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1:06

Hello and welcome to Happier, a

1:08

podcast where we talk about strategies,

1:10

hacks, solutions, ideas for how to

1:12

make our lives happier, healthier, more

1:14

productive, and more creative. This

1:17

week, we'll talk about why and how

1:19

we might use halfway day, which is

1:21

July 2nd, to reflect on

1:23

our year so far and so

1:25

evaluate and perhaps course correct for

1:27

the second half of the year

1:29

if necessary. I'm

1:43

Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness,

1:45

good habits, the five senses, human nature.

1:48

I'm in my little home office in New

1:50

York City, and joining me today from Los

1:52

Angeles is my sister Elizabeth Kraft. And Elizabeth,

1:54

I love talking about halfway day with you

1:56

and hearing how you're doing on your list.

1:59

That's me, Elizabeth. a TV writer and

2:01

producer living in LA. And Gretchen, this is

2:03

definitely going to help me get

2:05

spurred to action. So this is a good

2:08

thing. It always acts as a prompt for

2:10

us, which is why we do it. Before

2:12

we jump in, a few updates. We've

2:15

got our Ask Us Anything episode

2:17

coming up. So send us any

2:19

questions about anything at all that

2:21

you would like to ask us.

2:23

Yes, and we are looking for

2:25

your hacks about exercise, hiking, and

2:27

travel. Gretchen, our trip to England

2:29

is coming up, where we are

2:31

going to be going on long

2:33

walks every day. And we're very

2:36

excited with Wilderness England. So

2:38

we are looking for those hacks. Yeah, we

2:40

need your help. Come on, bring them on.

2:43

But this week, our Try This At

2:45

Home tip is to use halfway day

2:47

to reflect on our year so far.

2:49

So yes, July 2nd is halfway day.

2:51

We're halfway through the year. And so

2:53

if you're doing any design year exercise,

2:56

this is a great time to use

2:58

the calendar as a catalyst for reflection,

3:00

to stop and say, okay, sometimes, Elizabeth,

3:02

I've even forgotten that something's on my

3:04

24 for 24 list or whatever. And

3:06

so it's really helpful just to pull

3:08

the sheet off the cork board and

3:10

take a look. Yes, and it's good

3:13

to revisit our happiness trifecta. So

3:15

every year we have our

3:17

yearly challenge, which this year

3:19

is right 24 and 24 to four minutes or

3:22

24 minutes a day. We

3:25

have our one word theme, and then we have our 24 for

3:27

24 list, which

3:29

we're gonna revisit today. So Elizabeth, before we

3:31

get into you and me specifically, how are

3:33

we doing with right 24 and 24? How

3:36

are you doing? I'd say I'm doing

3:38

okay. I gave myself

3:40

a demerit recently for not doing

3:42

my one sentence journal every day, but

3:45

since then I've picked back up on it.

3:47

So I think I'm doing pretty

3:49

well. How about you? I

3:52

would say the same. I'm doing the five senses

3:54

journal as well as the one sentence journal. And

3:56

I kind of wish that I had just picked

3:58

one. And here's the reason, Elizabeth. maybe you have

4:00

the same thing as I do, you and I both

4:02

have bad handwriting. And so I

4:04

kind of think that I, because I

4:07

feel like, oh, in my two to four minutes, I need to

4:09

fill out the five-census journal and fill out the one-census journal. And

4:11

it takes some time to think about what I want to write.

4:13

So I think if I had

4:15

picked one or the other journal, I would take

4:17

more time to write carefully because my fear is

4:19

that- You won't be able to

4:21

read it? Yeah, and part of the fun of

4:23

it is using it as a keepsake and it's

4:26

pretty unattractive just because of my handwriting, which is

4:28

why everything else in my life I type practically.

