Christine Carter on the Science of Happiness and Escaping the "Busy" Trap

Christine Carter is a sociologist, columnist and speaker. She’s the author of the books Raising Happiness: 10 Simple Steps for More Joyful Kids and Happier Parents, as well as The Sweet Spot: How to Achieve More by Doing Less. She is also a Senior Fellow at the Greater Good Science Center where she explores the science of happiness and researches how to thrive in our stress-filled, fast-paced modern world.

Christine has appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show,” the “Dr. Oz Show”, the “TODAY” show, the “Rachael Ray Show,” “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” and many others. She has been quoted or featured in The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, and other media outlets.

You can subscribe to Christine’s monthly newsletter at christinecarter.com/free-updates/.

In the episode, Christine and I discuss:

• Why Christine began to fantasize about being hospitalized
• What drove Christine to cancel a keynote speaking engagement at the last minute 
• Why the opposite of busyness is not laziness
• How the first industrial revolution created our notions of workplace productivity which we still mistakenly believe today
• How you can schedule rest in your day to increase productivity
• How a multitasking brain consumes energy and ways to retrain ourselves to stick to one thing at a time
• The importance of experiencing stillness and how it improves brain function
• Why Christine began leaving her phone in the car when she went grocery shopping
• The one personal failure Christine continues to experience
• Why we should allow our kids to experience boredom and disappointment

Christine also responds to Inner Circle member Cathy Cheng’s question: What are the one or two most consistent attributes of organizations where workers are happiest, most productive, and least likely to leave?

Resources mentioned

In a land of workaholics, burned-out South Koreans go to 'prison' to relax

The Art of Noticing by Rob Walker

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