Gretchen Rubin
CNBC
New York, NY, United States
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Past articles by Gretchen:
I spent 10 years studying what makes us happy in life—here's the No. 1 thing I overlooked the entire time
Decades of research tells us that the secret to a long and happy life is building deep relationships with people. But happiness researcher and bestselling author Gretchen Rubin says there's one thing we've overlooked: the power of tapping into our five senses. → Read More
Don’t Be a Victim of Your To-Do List
If the classic to-do list works for your ADHD brain, that’s terrific. I make them myself, and I find them helpful. But if it doesn’t work, you can still figure out how to be productive with these to-do list alternatives. → Read More
12 Tips for a Happier Home, Adapted from Nursery School
One of my resolutions is to Treat myself like a toddler. I've found that much of the advice aimed at children is just as helpful for me. For instance, I'm → Read More
12 simple mind exercises that can increase your mental strength
People who stray from their routines tend to be happier than those who don't, as it encourages a personal 'atmosphere of growth.' → Read More
When and Why People Succeed Using Weight Watchers
As someone who studies issues related to human nature, happiness, health, and good habits, I’ve long been intrigued by Weight Watchers — when and why it works. And one thing has struck me with particular force. In my book Better Than Before, I identify the 21 strategies we […] → Read More
Four Habit Strategies that Could Help You Fight Halloween Temptation
Halloween treats! So colorful, so ubiquitous, so fun, so bite-sized… Halloween a major source of temptation for children and adults alike. In my book about habit change, eating healthfully is one of the most popular habits that people try to cultivate — and Halloween is […] → Read More
A Visit to the Hospital Reminds Me of How Happy I Am to Be Healthy
Ancient philosophers and contemporary scientists agree: gratitude is a key ingredient to a happy life. Research shows that people who cultivate gratitude get a boost in happiness and optimism, feel more connected to other people, are better-liked and have more friends, and are more likely to […] → Read More
Who Is Responsible for Cleaning Your Office Coffee Mug?
Well, I'm gearing up for my book tour, and thinking about my book talk. I'm considering opening my talk by describing a familiar situation that illustrates → Read More
Some Thoughts on Happiness After Dropping Off My Daughter at College
This was a big week in the life of my family: my older daughter Eliza has gone off to college. In her case, she did a pre-program, where she went hiking in → Read More
Do You Want to Change an Important Habit?
Do you want to make a significant change in your life? Or help someone else to make an important change? Often, this means changing a habit (get more sleep, → Read More
Some Thoughts on My Daughter’s High School Graduation: Go Forth Unafraid
Last week, my daughter graduated from high school. It was a bittersweet afternoon. Happy, because it’s satisfying to think of the work that she’s done, sweet → Read More
Struggling to Get Something Done? Maybe You Need an Accountability Buddy
Have I mentioned that I’ve created a personality framework called the “Four Tendencies?” Oh right, I think I have. Well, if you don’t know about this framework, → Read More
After writing a book on habit change, I'm convinced 'motivation' won't get you anywhere
Instead of thinking about motivation, I argue that we should think about aims, and then concrete, practical, realistic steps to take us closer to our aims. → Read More
Warning! Donât Expect to Be Motivated by Motivation
I really dislike the word âmotivation.â I try never to use it. In writing Better Than Before, my book about habit change, and in talking to people about → Read More
Spring Cleaning? The Most Important Areas to Declutter
One of my great realizations about happiness (and a point oddly under-emphasized by positive psychologists) is that for most people, outer order contributes to → Read More
7 Mistakes that I Keep Making in Romance and 5 Things I Do Right
In writing The Happiness Project and Happier at Home, I thought a lot about what I can do to make my romantic life better. In general, Iâm a fan of using → Read More
Happy Memories Can Be the Most Random Things
Gosh, I donât remember much of my life. I constantly work on keeping mementos and photographs, because it seems like other people are so much better at → Read More
23 Rules For Life That Happy People Follow
The author of Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives shares her wit, wisdom and research on how to feel happier, even w... → Read More
The Positive Perspective: Replacing ‘Despite’ with ‘Because’
People often ask me, “How do you do your research?” I’m a kind of street scientist. I don’t have a lab full of undergrads eating marshmallows to study; I rely on my own observations. Really, I feel more like Samuel Johnson or William Hazlitt or... → Read More
How a Single Word Can Help You Figure Out Why a Habit Isn't Sticking
Just because you achieve one goal doesn't mean you'll be able to do it again. → Read More