Hello and welcome to Happier, a podcast about spoiler alert, how to be happier.

This week we'll talk about identifying your 18 for 2018 and also tackle a tricky situation

involving in-laws and clutter.

I'm Gretchen Rubin, a writer whose studies happiness, good habits, the four tendencies

and human nature. I'm in New York City and with me is my sister the sage Elizabeth Kraft.

That's me Elizabeth Kraft, a TV writer and producer living in LA. By the way, I'm having some technical

difficulties on the lot so if I don't sound like my usual self that's why. In Gretchen before

we get to anything else I have to say happy birthday your birthday is tomorrow.

Oh thank you very much. Thank you for remembering yes it's my birthday coming up.

I'm in a list of we're practically going to be seeing each other on my birthday because we're

both going to be in Kansas City very shortly. I cannot wait to see you and Adam and Jack there

go to instead do all our usual fun things. Yes the plaza lights it's all going to be good I can't

wait. I cannot wait. And in the spirit of the holiday season and the new year we have a try

this at home tip that is 18 for 2018. It's an idea we got from a listener.

Yes Mary wrote and said I have taken a lot of inspiration from ideas talked about on the podcast.

One idea that I embraced was creating my own happiness project. My version was 35 things to do

while I am 35 years old. Prior to my 35th birthday I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish

during that year. Each item had to add to my level of happiness. Some examples take a CPR certification

class paint my toenails once a month full laundry the day it comes out of the dryer go out to breakfast

with my husband on a weekday travel to a new place host friends for a dinner party read a political

biography cook risotto for the first time make the bed every morning send weekly updates to family

members etc. I typed out my list of 35 things and hung it in a place that I saw daily so whenever

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