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A New Year Pep Talk with Gretchen Rubin (Bonus)

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Jan 8, 2026

Guest

Gretchen Rubin

Join bestselling author Gretchen Rubin, a leading voice on habits and happiness, as she navigates the complexities of New Year's goals. Discover why better beats perfect, and how starting tasks early can ease anxiety. They discuss the importance of prioritizing what truly matters while letting go of less meaningful activities. Explore the balance between planning and flexibility, and learn the value of scheduled rest and reconnecting with lost pleasures. Gretchen's top advice for January? Prioritize sleep for a fresh start!

58:16

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Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Perfectionism Is Anxiety, Not Standards

Perfectionism is driven by anxiety, not standards.
Address the anxiety (start early, break tasks down) rather than lowering standards.

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ADVICE

Start Hard Things Early

Start important or hard tasks early in your day to use fresh mental energy.
Write it down and do it first thing to reduce anxiety and get underway.

insights

INSIGHT

Letting Go Frees Space

Choosing what to keep requires deliberate trade-offs and grief.
Letting go of some things frees space for what truly matters.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Why better beats perfect

01:32 • 5min

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Starting early to reduce anxiety

06:44 • 2min

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Choosing what to let go

08:14 • 4min

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Grieving lost identities and preferences

12:40 • 4min

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The value and limits of clean slates

16:28 • 3min

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Seasonal priorities and parenting trade-offs

19:39 • 5min

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Reconnecting with lost pleasures

24:21 • 2min

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Make explicit 'not-do' lists

26:49 • 2min

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Expect resistance when you change routines

Schedule rest to stay replenished

33:03 • 3min

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The Four Tendencies framework

35:45 • 4min

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Identifying your tendency helps habits

39:55 • 4min

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Balancing planning with pivoting

43:37 • 3min

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Daily rituals that sustain creativity

46:25 • 7min

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Find treasures near you

53:23 • 3min

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Practices Kendra prioritizes

56:05 • 12sec

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One simple January habit: sleep

• Mentioned in 58 episodes

The Happiness Project

Gretchen Rubin

In 'The Happiness Project', Gretchen Rubin chronicles her year-long journey to enhance her happiness. Despite having a fulfilling life, Rubin realized she wasn’t focusing enough on her own happiness. She divided her project into twelve months, each with a different area of focus and specific goals. From boosting energy and improving her marriage to enhancing her work life and leisure activities, Rubin tested various strategies, including those from Epicurus, Thoreau, and modern scientists. The book combines historical wisdom, scientific research, and personal anecdotes to provide practical advice on how to make life happier and more fulfilling.

#919

• Mentioned in 35 episodes

The four tendencies

Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin's "The Four Tendencies" introduces a personality framework categorizing individuals into four tendencies: Upholders, Questioners, Obligers, and Rebels. Understanding these tendencies helps explain how people respond to inner and outer expectations, impacting their decision-making, habit formation, and relationships. The book provides self-assessment tools and practical advice for leveraging each tendency's strengths and navigating its challenges. It offers insights into personal productivity, communication, and conflict resolution. Ultimately, it promotes self-awareness and improved relationships.

#70

• Mentioned in 194 episodes

War and Peace

Leo Tolstoy

Set during the Napoleonic Wars, 'War and Peace' follows the lives of several Russian aristocratic families, including the Bezukhovs, the Rostovs, and the Bolkonskys. The novel spans from 1805 to 1820 and is known for its realistic detail and psychological analysis. It explores the impact of Napoleon's invasion of Russia on the characters and society, delving into themes of love, family, war, and personal growth. The novel includes historical events such as the Battle of Austerlitz, the Treaties of Tilsit, and the French invasion of Russia, intertwining historical and fictional elements.

#516

• Mentioned in 52 episodes

The Lazy Genius Way

Emily P. Freeman

Kendra Adachi

In this book, Kendra Adachi invites readers to live well by their own definition, equipping them to be a genius about what matters and lazy about what doesn’t. The book addresses the overwhelming mixed messages of what it means to live well and provides practical advice through thirteen Lazy Genius principles. These principles include 'Decide once,' 'Start small,' 'Ask the Magic Question,' 'Go in the right order,' and 'Schedule rest,' among others. Adachi’s approach is unique in that it does not impose a one-size-fits-all solution but instead offers tools for individuals to figure out what is most important to them and focus on those aspects while letting go of the rest.

#1187

• Mentioned in 29 episodes

Life in Five Senses

How Exploring the Senses Got Me Out of My Head and Into the World

Gretchen Rubin

In 'Life in Five Senses,' Gretchen Rubin delves into the mysteries and joys of the five senses as a means to achieve a happier, more mindful life. After realizing she had been overlooking her senses while studying happiness, Rubin embarked on a year-long experiment to heighten her senses and use her powers of perception to live a fuller life. Drawing on cutting-edge science, philosophy, literature, and personal experiences, she investigates how simple pleasures like appreciating ketchup and favorite songs, as well as more adventurous activities like daily visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, can enhance daily life. Rubin shows how tuning into the physical world can help individuals cheer up, calm down, and engage more deeply with their surroundings.

January often arrives with a mix of motivation and overwhelm—fresh starts, lofty goals, and the pressure to do things differently. To explore this complicated season, I’m joined by Gretchen Rubin, bestselling author and leading voice on habits, happiness, and human nature. Our conversation is a thoughtful look at how to approach the new year with intention, from embracing clean slates to making space for what matters most. If you're feeling the weight of January expectations, this episode offers both insight and encouragement.

Helpful Companion Links

Find Gretchen on Instagram and on her podcast, Happier with Gretchen Rubin.
Order my book The PLAN or ask your library to consider carrying a copy.
Sign up for our every-other-week podcast recap email called Latest Lazy Listens.
Grab a copy of my book The Lazy Genius Kitchen or The Lazy Genius Way! (Affiliate links)

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