4:30

Well, maybe you should take halfway day as

4:32

the time to just say, from now on,

4:35

I'm only gonna do one of these. Maybe

4:37

I'll do that. I'm gonna consider that. As

4:39

an upholder, it's hard for you to give

4:42

up things, but this would

4:44

be a day to do it. This is

4:46

right. Well, that's right. And when I articulate

4:48

my inner expectation, more clearly, my actions can

4:50

follow. Okay, I'm gonna contemplate that because I

4:52

do love both journals. So

4:54

let me think about that, but

4:57

that's an interesting out-of-the-box suggestion. Okay,

4:59

but now let's get into the one-word theme in the 24 for

5:01

24 list. So Elizabeth, remind everybody

5:04

about your one-word theme. I love your

5:06

one-word theme. So my one-word theme is

5:08

book, and it goes both to the

5:10

novel that Sarah and I are writing

5:13

and to me wanting to book, meaning

5:15

I wanna move more, I wanna get

5:18

more cardio. I think I'm

5:20

doing okay on both. Both

5:22

are top of mind daily, I

5:25

would say, but you

5:27

know what, I haven't done Grudge. I

5:29

still don't have my symbol, my physical

5:31

symbol, which I usually have right away.

5:33

Oh, you usually, you're mugging it up.

5:35

You've got it on a key chain.

5:37

You've got it on a T-shirt. Why

5:40

not? I think there's just too

5:42

many books out there. It's like

5:44

there's so much, and yet haven't

5:46

found the thing that represents both

5:48

meanings. So maybe I'm overthinking

5:51

it. Maybe I just need to get

5:53

a little book, you know, pin and

5:56

let it be. Yeah, that's interesting though, because

5:58

I think one-word themes work better. the

6:00

visual representations are good when they're not

6:02

so common, you're overwhelmed the

6:04

way you are, and not so uncommon that

6:06

it's frustrating. Like, koi fish, which

6:09

is mine, spoiler alert, it's a little bit

6:11

obscure. There aren't a lot of koi fish

6:13

things to choose from, and the ones that

6:15

are there are not always as attractive as

6:17

I would like them to be. One wave

6:19

was great because there's that iconic painting which

6:22

shows up. Yeah, the great wave off of

6:24

Kanagawa. Yeah. Okay, well, that's good.

6:26

But the most important thing is, are you

6:28

making progress, consistent with your one word theme?

6:30

Yes. You're doing great. Okay, so let's get

6:32

into your 24 for 24 list. I

6:35

think this is the most popular of the

6:38

three exercises and the happiness trifecta. I think this is the

6:40

one people get the biggest kick out of. So

6:43

number one, Orange Theory 50 times. Of

6:45

course, well, listen, when you told me

6:47

about this, I had never heard of

6:49

Orange Theory. Now I realize it's everywhere.

6:51

Yes. Yeah. It's an exercise class studio.

6:54

So I'm doing okay. I started really late Gretchen

6:56

because I was sick for a solid month at

6:58

the beginning of the year. Yeah, you were really

7:01

sick. So I started late, but I've been going

7:03

twice a week. So I think

7:05

I'm like 16 in. It

7:07

keeps track of how many classes you

7:09

do, which is very handy. Yeah. So

7:11

I will reach that goal, barring

7:14

another month of sickness or something. Right.

7:16

Wow. Well, that's impressive. And I love

7:18

it. I'm really enjoying it. Oh, that's

7:20

so great. Number two, very

7:22

different. Get new sunglasses. No, but I

7:24

did figure out that I need to

7:26

get my eyes checked and I have

7:28

a place to do that. So I'd

7:31

say I'm on the way. That's the

7:33

kind of errand I don't like where

7:35

it just keeps being, there's more and

7:37

more tasks involved, but it's worth doing.

7:39

So do it. Number three,

7:41

engage more on social media. That has

7:43

been a bomb, Gretch. I think if

7:45

anything, I'm on social media less and

7:48

I have no excuse. Well,

7:50

of course, correction. Okay, halfway day.

7:53

Okay. Number four, weigh every day.

7:55

Yep. Weighing every day and recording

7:57

it in the happier app. I

22:00

think I remember that charm, Gretchen. That was a

22:02

very cool charm. I know exactly where I would

22:04

have put it if I do have it. And

22:06

I think I do. I feel like I've seen

22:08

it within the last decade. So I

22:10

will look, and if I find it, I'll post

22:12

a picture of it. Because that would be very

22:14

cool coming around. Okay, Gretch. Well, that's

22:17

great. You're doing well on your word.

