Ep. 563: Need a One-Word Theme for Next Year? We Review and Reveal Our Words

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Gretchen Rubin / The Onward Project

Education, Health & Fitness, Self-improvement

4.7 • 13K Ratings

🗓️ 3 December 2025

⏱️ 49 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We talk about why choosing a one-word theme for the year can be such a creative, constructive, and satisfying exercise. We review our words for 2025 and reveal our words for 2026. Plus we share an original and fun reason to have a party.

Resources & links related to this episode:

Amazing scene in Mad Men
Work through my new Gift Idea Generator worksheet
Elizabeth is reading: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: Couples by John Updike (Amazon, Bookshop)

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Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Gretchen, Adam has a new hobby, which is grilling steaks. And it's so wonderful that we can get steaks from Omaha Steaks, which are so delicious. And we can host around the holidays with this delicious food that we're actually making. It's very satisfying. Even better, Omaha Steaks right now is having their sizzle all the way sale,
0:23.3	where you can get 50% off sitewide at Omaha Steaks.com.
0:28.3	Omaha Steaks is holiday magic made easy. Plus orders placed by 6 p.m. Eastern Time ship the same day.
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0:39.8	bite is backed by their 100% guarantee. Save big on gourmet gifts and more holiday favorites with
0:46.5	Omaha Steaks. Visit Omaha Steaks.com for 50% off sitewide during their sizzle all the way sale.
0:53.5	And for an extra $35 off, use promo code Happier at checkout.
0:57.6	Terms apply.
0:58.6	See site for details.
0:59.9	That's omahostakes.com code happier.
1:06.3	Lemonada.
1:24.8	Music Hello and welcome to Happy, a podcast where we talk about becoming happier. This week, we will talk about choosing your one-word theme for the year.
1:28.7	We will review our experiences with our word for this year and reveal our words for next year. Plus, we share a hack for a fun and original way to celebrate
1:34.0	the new year. I'm Gretchen Rubin, a writer who studies happiness, good habits, human nature.
1:39.8	I'm in a home office, and joining me today from Los Angeles is my sister Elizabeth Kraft.
1:44.7	And Elizabeth, I love picking our one-word themes for the year. I love hearing what your choice is.
1:50.4	That's me, Elizabeth Kraft, a TV writer and producer living in L.A. And yes, Gretchen, I have come up with my word.
1:57.1	I was having trouble, as you know, but I landed on it, and I'm very passionate about it.
2:02.5	Excellent.
2:03.3	But before we jump in, we got a few updates, and this one is a five senses update, so I particularly
2:07.8	love this because, of course, ever since I wrote Life in Five Senses, I love anything related
2:12.3	to the Five Senses.
	...

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