Keith McArthur

Habit Hacks with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin is back! In this episode we talk about why it’s important to know if you’re a moderator or an abstainer when it comes to setting habits and resolutions. Gretchen also reveals her own personal instruction manual for life — the Gretchen Rubin recipe for success. I ask her to reveal her guilty pleasure, and how she wants the world to remember her when she’s gone. Later, we’re joined by mindfulness expert Joelle Anderson. I ask her why meditation isn’t more relaxing.

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Episode 51 Show Notes

[00:00] Welcome and Intro

[2:53] Featured interview with Gretchen Rubin: Part 2

Click here for Part 1 of the interview.

Gretchen Rubin is New York Times bestselling author of multiple books including The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, and The Four Tendencies.

In this conversation, Keith and Gretchen discuss:

  • Abstainers vs. moderators: Why some people need to go cold turkey and others do better with moderation [2:53]
  • Gretchen’s four foundational habits [7:59]
  • The controversial science of clean vs. messy desks [10:30]

[16:00] Gretchen’s Instruction Manual

1. What are the habits you maintain every day to stay happy and healthy? [16:15]

  • Go to bed between 10:30 and 10:45 and get up at 6am
  • Go for a short walk with dog every morning and a long walk in Central Park when she can
  • Work every day
  • Read every day

 2. What personal development book do you recommend? [17:27]

3. Favorite personal mantra / inspirational quote [18:28] 

  • Be Gretchen

4. What’s your one guilty pleasure? [19:10]

  • Drink immense amounts of caffeine.

5. When your time comes, how do you want to be remembered? [19:55]

  • As someone who helped other people to find happiness.

[20:46] Where to find Gretchen

[22:09] Mindfulness contributor Joelle Anderson on why meditation isn’t always relaxing

Joelle Anderson is a therapist specializing in mindfulness meditation and creator and host of the Kernel of Wisdom YouTube channel.

In this conversation, Keith and Joelle discuss:

  • It’s a common misconception that mindfulness is supposed to be relaxing [23:20]
  • If meditation isn’t going to make us feel better, why bother? [25:05]
  • Where to find Joelle []

Closing words

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