22:19

Yeah. Let's dive into your

22:21

list. Number one, make

22:23

time for watercolor, including making 12

22:26

watercolor postcards. This fell apart.

22:29

I signed up for a class, got two friends to

22:31

take it with me, and I have to say I

22:33

had the least effective teacher that I think I've ever

22:35

had in my whole life. And it

22:37

just sort of discouraged me and set me off

22:39

course in a way that's not

22:41

rational. It's like I had fun seeing my

22:43

two friends. It's fine. I can take an

22:45

online course. I could watch YouTube videos. I

22:48

love buying the supplies. My desire to acquire

22:50

supplies outstripped my use of those supplies as

22:52

so often happens. In fact, I was just

22:54

talking to a friend about how do I

22:56

set myself up so I get back on

22:58

track with this. So halfway day is coming

23:01

at a really good time. Part of it

23:03

is I would like to do it at

23:05

my desk, but I can't have water in

23:07

a jar on my desk. It's too risky.

23:09

I think I need to just set aside

23:11

some place in the apartment where I will

23:13

leave everything set up. Yes. And I'll just

23:15

leave it out and have it be messy

23:18

because I think it's that strategy of convenience.

23:20

I need to get it working for me.

23:22

Yes. Got to get to making those postcards.

23:24

Yeah. Okay, number two, plant a milestone wedding

23:26

anniversary party. No, and we haven't hit the

23:28

anniversary party. So I'm not in violation of

23:30

this yet, but I would say I should

23:32

be thinking about it more. So

23:35

maybe when I'm in Kansas City in August, I

23:37

will have mom help me plan because she's very

23:39

good at planning this kind of thing. And she

23:41

will help me get the architecture of sort of

23:43

decision making. That's what she did the last time

23:45

I had an anniversary party. I used her as

23:47

a very helpful consultant. And so I think I

23:49

need to bring her in if I want to

23:51

get this done in 2024. Okay,

23:54

I'm excited for that party. Yes, you'll have to come

23:56

in you and Adam and Jack. Absolutely. Okay,

23:59

number three. three, create a new

24:01

quiz. Yes, I love quizzes.

24:04

I have my Fort Tennessee's quiz. I have

24:06

my gift appreciation quiz. I have my what's

24:08

your most neglected sense quiz. And this quiz

24:10

is so cool. I've talked about it before.

24:12

It's the Habits for Happiness quiz because people

24:14

are always saying to me, where

24:16

should I start? And I'm always like, it depends. What

24:18

do you want? Blah, blah, blah. And

24:20

they're like, but just can't you just tell me? I'm

24:22

like, no, I can't just tell you. But now I

24:24

have a quiz. Like, go take the quiz and it

24:26

will tell you where to start. It's so fun. If

24:28

you go to gretchenrubin.com/quiz, you can take it for free.

24:31

And this is one where I think if you took

24:33

it today and then you took it a month from

24:36

today, you might get a different answer. With like the

24:38

Fort Tennessee's quiz, most people always

24:40

get the same answer because it doesn't change.

24:42

This is something that will change with time

24:44

and your interests and what habits you've already

24:46

successfully conquered. But anyway, people

24:48

seem to be getting a tremendous kick

24:50

out of it. It was very tricky

24:52

to design, but I'm

24:54

super happy with the way that

24:56

it turned out and with the

24:59

response that it's gotten. So happiercast.com/quiz

25:01

for your habit for happiness answer.

25:04

So yeah, that one's crossed off the list. That felt

25:06

like a really big thing. It was a lot of

25:08

work to create that quiz. A lot of work, but

25:10

really worth it, I think, in the way it turned

25:12

out. Okay, number four, watch the

25:14

final season of Succession. Yes, for some

25:16

reason I was delaying. And of course,

25:18

the minute I started, I couldn't stop.

25:20

Loved Succession. Elizabeth, we talk about it

25:23

all the time. Love that

25:25

final season. Number five,

25:27

do 48 minutes of review

25:29

each weekend day because

25:31

that's two times 24 is how you

25:34

got to 48. Now this has been on

25:36

your list, I think, for like four years.

25:38

Yes, because I have this certain kind of

25:40

reading that's review reading. Okay, I've

25:42

been spotty. I would say I got into

25:44

it and I did amazingly well with it,

25:46

but that's when I was doing the easier

25:49

books that I kind of got cleared out.

