Giveaway For Gretchen Rubin's "Better Than Before"
Update: The giveaway has ended. Congratulations to Sara Schlageter whose name was randomly chosen to win a copy of Gretchen Rubin's newest book!
I have a very special treat for Non-Consumer Advocate readers today, which is a giveaway and review for Gretchen Rubin's new book, Better Than Before: Mastering The Habits of Our Everyday Lives. You may know Rubin's name from her bestselling Happiness Project books, or perhaps from her current media blitz. (It's certainly the first time that someone I've known has commanded the cover of Parade Magazine!)
Like her Happiness Project books, Better Than Before mixes Rubin's first person narrative with research, both academic and anecdotal, (leaning heavily on her sister who seems quite resigned to her lifelong status as guinea pig.) Based on the premise that habits "help to preserve self control," and that "habits make change possible by freeing us from decision making and from using self control," this book explores what habits are, and how each of us can notch them into our daily routines.
As Rubin writes, "Habits are the invisible architecture of daily life."
But wait . . . different people form habits very differently, and we how respond to expectations greatly effects how we incorporate new habits. Rubin postulates that there are four distinct, yet overlapping habit-forming types:
Upholders respond readily to both outer expectations and inner expectations.
Questioners question all expectations, and will only meet an expectation if they believe it's justified.
Obligers respond readily to outer expectations but struggle to meet inner expectations.
Rebels resist all expectations, outer and inner alike.
I went back and forth on who I am, but settled on 60% questioner and 40% rebel. (She doesn't write about labeling by percentage, but that's just the rebel in me!) I wish I could be an upholder, as I feel it would lead to a naturally disciplined life, but I know that since my secret and immediate first response to being asked to do pretty much anything is fuggedaboutit, it's simply not meant to be.
I could write endlessly about this book, (and certainly took enough notes while reading it!) but I know you want me get on with the giveaway portion of this blog post!
To enter to win a copy of Gretchen Rubin's Better Than Before, write your name in the comments section below, along with your worst habit. I will randomly choose one winner on Friday, April 24th at 9 P.M. PST. One entry per person, U.S. residents only.
Good luck from both me and Gretchen!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
My worst habit is staying up too late watching TV. It's my "me" time but then I'm tired all the next day. Vicious cycle . . .
Worst habit is buying things I love and never using them. I want them to stay perfect, so rather than actually enjoy them, I let them sit in their perfection, withering away in a closet.
Worst habit is dwelling on what I should get accomplished instead of what I have gotten accomplished.
Procrastinating!
My worst habit is snacking. I admire those people who can just eat three meals a day without eating anything in between.
Correcting people's grammar. Instead of "Good luck from Gretchen and I!" it should be "from Gretchen and me!" 🙂
I love your blog!!
I went back on forth on that, and am now going to change it. Thanks!
Read the sentence out loud without the proper name:
Good luck from I.
Good luck from me.
Then add back the proper name.
worst habit ......not exercising!!! closely followed by biting my nails. I'm a mess.
Karen3848...worst habit is expecting my husband to magically see things that need to be done in the kitchen, instead of just asking him to do something. If I ask, he is happy to do it. I just frustrate both of us by my expectation!
I agree that expecting men to "magically see" housework that needs doing is generally unrealistic. (There are exceptions to every sweeping generalization, of course.) My DH is an obliging angel about doing things once they're pointed out to him, but they have to be pointed out.
Other worst habit (besides expecting DH to overcome this effect of his Y chromosome) is another one noted by previous commenters--correcting others' grammar and language use. I'm an editor by trade, and I have to remind myself from time to time to leave my work inside my home office.
My worst habit is eating chocolate (lots of it) when I am stressed which all the time.
Patricia Tucker - Procrastination.
Worst habit.... worrying about the small stuff. Weight. Home projects. Meetings. Work. Safety. Money. I think I stress myself out unintentionally....
Worst habit trolling the internet.
Susan M-My worst habit is hoarding craft supplies
My worst habit would be: whenever someone thanks me for something I've done for them, I always downplay what I've done by replying, "Oh it was nothing", when really I should say, "You're quite welcome". 🙂
Anna Chan- too much spider solitaire.
My worst habit is sleeping in (related to habit of staying up too late!). So much could be accomplished in the early morning before kids are awake if only I was awake myself!
my worse habit-procrastination! (can i have a second one-it's apologizing for something even if i did nothing wrong!)
my worst habit is waffling over decisions.
My name is Kathy Magee, and my worst habit is trying to take care of everyone else's needs rather than my own!
I'll get around to chosing my WORST habit later. In the meantime, I'd have to go with procrastination or indecision.
Hahaha! Same here.
Staying up too late, watching tv and surfing the Internet.
My worst habit is not wanting to cook and eating out to much.
