Gretchen Rubin is a writer working on The Happiness Project—an account of the year she spent test-driving every conceivable principle about how to be happy, from the wisdom of the ages to current scientific studies, from Aristotle to Ben Franklin to Martin Seligman. On her Happiness Project blog, she reports her daily adventures on her way to becoming happier.

Rubin is a graduate of Yale Law School and was editor-in-chief of the Yale Law Journal. She was clerking for Justice Sandra Day O’Connor when she had the epiphany that she really wanted to be a writer.

Her bestselling Forty Ways to Look at Winston Churchill and Forty Ways to Look at JFK are succinct, provocative biographies. Power Money Fame Sex: A User’s Guide is biting social criticism in the form of a user’s manual. She also has three terrible novels safely locked in a desk drawer.

Raised in Kansas City, she lives in New York City with her husband and two young daughters.

Blog Entries by Gretchen Rubin

Balanced Life -- More Tips About Making And Keeping New Year's Resolutions

Posted December 30, 2009 | 03:31 PM (EST)


Champagne

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.

This Wednesday: More tips about making and keeping resolutions than you could want.

In 2009, the top three resolutions made by Americans were:

  • Losing weight...

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A Year In The Pursuit Of Happiness: 7 Surprising Truths About What Makes Us Happy

98 Comments | Posted December 29, 2009 | 09:24 AM (EST)


In my new book The Happiness Project I describe the year I spent test-driving the wisdom of the ages, the current scientific studies, and the lessons from popular culture about how to be happier -- from Aristotle to Thoreau to Seligman to Oprah. Here on the...

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Balanced Life -- 10 Tips For An Emergency Energy Boost

1 Comments | Posted December 24, 2009 | 12:44 PM (EST)


Candles

When your energy level is low, everything feels like a chore -- even things would ordinarily make you happy. Holiday time can be draining, with lots of shopping, cooking, traveling, decorating, meeting, greeting,...

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Balanced Life -- 5 Tips For Effective New Year's Resolutions

Posted December 17, 2009 | 04:15 PM (EST)


Newyear

Forty-four percent of Americans make New Year's resolutions, and I know I always do. I'm more inclined to make resolutions than ever, in fact, because if my happiness project has convinced me of...

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Balanced Life -- 4 Tips For Dealing With Holiday Temptations

2 Comments | Posted December 16, 2009 | 11:42 AM (EST)


Cookies

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.

This Wednesday: four tips for using the abstainer/moderator split to fight holiday temptations.

Ah, the holidays. If you're a person who is trying to withstand temptations, it...

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Balanced Life -- Don't Try To Keep That Resolution -- Part II

1 Comments | Posted December 14, 2009 | 12:26 PM (EST)


Welcome_Mat

Working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up,...

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Balanced Life -- Eight Tips To Know If You're Being Boring

2 Comments | Posted December 9, 2009 | 12:45 PM (EST)


Alex-katz-the-cocktail-party

Every Wednesday is Tip Day.

This Wednesday: Eight tips for knowing if you're boring someone.

'Tis the season of merry-making, which means you're probably more likely than usual to find yourself making...

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Balanced Life -- Resolve to Make 2010 a Happier Year.

Posted December 7, 2009 | 01:09 PM (EST)


HappinessProjectbooklogo

Working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up,...

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Balanced Life -- 10 Reasons Why Using Twitter Will Boost Your Happiness

12 Comments | Posted December 3, 2009 | 10:01 AM (EST)


Twitter

Every Wednesday is Tip Day, or List Day.

This Wednesday: 10 reasons why using Twitter will boost your happiness.

I'm a huge fan of Twitter, and last night I was trying...

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Balanced LIfe -- Make Sure the "Fun" is Fun for YOU

Posted November 30, 2009 | 06:31 PM (EST)


Bookopen

Working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch...

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Balanced Life -- Try Fun, Quick Exercises To Boost Your Creativity

2 Comments | Posted November 23, 2009 | 11:33 AM (EST)


Creativity2

Working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up, just...

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15 Tips To Avoid Nagging

4 Comments | Posted November 19, 2009 | 10:53 AM (EST)


I've posted this list before, but I'm posting it again, because the issue of nagging is something that people raise with me frequently in discussions of happiness. It turns out that being a nag is just as unpleasant as being nagged -- so figuring out how to end nagging brings...

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When You're in a Hurry, Take Your Time

6 Comments | Posted November 16, 2009 | 11:31 AM (EST)


Hurry

Working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up,...

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Balanced Life -- 11 Myths Of De-Cluttering.

2 Comments | Posted November 12, 2009 | 01:11 PM (EST)


Outerorder

One of my great realizations about happiness (and a point oddly under-emphasized by positive psychologists) is that outer order contributes to inner calm.

But as much as most of us want to...

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Balanced Life -- Act the Way You Want To Feel

7 Comments | Posted November 9, 2009 | 10:25 AM (EST)


Tearfuleye

Working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch...

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Balanced Life -- Eight Tips for Boosting Your Energy Level.

2 Comments | Posted November 4, 2009 | 01:19 PM (EST)


Avedonspring


Feeling energetic is a key to feeling happy. Studies show that when you feel energetic, you feel much better about yourself. On the other hand, when you feel exhausted, tasks that would ordinarily make...

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Balanced Life -- A Fundamental Secret To Happiness? Get Enough Sleep

2 Comments | Posted November 2, 2009 | 10:55 AM (EST)


Sleepy

Working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch...

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Balanced Life -- A Secret to Happiness: Don't Try to Keep Your Resolution

Posted October 26, 2009 | 06:35 AM (EST)


Welcome_Mat

Working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch...

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Balanced Life: Excellent Tips For Living That My Parents Gave Me

3 Comments | Posted October 23, 2009 | 06:36 AM (EST)


Light_bulb

Sometimes you don't have to go very far or do much research to get advice on how to be happier. Here are eight excellent tips for living my parents gave me.

My mother:...

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Balanced Life: A Secret to Happiness? Don't Get Organized

Posted October 22, 2009 | 05:28 PM (EST)


Cleanshelf

I'm working on my Happiness Project, and you could have one, too! Everyone's project will look different, but it's the rare person who can't benefit. Join in -- no need to catch up,...

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