25:51

And that was super satisfying because I just cleared out a bunch of

25:53

stuff. I either read it or didn't read it and gave it away.

25:56

So I was just doing the easier books that I had.

25:58

So that was very satisfying. that are

26:00

trickier and so I'm a little bit spotter, but

26:02

I'm doing better. I'm doing better than I was

26:04

the other three years when I tried to do

26:06

this. I am making progress on my shelves and

26:08

I do because I am doing it. At least

26:10

sometimes I'm feeling the relief that comes from it

26:13

and that's helping me stay with it because I'm

26:15

always like, well, don't I just want to read

26:17

something that I know I want to read? Why

26:19

am I reading something that I'm not sure I

26:21

want to read? But I'm like, if

26:23

I do this, it helps

26:25

me organize my reading life. It's

26:27

a very idiosyncratic issue for me,

26:29

but it is something that weighs

26:31

on me. So I've been making

26:33

slow progress. Okay, good. Number six,

26:36

celebrate the 10th anniversary of your children's

26:38

literature reading group. That's fun. Well, like

26:41

your one, it's not ripe yet.

26:43

That's in September, but I should start planning it

26:45

now actually and start thinking about when I want

26:47

to slot it in because the fall is such

26:50

a busy time. But yeah, that's going to be

26:52

really fun. Okay. Number seven, revisit your newsletters. You

26:54

have many newsletters of different

26:56

types, which I get

26:58

all of them of course, but you've been

27:00

streamlining. I've been streamlining. I've been converging them.

27:02

So really now it's the five things newsletter.

27:04

And so there's the five things making me

27:06

happy, which is every Friday. Then once a

27:09

month I have the five things to try,

27:11

which is like hacks and suggestions. People get

27:13

a big kick out of that. And then

27:15

there's five things I published, which is just

27:17

like, oh, if I publish something that's particularly

27:19

interesting, I put it in that newsletter. So

27:21

the theme for it was to converge, was to figure

27:23

out how to get them all streamlined

27:26

and make sense. And so now that is

27:28

done. That was a lot of hard work

27:30

because I did have a lot of bits

27:32

and bobs in my newsletters. I was sort

27:34

of accumulating them over time. And now they're

27:36

very coherent and streamlined and they have one

27:38

look and there was a very regular schedule.

27:40

So that was very satisfying to get that

27:42

done. And by the way, if you want

27:44

to sign up, go to gretterruven.com/newsletter and you

27:46

can sign up. I put a lot of

27:48

work into them. I think they're really

27:50

good. They're great. Yeah. Number eight,

27:53

keep learning and experimenting with AI.

27:56

You've been great with this. I do do this. I

27:58

pay a lot of attention to what happening with

28:00

AI and the different tools. I

28:02

read Ethan Mollick's Substack newsletter called

28:04

One Useful Thing. It's all about

28:06

how information workers can use AI.

28:08

I listen to the Hard Fork

28:10

podcast, which I find extremely

28:13

delightful, and I experiment with it. I use

28:15

a lot of the tools, and

28:17

I try to see if there's a way

28:19

for them to be helpful to me. So

28:22

I have been doing that. Number nine, no

28:24

spend February with me, Elizabeth. Done. Got a

28:26

lot out of that. Number 10, 2

28:29

plus 4 adventures. What does that mean? Okay,

28:31

so, you know, 2024, 2024. So 2 plus 4. I got to 6, and

28:33

so I want to have 6 major adventures. And

28:39

Elizabeth, we're doing our England walk. I'm

28:41

going to Japan. I went to

28:43

Tucson. I went to Chicago

28:46

to see friends. So I'm

28:49

racking up some adventures. You are. So that's great. So

28:51

I think I will get to 6. Excellent. Number

28:54

11, Summer of Abraham Lincoln. Yeah, so

28:56

I always have a theme for my

28:58

summer reading, and this year it is

29:01

the theme of Abraham Lincoln as storyteller.

29:03

I'm very focused on the aspect of

29:05

Abraham Lincoln as communicator, because he was

29:08

so famous for his ability to communicate.