Sara Schlageter
Overeating
Kayla Forshage
My worst habit is procrastinating!
My worst habit is that I am lazy!
paying too much attention to social media!
My worst habit is picking at my face nonstop when I'm anxious! I wish I could find something less destructive but equally soothing.
My worst habit is leaving my dishes everywhere. Even when I know I can put them into the dishwasher. Even if it will annoy me later on. I've been known to say: "WHO LEFT THESE H... oh. Me. Again."
My worst habit is judging others for their perceived "imperfections!"
Joan
My worst habit always thinking I'm not good enough.
Not sure exactly what constitutes a habit. I'd say comparing myself career-wise to others is my worst habit. If that's not a habit, then I'm going with no cardio exercise even though my dad has heart issues. Plenty of walking for this city gal, but the cardio doesn't happen much. Thanks for the giveaway! The book is currently on my Amazon wish list (no library within reasonable walking distance).
My worst habit is I am hard on myself and feel guilty about everything.
This book looks so interesting!
Worst habit- I'm very inconsistent with exercise ( ok, I'm not a fan and would always prefer a comfy couch and a good book)
I think my worst habit would be eating too much sugar...usually attached to chocolate.
My worst habit is procrastinating.
too much time on social media is my bad habit- having a baby that loves to be held while she sleeps compounds it....ugh, I'm working on it
procrastination!!
My worst habit is stopping my work from home to read the few blogs that I love (wink) before my work is finished. And then complaining about having to work late at night - my fault!!
Kayla Burke
I think my worst habit is...wasting too much time reading millions of articles and blogs on the internet. They have their value, but I need to practice moderation!! =)
Worst habit...sweating the small stuff.
Too many carby snacks. Cannot resist those pretzels!
Elaine Lucas - worst habit - assuming I know what others think of me.
Procrastinating
Staying up late after everyone's asleep to catch up on Facebook and blogs on the iPad in bed!
Amie - My worst habit is definitely procrastination! At least I posted here before Friday though!
Procrastinating.
My worst habit would be letting myself be annoyed by little things that don't really matter and dwelling far too long on them.
my worst habit has got to be eating without thinking.
My worst habit is spending way too much time online. OOPS 😉
Kate
My worst habit is procrastination.
Wasting my time, especially on Facebook. 🙁
Setting up systems and never following them!
Too much time on Facebook and reading blogs! Laura
My worst habit is buying food that I don't use. I love to try new recipes and so I buy ingredients and then never get around to making the recipe. I loose the recipe and then have a pantry/freezer full of random ingredients. Trying so hard to break that habit.
Robin - my worst habit is eating sugary treats when I'm bored or stressed. I really need to cut that out.
Sadly I'm an Upholder which is exhausting by the way. But I would fret myself to sickness and succumb to guilt if I tried being a Rebel.
My worst habit is expecting everyone else to be an Upholder as well and feeling frustrated when they aren't.
Betty - procrastination when I should be doing housework
my worse habit is being indecisive, especially when it comes to spending large amounts of money on home improvements. currently i am trying to decide on countertop replacements. i love reading your blog by the way.
Katie
My worst habit is losing track of time when I am on-line. I need to set a timer so I don't waste so much time.
My worst habit is eating chocolate every day at 3:30.
Negative self talk....I should tell my head shhhhh more often, and believe it when people say nice things!
I have a heavy sugar habit.
Kim Stewart
Worst habit- Putting off exercising
Too many sweets!!
I have a few worst habits on my list, but I would have to say procrastination number one. This act of prolonging is not good for my health. Also, one of the reasons for several gray hairs on top of my head. lol!
I have a habit of starting projects (like organizing paperwork, or purging Christmas decorations), and then abandoning them midway. Totally annoying and I wish I could change it!
My worst habit is that I am too critical of myself. I'm a perfectionist who ends up paralyzed by my fear of failure.
worst habit- procrastinating on housework. I hate to clean and put it off way too long
Complaining about things I can't change.
If a project or task isn't super duper critical, I don't follow through. I have good intentions, but unless there's a compelling reason or a deadline or something to make me do it, it doesn't get done.
Cindi Myers
I have a slew of bad habits, but right now the one that bothers me most is overeating.
JoDi
Sometimes I stay up way too late at night even though I know I'll be exhausted the next day. My night owl disposition does not suit getting up at 5:00 a.m. for work! 😉
I eat too much when I am anxious!
My habit of lazily parking in front of the TV with my laptop for hours on end is indeed a dreadful habit.
Ann Y. My worst habit is promising myself to exercise and then NOT doing it each morning....hitting the snooze again and again.
Rebecca P. Thinking sarcasm is being funny!
My worst habit must be staying up too late in spite of my resolve to get up early and exercise...
