“The bus was hardly moving, but I could hardly keep pace with my own thoughts. “I’ve got to tackle this,” I told… — Gretchen Rubin Free time Copy Share Image
A book is a better way to develop a complicated idea, or to tell a big story and to show how ideas… — Gretchen Rubin Better way Copy Share Image
I used to be very disciplined about only buying three books ahead of what I was reading, but my husband corrupted me,… — Gretchen Rubin Book Copy Share Image
“Pushing myself, I knew, would cause me serious discomfort. It's a Secret of Adulthood: Happiness doesn't always make you feel happy. When… — Gretchen Rubin Afraid of failure Copy Share Image
Try to never say 'yes' on the phone; instead, say, 'I'll get back to you.' When you're actually speaking to someone, the… — Gretchen Rubin Actually Copy Share Image
I love cunning containers as much as anyone, but I've found that if I get rid of everything I don't need, I… — Gretchen Rubin Anyone Copy Share Image
“I'd always vaguely expected to outgrown my limitations.” — Gretchen Rubin Limitations Copy Share Image
He is my fate. He's my soul mate. He pervades my whole existence. So, of course, I often ignore him. — Gretchen Rubin Existence Copy Share Image
When I find myself focusing overmuch on the anticipated future happiness of arriving at a certain goal, I remind myself to 'Enjoy… — Gretchen Rubin Arriving Copy Share Image
When you're doing a job that benefits other people, it's easy to assume that they feel conscious of the fact that you're… — Gretchen Rubin About Copy Share Image
“We all know the secret of dieting - eat better, eat less, exercise more - it's the application that's challenging.” — Gretchen Rubin Copy Share Image
Nature is impersonal, awe-inspiring, elegant, eternal. It's geometrically perfect. It's tiny and gigantic. You can travel far to be in a beautiful… — Gretchen Rubin Above Copy Share Image
There are no do overs and some things just aren't going to happen. It is a little sad but you just have… — Gretchen Rubin Embrace Copy Share Image
People are powerfully moved by imagination, belief, and knowledge. They can consider the past and future. They can make changes in their… — Gretchen Rubin Animal Copy Share Image
The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity,… — Gretchen Rubin Belief Copy Share Image
“As I turned the key and pushed open the front door, as I crossed the threshold, I thought how breathtaking, how fleeting,… — Gretchen Rubin Front door Copy Share Image
It was my interest in happiness that led me to the subject of habits, and of course, the study of habits is… — Gretchen Rubin Architecture Copy Share Image
“I have an idea of who I wish I were, and that obscures my understanding of who I actually am. Sometimes I… — Gretchen Rubin Learning Copy Share Image
Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they're big, flashing signs that… — Gretchen Rubin Bigs Copy Share Image
Take the perspective of a journalist or scientist. Really study what's around you. What are people wearing, what do the interiors of… — Gretchen Rubin Almost Copy Share Image
Nothing,' wrote Tolstoy, 'can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness. — Gretchen Rubin Beautiful Copy Share Image
Focus not on doing less or doing more but on doing what you value. — Gretchen Rubin Focus Copy Share Image
Growing up in Kansas City, I was always neat, the teacher's pet, know-it-all type. — Gretchen Rubin Always Copy Share Image
“For work: I bought some pens. Normally, I used makeshift pens, the kind of unsatisfactory implements that somehow materialized in my bag… — Gretchen Rubin Money well spent Copy Share Image
[S]tudies show that one of the best ways to lift your mood is to engineer an easy success, such as tackling a… — Gretchen Rubin Chores Copy Share Image