29:10

That's really intriguing to me, so I

29:12

have a giant stack of books. Cannot

29:15

wait to dig in. Feels like we

29:17

could do a special episode about what

29:19

you've learned from your Abraham Lincoln reading,

29:22

maybe. Yes, okay. Something to ponder. Number

29:24

12, have monthly casual dinner parties. So

29:26

Jamie and I started with this, and

29:29

he's very committed to it, which is

29:31

great. We sort of had to stop

29:33

doing it because everything got so wild,

29:36

and then the summer is wild. And

29:39

I always do fall into this trap of

29:41

saying, well, everything will calm down in September,

29:43

which no, it does not. But I think

29:45

we will re-engage with this, because Jamie likes

29:47

to do it too. That makes

29:49

it a lot easier. A big part of it is

29:51

just the scheduling of it, picking a day where it

29:53

doesn't conflict with anything important for either of

29:56

us. But we really enjoy doing

29:58

it, so this is a good reminder. that we

30:00

want to make it a priority. Yes. Okay,

30:03

13, get a family photo taken in August. Okay,

30:05

so this is the thing, a happiness bully has

30:08

to take her own advice. I

30:10

have not done this, I'm supposed to do it

30:12

in August. This is a good reminder because I

30:14

want to have like a cool outdoor picture taken,

30:16

so, but I got to figure that out. So,

30:18

it's on the list. 14,

30:21

make a list of 24 things that please

30:23

me. That's funny, I like that. This is

30:25

just a delightful thing that I'm doing. I

30:27

have 10 things on the list so far.

30:29

I'm being very selective. So, I

30:31

am not tracking for halfway day, but I am

30:33

doing it. So, I hope that I see, maybe

30:35

when I'm in Japan and England, I will see

30:38

an extra dose of things that please me. That's

30:40

lovely, I like that. Yeah. 15,

30:42

throw a perfume night for your friends. I

30:45

have not done that yet. I've been wanting to

30:47

do that for your, well, here's a drive-by hack.

30:49

I think what I need to do is just,

30:51

the hack is that if there's something that you're

30:53

not doing that you want to do, like at

30:55

least do some small thing toward that aim. And

30:57

I would say, in my case, the small thing

31:00

I'm doing, I should start doing toward that

31:02

aim is I should start collecting names of

31:04

people who I know love perfume. Because

31:06

this isn't going to be like my standard group.

31:09

I want there to be people there that maybe

31:11

are friendly acquaintances, but they just happen to love

31:13

perfume. So, I want it to be a little

31:15

bit more of an unusual grouping. But

31:17

I need to start writing that down because people will tell

31:19

me and I'm like, oh, I'll let you know. And of

31:21

course I have no memory of that. I want to start

31:24

doing that. Okay. Number 16,

31:26

play on a podcast or gathering.

31:28

I did that, loved it, so fun. I want

31:30

to do it again. Yes, next time I want

31:32

to be there. Yes, we'll do it. Number 17,

31:35

catch up on your photo albums. Now, so this

31:37

is something, halfway day is a good reminder. I

31:39

should do it through this. Or maybe I'll do

31:42

it at the end of the summer and do

31:44

the whole year and then the summer and then

31:46

do the rest of it at the end of

31:48

the year post-Christmas. So, I

31:50

need to remember to do this when

31:52

the time comes. Okay. Number 18, 24

31:54

days of policy or commentary. I

31:59

have a- doing haven't been doing much of this.

32:02

I think I've done like four. Explain what

32:04

it is. So this is like something like

32:06

a book talk or a lecture or something

32:08

that's not like a cultural performance or a

32:11

museum exhibition but is something like some friend

32:13

wrote an interesting book about urban policy or

32:15

something like that. I'm like got it. Oh

32:18

I should go to their book event at

32:20

a bookstore that kind of thing. Got it.

32:23

Okay 19 planned family trip to Japan. This

32:25

has been a roller coaster. This has been

32:27

a roller coaster. I didn't think I wanted

32:29

to do it then I didn't think I

32:32

could do it and now it's happening and

32:34

I feel so incredibly lucky, so fortunate. It's

32:36

happening. Japan here I come. Okay

32:39

20 draw a muse machine card

32:41

each week. This is really fun.

