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.
If seeing this book trailer made you think, “Goodness, Gretchen, I want to pre-order Happier at Homeright this minute,” then here are the links you need! Pre-orders are a big help to me, so thanks for pre-ordering.
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 the Five Senses, and last week’s resolution was to Cultivate good smells. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness?
This week’s resolution is to Hug more, kiss more, touch more (appropriately, of course). This is one of my very favorite resolutions.
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.
* 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! This month’s theme is the Five Senses, and last week’s resolution was to Listen to your favorite song. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness?
This week’s resolution is to Cultivate good smells.
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.
* For many people, alcohol raises happiness challenges. In the post The art of mindful drinking, my friend Caren Osten Gerszberg takes a thoughtful look at the issue.
* 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.
For the past few years, for the weekly video as part of the Happiness Challenge, I’ve proposed a resolution for your consideration — a concrete, manageable resolution to boost your happiness (at least, one that has boosted my happiness).
I’m considering changing the format of the videos for next year. One possibility is to have readers post comments about the aspects of life that drag them down — then I’d discuss (I wouldn’t give advice, but I’d discuss) those issues in the videos.
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 an ordinary problem that has settled into roost. For example: you’re always exhausted; you fight with your in-laws; your house is a wreck; you feel panicked when you think of how far behind you’ve fallen on making photo albums.
I’m not sure whether this format will work, so I have a favor to ask: if you have a readily identifiable “pigeon of discontent,” please post it here. Having an idea of how people would answer this question will help me decide whether this would be an interesting, useful path to take.
So: What is your Pigeon of Discontent? What relatively small and ordinary issue drags down your happiness?
* 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! This month’s theme is the Five Senses, and last week’s resolution was to Tap into your senses–go outside. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness?
This week’s resolution, to tap into the power of hearing, is to Listen to your favorite upbeat song.
If you’re curious about the song I mention, the Border ballad Raggle Taggle Gypsies, here are two great versions, from the Waterboys and from the Irish Descendants. (Preview: a very careful reader of Happier at Home will spot a fleeting reference to the song, which, as it happens, is also an allusion to Virginia Woolf.)
How about you? Do you find that listening to your favorite music cheers you? What song do you know will lift your spirits, every time?
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.
* My thoughtful friend Melanie Notkin, a/k/a Savvy Auntie, let me know that the Girl Scouts now have a badge for “The Science of Happiness.” Excellent!
* Join the happiness conversation on the Facebook Page. Lots of interesting discussion there.
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 Self-control, and last week’s theme was to Beware the licensing effect. Did you try that resolution? Did it boost your happiness?
his month’s theme is the Five Senses, and this week’s resolution is to Go outside.
Have you found that just going outside lifts your mood? Have you noticed whether the time of day, or being in nature, has any additional effect?
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.
* At the Mighty Summit a few weeks ago, I met Sarah Bryden-Brown, who told me about her e-book, Welcome To My World, with essays by mothers in various circumstances. Looks fascinating.
* Want to get my free monthly newsletter? It highlights the best of the month’s material from the blog and the Facebook Page. Email me at gretchenrubin1 at gretchenrubin dot com, or sign up here.
