Gretchen Rubin's Blog, page 276

"We Are Never So Much Disposed to Quarrel As When..."--What?

"We are never so much disposed to quarrel with others as when we are dissatisfied with ourselves."

--William Hazlitt

Yet another reason why we have a duty to be happy. I know I'm less quarrelsome when I'm happy.

* I'm not a foodie, so I don't often explore the wild, delightful world of foodie blogs. But I know Melanie Rehak, so I regularly check out Eating for Beginners -- "on food, farming, and raising a family" -- where my favorite feature is "Friday Food Writers."

* No matter where you...

Take Your Time. Especially When You're in a Hurry.

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.

A few weeks ago, I posted Eight excellent tips for living that my parents gave me. Soon after, I ran into a friend who said, "I loved the tips your parents gave you. My mother had a great one, too. She always said...

The Happiness of Doing Something New: the Audiobook Version.

People often ask, "What's something surprising that you've learned about happiness?" Here's one thing: I was very surprised by the truth of the principle that Novelty and challenge bring happiness.

I believed that this observation was true for a lot of people, but I didn't think it would be true for me. I love routine. I revel in the little pleasures of my ordinary day. I don't like to travel. I don't even like to go to new restaurants. My favorite thing to do is to hang around the house and...

Eleven Myths of De-Cluttering.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day (or Quiz Day or List Day).

One of my great realizations about happiness (and a point oddly under-emphasized by positive psychologists) is that outer order contributes to inner calm.

But as much as most of us want to keep our home, office, car, etc. in reasonable order, it's tough. Here's a list of some myths of de-cluttering that make it harder to get rid of stuff.

Myths of Cluttering:
1. "I need to get organized." No!

Happiness: Summing Up a Big Idea in a Short Sentence.

Although it may seem reductive, I think people grasp and remember great truths better when they're snappily summed up. I love epigrams, aperçus, apothegms, and aphorisms of all sorts, and I try to to sum up my happiness conclusions in catchy, yet of course profound, axioms.

My greatest success so far: The days are long, but the years are short. That short sentence says it all. (If you haven't seen my one-minute video, check it out.)

I was thinking about my Second Splendid Truth. Just getting...

How to Make Yourself Happier.

My First Splendid Truth is: To be happier, you have to think about feeling good, feeling bad, and feeling right, in an atmosphere of growth. Although this sounds like a simple and rather obvious formula, it took me a huge amount of time and thinking to work it out.

Even once I'd come up with it, however, I didn't understand the true importance of the fourth element, the atmosphere of growth. But the more I think about the elements of a happy life, the more convinced I've become of its...

What is "The Only Payment That Can Never Fail"? Guess.

"These testimonies of a good conscience are pleasant; and such a natural pleasure is very beneficial to us; it is the only payment that can never fail."

Less poetically, I remind myself, "Do good, feel

* Design Mom has a very specific focus (a quality I appreciate in a blog); if the intersection of parenthood and design interests you, you'll love

* If you're in a book group and think you might choose The Happiness Project as a reading selection, please let me...

Act the Way You Want to Feel.

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 the most surprising, and useful, things I've learned from my happiness project is my Third Commandment: Act the way I want to feel.

Although we presume that we act because of the way we feel, in fact, we often...

Which Websites and Blogs Boost Your Happiness?

On the Inspiration Board of the Happiness Project Toolbox, people have posted a staggeringly interesting array of happiness-related quotations, images, book suggestions, and website recommendations.

It seems like a good idea to create a place here where people can shine a spotlight on happiness-boosting blogs and websites. Voila, here's a chart. To suggest one, list your favorite here! And don't feel shy about adding yourself to the chart.

There is such a treasure trove of material out...

Eight Tips for Feeling More Energetic.

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.

Feeling energetic is a key to feeling happy. Studies show that when you feel energetic, you feel much better about yourself. On the other hand, when you feel exhausted, tasks that would ordinarily make you happy—like putting up holiday decorations—make you feel overwhelmed and blue.

When my energy feels at a low ebb, I try one of these techniques (well, first I drink something with caffeine in it, but if I feel...