's February 1, so the first month of the new year is over. What was your New Year's resolution? I'm curious about what resolutions people are making. One reader wrote me that her resolution was to "Write shorter emails." I love that! I'm adopting that for myself.

What resolution did you make? Have you made it in other years? I find that many of my resolutions crop up year after year.

Having made a resolution -- are you still keeping it? Why or why not? Did you find any strategy that helped...