Happier with Gretchen Rubin More Happier: Rethinking Resolutions with Gretchen Rubin on NPR’s “Life Kit” [Revisited]
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Jan 3, 2026 
Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author and happiness expert behind The Happiness Project, shares insightful strategies for effective New Year's resolutions. She emphasizes the power of specific, manageable goals and the importance of fresh starts. Rubin discusses how accountability and pairing tasks can boost success, along with recognizing red flags that signal a resolution won't stick. She encourages focusing on behaviors rather than outcomes and introduces flexible planning ideas like theme words to craft a meaningful year.
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Meditation Didn't Stick For Gretchen
- Gretchen Rubin repeatedly tried meditation and sometimes did it for months or a silent retreat.
- She concluded meditation doesn't work well for her despite others recommending it.
Make Resolutions Specific
- Make resolutions specific so you can definitively know if you kept them each day or week.
- Replace vague aims like "eat healthfully" with concrete actions like "pack a homemade lunch daily."
Only Choose Goals You Actually Want
- Avoid resolutions you adopt only because others told you to do them.
- If you commit, make a concrete plan; if you don't care, admit it and drop the resolution.