32:43

I love this. You know it's

32:45

like I draw a card

32:47

and I see what it says and then it's kind of

32:49

fun to see if it's sort of a prophecy that comes

32:51

forth or if I get some kind of odd creative

32:54

spark from it. So that's just pure fun.

32:56

Do you have a particular day that you do it?

32:58

I usually do it Monday morning. It's a fun way

33:01

to start the week. That's good. Yeah

33:03

21 find a way to support a cause

33:05

you believe in. I've done this so I

33:08

am joining the board of the Center for

33:10

Fiction here in New York City and I'm

33:12

also joining the board of Giving Tuesday which

33:15

I'm super excited about. So I'm very

33:17

happy to be able to put

33:20

my values into the world. I love

33:22

both of those organizations and those causes

33:24

so that's exciting. Great. 22 work outside

33:26

your office. I haven't done this at

33:28

all. I need to do this. I

33:30

just get

33:33

stuck in my routine and I love working

33:35

at a library. I love working in a

33:37

coffee shop. I like to get out of

33:39

my office. I don't know why I haven't

33:42

done this. This is one of these things

33:44

where it's like I think it's just day

33:46

to day it feels slightly inconvenient and I'm

33:48

like oh I just need to be productive

33:50

and efficient today. Well and you're so into

33:52

your three monitors. But now I have this

33:54

thing where it's portable. It's three monitors that

33:57

I can take with me so I could

33:59

do that. I mean, I can

34:01

have my three monitors, so I should

34:03

do it. Okay, well, halfway day reminder.

34:05

Halfway day reminder. Okay, and 23, be

34:07

a matchmaker. Fix

34:10

up two couples for a date. Yes, I

34:12

really want to do this. Now, you have

34:15

to have the people to do

34:17

the matching with, but I have been asking

34:19

around. So I'm working behind the scenes. I

34:21

have been thinking about this. I have not

34:23

successfully done it, but not because I've overlooked

34:25

it, but because I haven't had the good

34:27

matches, but I'm trying. All right.

34:29

Yes, you've mentioned it to me. So I know it's

34:32

on your mind. Yes, it is on my mind. Yep.

34:34

Okay. And finally, Gretch number 24,

34:37

revisited, embodied, do another happiness project.

34:39

Yes, and I'm doing that because

34:41

I'm doing the happiness project course

34:43

along with everybody, all the participants.

34:46

And so I'm revisiting all the

34:48

themes that I did in the

34:50

happiness project. So that's super

34:52

fun. So I'm, you know, I'm halfway through because

34:54

it's halfway day. That's been really great. I'm kind

34:56

of giving myself double credit with that one. I'm

34:59

realizing, but I'll take the double credit. You

35:01

should get double credit. Why not? Yeah,

35:03

why not? There are no rules here.

35:06

Hey, there's no rules. Right.

35:08

No right way or wrong way. It's whatever works

35:10

for you. So let us know

35:12

if you do try this at home. If you're

35:14

using halfway day to look at your list, your

35:17

one-word theme, to examine

35:19

write 24 and 24 and how

35:21

it's working for you. We would love

35:24

to hear your suggestions, reflections, resources. Let

35:26

us know on Instagram threads, TikTok, Facebook,

35:28

drop us an email at podcast at

35:31

Gretchen movement.com. Where as always you go

35:33

to the show notes. This is half

35:35

your cast.com/four eight eight for everything related

35:38

to this episode. Coming up, I give

35:40

myself a lighting related to merit. The

35:42

first this break. One

35:50

thing that can be really frustrating as a

35:53

parent is you see your child struggling with

35:55

a specific subject. They need help with their

35:57

homework or maybe they're asking questions on their

35:59

homework. You as a parent do

36:01

not feel equipped to answer. IXL Learning

36:04

is an online learning program for kids.

