Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives

Discover surprising strategies that help you change your habits for good

Gretchen Rubin

2015

8 Key Insights

About This Book

Imagine transforming your daily routines into unstoppable forces for good—where willpower taps out early but habits carry you forward effortlessly. Combining cutting-edge behavioral science with real-life examples, this material guides you out of self-control traps and into personalized strategies that make change possible. You’ll uncover your unique Tendency, identify clarifying distinctions in your personality, and master pillars of habit formation—monitoring, foundation, scheduling, and accountability—plus harness timing, desire, and self-knowledge to craft habits that stick. Whether you want to eat healthier, exercise consistently, or read more, you’ll emerge armed with practical tools and fresh insights to make lasting progress.

About the Author

Gretchen Rubin is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers on happiness and habit. Through her six books, including the acclaimed “The Happiness Project,” and her award-winning podcast, she draws on behavioral science, personal observation, and journalistic research. She founded the Four Tendencies framework, which has guided millions to lasting change. A former lawyer who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Rubin translates complex ideas into simple, relatable strategies readers can apply immediately to make their lives better than before.

Biggest Takeaway

Learn to identify the habits shaping 40% of your daily life and turn them into allies for positive change. You’ll gain self-knowledge to tailor strategies that suit your personality, set up monitoring systems to track your progress, and build predictive routines that save willpower. You’ll discover how to leap-start habits at clean slates, handle cravings, and guard against self-sabotaging loopholes. Expect improved self-control, heightened productivity, healthier routines, and deeper fulfillment—as your new habits free you from endless deliberation and bring serenity, energy, and growth into everyday moments.