Ep. 595: Always RSVP, & Why We Should Stop Over-delivering

Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss why we should always RSVP, and how to stop a simple gathering from, over time, becoming too much work.

Episode Highlights:

• Try This at Home: Always RSVP — Why responding promptly (even with a "no") makes us a better guest [05:49]

• Happiness Hack: Try a bag organizer insert — A simple way to keep a carry-on, tote, or structureless bag tidy and travel-ready. [14:22]

• Happiness Stumbling Block: Presentation Creep — How over-delivering can gradually turn a casual get-together into something burdensome. [16:00]

• Listener Update: Hearing Aids — Listeners share how hearing aids changed their lives, plus a practical tip on using Apple AirPods Pro as a starter hearing test. [01:44]

• Demerits & Gold Stars — Gretchen’s demerit: not enough watercoloring; Elizabeth’s gold star: for the friend who created "Trail and Talk" [21:29]

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Bag organizer insert: [amzn.to/4oc1oPO]

• Five-Senses Journal (the-happiness-project.com/products/five-senses…) (20% off with code HAPPIER20):

• More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen (Amazon (amzn.to/3Rd2SgG), Bookshop (bookshop.org/a/15926/9780593734605))

• The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (Amazon (amzn.to/4wEZY3s), Bookshop (bookshop.org/a/15926/9798217154746))

Listen to our Bookclub interview with Elizabeth Strout here (gretchenrubin.com/podcast/507-happier-book-clu…)!

Connect with Us:

• Email: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

• Website: gretchenrubin.com

• Instagram: @gretchenrubin | @lizcraft

• Take the free Four Tendencies quiz (gretchenrubin.com/quiz/the-four-tendencies-quiz)

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Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.

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