Why I Chose This Book
I enjoy Gretchen’s podcast (Happier with Gretchen Rubin), and I have enjoyed her book on clearing clutter. I’m a sucker for self improvement and well, this seemed like an obvious fit.
Quick Summary of The happiness project
Gretchen Rubin spends a full year intentionally trying to be happier. She studies happiness research and pairs it with a deep understanding of her own personality to create monthly goals and resolutions focused on improving her everyday life.
Her main goal? Find happiness where she already is. Bloom where you’re planted, if you will.
Each month focuses on a different theme, and she’s refreshingly honest about what works, what doesn’t, and where she falls short. Over the year, she experiments with everything from laughter yoga to cleaning out her closet to speaking more kindly to her family.
“One study suggested that eliminating clutter would cut down the amount of housework in the average home by 40%.”
Takeaways
Don’t assume something won’t make you happy. Ask people if what they're doing is making them happy and assume you’ll feel the same way (instead of assuming it won't work for you).
Tackle a nagging task: she made a 5 page to do list of all the little annoying things in her brain and actually did them. Doesn’t that sound amazing?
Women matter (a lot). Research shows that for both men and women, relationships with women tend to be more intimate and enjoyable. The strongest predictor of not feeling lonely? Time spent with women. Time spent with men didn’t make a measurable difference.
I mean… what? Fascinating. Surprising? Maybe not.Spontaneous trait transference: the traits you assign to others are often attributed back to you. Call someone arrogant, and people may associate that with you. Call someone brilliant, and that quality reflects back as well.
“Happy wife, happy life” is a lot of pressure. Yes. I agree. Moms—this one hit. When our mood is off, it affects the entire household. It can feel like we don’t get to have an off day
You can get a lot done in just 15 minutes. Something I needed to hear.
Acknowledge kids’ feelings creatively. One favorite strategy: the “magic wand.”
“If I had a magic wand, I’d make it warm outside so we could play.”You can make your own traditions. Permission granted.
Add Fight Club to my reading list. Didn’t see that coming.
Mantra: “I have plenty of time for the things that are important to me.”
You can write a novel and never publish it. Never read it. Never touch it again.
How have I never considered this?Happiness takes energy and discipline. Which somehow makes it feel more attainable—and more annoying—at the same time.
“On the whole, though I never arrrived at the perfection I had been so ambitious of obtaining, but fell far short of it, yet as I was, by the endeavor, a better and a happier man than I otherwise should have been had I not attempted it.”
How I’m Applying it to my life
Mostly it reminded me to take care of myself. Try to smile when a child or my husband enters a room is something I have been actively trying to do.
Do I Recommend This Book?
Meh.
I won’t keep this one, and I don’t see myself rereading it. That said, it was enjoyable enough to finish, and I did take a few things away from it. I’d give it 3.5 stars.
The reviews online are brutal, though. Read it for yourself and decide.
Hi, I’m Naomi!
Founder of Charming Spaces, professional organizer, wife, mom of three and passionate advocate for women.
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