What Gretchen Rubin thinks about motivation
Writer on happiness, habits and human nature. Author of The Happiness Project, Better Than Before and The Four Tendencies, and host of the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast.
Gretchen Rubin did not write this page.
We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.
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2 dated positions, 2026, in their own words. Our reading of what Gretchen Rubin has said — not written or endorsed by them.
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Our readingAn unstarted, unresolved task is more mentally exhausting than almost any other kind of task.
Their wordsNothing is more exhausting than the task that's never started.
↗How to Tackle a Nagging Task: Power Hour!gretchenrubin.com 1st of 3 in this piece
- 6 weeks earlier
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Their wordsIf you keep adding deadlines without also checking whether the workload itself is sustainable, you risk what I call Obliger-rebellion-the point where an Obliger who has met, met, met, and met expectations suddenly snaps and refuses to meet any more.
↗What’s the Right Mix of The Four Tendencies in a Team?gretchenrubin.com 3rd of 3 in this piece