36:06

It covers math, language arts, science, and

36:08

social studies. IXL is designed to help

36:10

them really understand and master topics in

36:13

a fun way with positive feedback. I

36:16

remember how much Eleanor struggled with math,

36:18

and I was not able to help

36:20

her, and having IXL would have really,

36:22

really benefited her. If your

36:24

child is struggling, this is the smartest

36:26

investment you can make. IXL

36:28

is used in 95 of the top

36:30

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36:33

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36:35

your child's learning. Get IXL now, and

36:37

happier listeners can get an exclusive 20%

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36:42

they sign up today at

36:44

ixl.com/happier. Visit ixl.com/happier to get

36:47

the most effective learning program

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out there at the best

36:52

price. This

36:54

message is sponsored by Greenlight. As

36:56

your kids get older, some things about parenting get easier.

36:59

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37:01

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37:26

skills. Jack has Greenlight Gretchen,

37:28

and he loves it. If

37:30

I had Greenlight when we were young, and I knew

37:32

if I mowed the lawn, Mom and

37:34

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37:37

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free. greenlight.com/happier. This

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state law. Okay, it's time

38:34

for the Merit and Gold Stars.

38:36

Elizabeth, you're the Merit. Gretsch, it's

38:38

a very mundane demerit. It's that

38:40

I still have not figured out

38:42

the right lighting for zooms. Yeah.

38:44

And recording, I still have the

38:46

ring light in my glasses. Yeah.

38:49

I need to go at it again. I

38:52

tried parchment paper. That hasn't worked for me.

38:54

So I just, I need to tackle

38:56

it again. Yeah. It's

38:58

the ongoing issue. All right, glasses are

39:00

a problem. Lighting is a problem. It's

39:02

just, it's a problem. Yes. But

39:05

what is your Gold Star? Well, I hurt

39:07

my toe, which I'm very concerned about this

39:09

toe because I'm going all these walking and

39:11

hiking. And so I've been trying

39:13

to baby the toe and my daughter, Eleanor,

39:16

was just like, my feet felt cramped, I

39:18

think, because I was favoring the toe, sort

39:20

of straining the muscles in my foot. And

39:22

so she rubbed my feet and oh my

39:25

gosh, it felt so good. Sweet daughter.

39:27

I know. And I just thought, oh,

39:29

like Gold Star for her. I appreciated it

39:32

so much. Nice. So the resource for this

39:34

week. Okay, halfway day, it's coming up July

39:36

2nd. And so this halfway point in the

39:39

year is a great chance to revisit your

39:41

goals. So to help everybody

39:43

refocus on the Happier app, we're running

39:45

a two week check-in through July 8th.

39:47

So week one offers reflection on your

39:49

progress. And then week two provides fresh

39:52

ideas and strategies to help you get

39:54

back on track if you need help.

39:56

And you can find the halfway day

39:58

inspiration on the app. explore

40:00

tab, or you can download the

40:02

app at thehappierapp.com. So what are

40:04

we reading? Alyssa, what are you

40:06

reading? I am reading, It

40:09

Takes Two to Mango by Kerry Doyle.

40:12

And I'm about to start The City and

40:14

the Stars by Arthur C.

40:16

Clarke. And that's it for this episode

40:18

of Happier. Remember to try this at home. Use

40:20

halfway day to reflect on your year so far.

40:22

Let us know if you tried it and if

40:24

it worked for you. Thank you

40:26

to our executive producer, Chuck Reed, and

40:29

everyone at Odyssey. Get in touch, Gretchen's

40:31

on Instagram, threads, Facebook, and TikTok at

40:33

Gretchen Rubin. And I'm on Instagram and

40:35

threads at Liz Craft. And you know

40:38

what's coming at you. And here's your

40:40

rhyme. Remember, if you like

40:42

the show, tell someone you know.

40:44

Until next week, I'm Elizabeth Craft. And

40:46

I'm Gretchen Rubin. Thanks for joining

40:48

us, onward and upward.

40:58

Hey, look at that mug. Let's see. Yeah, I

41:00

got my Sancola sound mug. Oh,

41:02

there you go. From the onward project. News.

41:28

In order to secure convictions in a court

41:30

of law, it is essential

41:32

that we conclusively. Sports. Back

41:35

pocket four. Donch itch. The

41:37

step back three. You bitch. Music.

41:40

You set my world on fire. Yes,

41:44

all. And even podcasts. Whatever you

41:46

love, hear it right here on

41:49

TuneIn. Go to tunein.com or download

41:51

the TuneIn app to start listening.