Getting organized doesn’t have to be complicated. The best organizing systems make life easier, not harder. The key is to focus on simple, sustainable solutions—items that make tidying up easier, help us stay on top of daily tasks, and reduce decision fatigue.  This post includes products that I believe in and love myself. It also […] The post Gretchen Rubin’s Recommendations: Making Organizing Simpler appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more

In Outer Order, Inner Calm, I write about how clearing clutter and creating order can make us feel lighter, happier, and more focused. But getting organized doesn’t mean rushing out to buy new bins or storage systems. Often, the best place to start is by taking inventory and figuring out how to use what we […] The post Gretchen Rubin’s Recommendations: Organization Using What You Already Have appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more

Some things just make life easier—small, simple items that streamline daily tasks and remove tiny frustrations. As Samuel Johnson wrote, “To live in perpetual want of little things, is a state not indeed of torture, but of constant vexation.” Sometimes, the right tool at the right time can make our lives much better. This post […] The post Gretchen Rubin’s Recommendations: Making Life Easier appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more

When it comes to saving time and staying focused, the right tools can make all the difference. Sometimes, we rely on workarounds or makeshift solutions that drain our energy. Whether it’s a gadget that eliminates an unnecessary errand or a tool that streamlines a daily task, investing in the right items can free up mental […] The post Gretchen Rubin’s Recommendations: Saving Time and Improving Focus appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more

Struggling with items that don’t have a place? Learn how to create simple, effective storage solutions to keep sentimental keepsakes, papers, and odd-shaped items organized—without adding clutter. This post includes products that I believe in and love myself. It also includes affiliate links, meaning I will receive a commission if you decide to make a purchase from […] The post Gretchen Rubin’s Recommendations: Archiving and Saving the Things That Matter  appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more

My next book, Secrets of Adulthood: Simple Truths for Our Complex Lives, will be published on April 1. In this book, I’ve distilled the lessons I’ve learned (and often re-learned) the hard way. To express these “secrets,” I’ve written more than two hundred aphorisms.  People have asked me, “Why write in aphorisms?”  For my whole […] The post Aphorisms and the Power of Big Truths in Small Packages appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more

Every year, millions of people set New Year’s resolutions with great hopes, and every year, most of those resolutions get abandoned–quickly. There’s even a discouraging name for it: Quitter’s Day, the second Friday in January.  Sound uncomfortably familiar? If so, here’s a surprising (and perhaps comforting) suggestion: Maybe you should give up your resolution. Not […] The post 3 Reasons to Give Up Your New Year’s Resolution appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more

The start of a new year brings fresh possibilities—a chance to reflect, reset, and focus on what matters most. When it comes to happiness, however, research shows that we’re not always good at predicting what will make us happy. Studies have found that people often overestimate how much external achievements or material gains will boost […] The post How to be happier in 2025, and the Question Everyone Forgets to Ask appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more

The start of a new year offers a terrific opportunity to reflect on what we want from the next twelve months. Making a New Year’s resolution is a popular way to set those aims, but it’s not the only way. Resolutions don’t work for everyone.  Each year on the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast, my […] The post Tips for writing your “25 for 25” list appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more

Every year on the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast, my sister Elizabeth and I invite our listeners to join us in an annual challenge. For a bit of whimsy, we use the calendar year to frame the habit. So for instance, in 2020, the challenge was to “Walk 20 in ’20.” In 2023, it was “Go […] The post Join us for Read 25 in ’25 appeared first on Gretchen Rubin ..read more