Ta-da! Here’s the one-minute video for my new book, Happier at Home, on “Ten ways to be happier at home.” Some of the “ways” are serious; some are a bit goofy.

Thanks so much to Chris Gelles who created it.

What do you think? What strategies would you add?

If seeing this book trailer made you think, “Goodness, Gretchen, I want to pre-order Happier at Home right this minute,” then here are the links you need! Pre-orders are a big help to me, so thanks for pre-ordering.

If you want to know more about the book, you can…

read about it;

listen to an excerpt from the audio-book;

sample an excerpt from the chapter on “Time.”

2011 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2011 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2011 a happier year — and even if you haven’t officially signed up for the challenge — welcome! Last month’s theme was Gratitude, and last week’s resolution was to Remember the dog that doesn’t bark. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness?

For the last month of this year, instead of tackling a theme, I’m going to discuss a question: What is the key to happiness? That’s a question that can be answered in different ways, depending on what framework you use to address the issue of happiness. The resolution for each week will reflect that week’s answer.

This week’s answer to the question, “What is the key to happiness?” is: Strong relationships.

Build Strong Relationships(1)

If you want to read more about this resolution, check out…
8 tips for maintaining friendships.
Bob Dylan helps me recognize a paradox of happiness.
8 tips for making friends.
Be happier: kiss more, hug more, touch more.

How about you? Do you agree that strong relationships are the key to happiness? What steps do you take to build or strengthen your ties to other people?

If you’re new, here’s information on the 2011 Happiness Challenge. It’s never too late to start! You’re not behind, jump in right now, sign up here. For the Challenge, each week I’ll post a video suggesting a resolution for you to consider. For more ideas for resolutions to try, check out the archives of videos here.

* I always love to visit Dan Pink’s blog. He is unfailingly interesting.

* My whole family loves Page-a-Day calendars, so it was a real thrill for me to do The Happiness Project Page-a-Day Calendar. Check it out!

For the past few years, for the weekly video as part of the Happiness Challenge, I’ve proposed a resolution for your consideration—some concrete, manageable resolution to boost your happiness (at least, one that has boosted my happiness).

As I mentioned several weeks ago, I’ve been thinking about changing the format of the videos for 2012, and now I’ve decided that I will. Instead of proposing resolutions for you to consider as part of your own happiness project, I’m going to discuss “Pigeons of Discontent.”

Because, as much as we try to follow the Bluebird of Happiness, we’re also plagued by the Pigeon of Discontent. A Pigeon of Discontent isn’t a major happiness challenge, but rather, an ordinary problem that has settled into roost. For example: you never make it to the gym; you bicker with your kids each morning; your closet is a mess; you haven’t had time to read a book in months. The Happiness Challenge for 2012 will be the identification of these Pigeons, and the attempt to shoo them away.

At various times, such as today, I’ll ask readers to post comments about aspects of life that drag them down, and in the weekly videos, I’ll discuss them (I won’t give advice, but I’ll discuss).

So, to help me get started, if you have a readily identifiable “pigeon of discontent,” please post it here. I was fascinated to read people’s comments the last time I asked this question.

So: What’s your Pigeon of Discontent? What relatively small and ordinary issue drags down your happiness?

* Tomorrow is the last day of November, which means: time for the monthly newsletter! If you’d like to get it, sign up here. I highlight the best material from the blog and the Facebook Page. (It’s free, of course).

2011 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2011 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2011 a happier year — and even if you haven’t officially signed up for the challenge — welcome! This month’s theme is Gratitude, and last week’s resolution was to Make the positive argument. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness?

This week’s resolution is to Find gratitude cues in everyday life.

Find Gratitude Cues in Everyday Life.

 

If you want to read more about this resolution, check out…
Gratitude journals, and the happiness of not having cancer.
Follow a threshold ritual.
Gratitude: Write your Acknowledgements page or your Oscar's acceptance speech.

How about you? Have you found some cues in everyday life to help you cultivate the "attitude of gratitude"? I find that it makes a surprisingly large difference. Or perhaps I should say, an unsurprisingly large difference.

If you're new, here’s information on the 2011 Happiness Challenge. It’s never too late to start! You’re not behind, jump in right now, sign up here. For the Challenge, each week I'll post a video suggesting a resolution for you to consider. For more ideas for resolutions to try, check out the archives of videos here.

* I found some very interesting material on Be More With Less — "life on purpose."

* Get a happiness quotation in your email inbox every morning — sign up for the Moment of Happiness. Subscribe here or email me at gretchenrubin1@gretchenrubin.com.

2011 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2011 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2011 a happier year — and even if you haven’t officially signed up for the challenge — welcome! This month’s theme is Gratitude, and last week’s resolution was to Follow a threshold ritual. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness?

This week’s resolution is to Make the positive argument.

Make the positive argument.

If you want to read more about this resolution, check out…
Feeling angry, resentful, or self-critical? Make the positive argument.
Why a hurricane filled me with gratitude.
Why I try not to do things for others, but instead, do them for myself.

How about you? Have you managed to make yourself take the opposite view, by making the positive argument? Or what are other ways you help yourself adopt an “attitude of gratitude”?

If you’re new, here’s information on the 2011 Happiness Challenge. It’s never too late to start! You’re not behind, jump in right now, sign up here. For the Challenge, each week I’ll post a video suggesting a resolution for you to consider. For more ideas for resolutions to try, check out the archives of videos here.

* This morning, a friend pointed me to the site Remodelista — “sourcebook for the considered home.” Beautiful, engaging, thought-provoking.

* Is your book group reading The Happiness Project? Email me if you’d like the one-page discussion guide — or the discussion guide for spirituality book groups, Bible study groups, and the like — at gretchenrubin1@gretchenrubin.com. Happy reading!

2011 Happiness Challenge: For those of you following the 2011 Happiness Project Challenge, to make 2011 a happier year — and even if you haven’t officially signed up for the challenge — welcome! Last month’s theme was the Five Senses, and last week’s resolution was to Hug more, kiss more. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness?

This month’s theme is Gratitude, and this week’s resolution is to Follow the threshold ritual.

Follow the threshold ritual.

How about you? Have you found ways to remind yourself to be grateful, as you go about your ordinary day? (The most common happiness advice seems to be to keep a gratitude journal, but I have to confess, that didn’t work for me.)

If you want to read more about this resolution, check out…
Follow a threshold ritual.
Can you curse during a gratitude meditation?
Why a hurricane filled me with gratitude.

If you’re new, here’s information on the 2011 Happiness Challenge. It’s never too late to start! You’re not behind, jump in right now, sign up here. For the Challenge, each week I’ll post a video suggesting a resolution for you to consider. For more ideas for resolutions to try, check out the archives of videos here.

* I love reading about cognitive biases (yes, it’s true) and get a big kick out of some of the names. Wikipedia has a great list. I’ve often thought it would be fun to write a little book about various biases…someday.

* Please subscribe to my YouTube Channel. To get the weekly video by email, right in your email in-box, you can:
– On the GretchenRubin channel page, after you subscribe, click “Edit Subscription” and check the box, “Email me for new uploads.” Or…
– Go to your main drop-down box, click “Subscriptions,” find the GretchenRubin channel, click “Edit Subscriptions,” and check “Email me for new uploads” there.

To get the audio podcast of the video:
– Log in to iTunes
– Go to “Podcasts”
– Search for “The Happiness Project.” Free, of course.