My worst habit is making well-meaning piles of stuff. I mean to put the stuff away, but somehow, I make a pile. Then another appears, and they breed. Suddenly, on my day off, I spend my fun time dealing with the piles that need to be put away, before I stress out over all the piles. There has to be a better way.
My name is Kathleen, and I am a procrastinator...deluxe.
I'm a teacher and I hate grading essays. I always put them off and then I have to sit and grade for hours to get them back to my students in a resonable timeframe.
Snacking. I've been really trying to break the evening snack habit.
Worst habit is overestimating how much I can accomplish.
procrastinating
My worst habit is putting off what I could do in just a short amount of time.
Heather... Calling myself an "idiot" in my head when I mess up. I need to quit bashing on myself!
Debbie from the U.P.
I am a total people pleaser. Ask me to do anything for you; i'm on it. No time for me, although i'm working on getting a thick skin and actually making progress.
Worst habit, procrastination.
interrupting people
Mine has to be stress eating.
My worst habit is hitting the snooze button. Or is it procrastination? Hmmm, I'll worry about that tomorrow.
Procrastination by far. I spend more time avoiding doing something than it would take to just do it and get it over with.
Good old-fashioned nail-biting...ouch.
Eating a jar of peanut butter with a spoon.I wake up ,start eating and go back to sleep.
worst habit - time management for sure and having lots of paper clutter.
My worst habit is staying up too late!
unfinished projects
Indecision..... I decided after 20+ minutes deciding what my worst habit is.
Thanks for the give away!
Laura J
My actual worst habit is probably spending too much time on my phone (Facebook, etc). The habit I am most motivated to change right now is doing more to keep the house picked up. Our third child is on the way and my husband and I are both feeling like we need to up our game before things get even more chaotic.
Thanks for hosting this giveaway! I'm eager to read it!
Sticking to my--however tight--monthly budget.
My worst habit? Watching too much Netflix! And coffee!
My worst habit is not applying what I know to be true in my financial life (accounting for everything, thinking before acting, having a master plan) to my health. Why can't I budget calories the way I calculate dollars? It's a work in progress...
Kerrie
Worst habit? Wasting time on pointless things like reading clickbait articles online in order to de-stress from feeling like I don't have enough time to do the important stuff in my life.
Name: Laura
Worst habit: Stress eating
My worst habit is yelling at people when I am driving. They can't hear me, but when someone cuts me off, or does something crazy, my full momma rant mode goes into high gear.
Dear me, I can't decide which is my worst habit...procrastination...or indecision. Perhaps they are both equally undesireable habits to have. Thank you for a chance to own this book. It seems like a book I need to read and learn from!
Susan - I think my worst habit is not sticking it out when I try to start good habits!
worst habit-putting salt on food that doesn't need it like pizza. I love salt and have a collection!
My worst habit is complaining, especially about others who complain! How ridiculous is that!
Carla G. - falling asleep on the couch instead of just going to bed...
My worst habit is nagging my poor long-suffering husband. And then nagging some more when he doesn't jump up instantly to help me out.
I LOOOOOVED Gretchen's Happiness Project book and have been listening to her awesome podcasts with her sister. They brighten up my walk to the train in the mornings:) I want to buy the new book, but can't afford it right now so I'm waiting for it to be available at my local library (why buy when I can borrow!?).
I just finished eating two pastries. Habitual sweets are a major issue.
Christie M. - my worst habit is cracking my knuckles! It;s gotten worse with the start of a stressful job. I would love to stop!
Wasting time on the internet rather than doing what I need/should do!
I haven't read any of Gretchen's books, but a close friend has recommended them many times over! I would love to read this one, especially because it seems like a good read for a recent psychology grad (me!).
I have a pretty bad habit of trying to finish other people's sentences. I say "trying" because it's very rare that the words I come up with are the ones the person was going to say. It's pretty embarrassing sometimes, and I'm sure annoying to those that don't get to complete their sentences without me butting in!
Worst habit- looking on the internet between projects!
Procrastination and then over achieving, vicious cycle!
Hmm...75% upholder and 25% questioner I think...hope I win the book to learn more!
Diane Black
worst habit: procrastination over things I really don;t want to deal with.
Worst habit: surfing the web and checking FB and email when I first get into work
My worst habit is wasting time reading crap online that I don't even care about... reading your blog (and comments from your kind & interesting readers) is NEVER a waster of my time though!!!
My worst habit is falling asleep on the couch after dinner. I checked this book out of the library several weeks ago and I absolutely love it. It's killing me not to be able to highlight my favorite sections and I would love my very own copy - thanks!
Doing too much myself. I've learned finally that it robs joy from loved ones that would like to help and prevents my kids from learning all that they could.
Amy here and my worst habit (for the moment anyway!) is picking at my cuticles -- ugh!!!!
My worst habit is procrastination. I should just do the task, but instead I put it off and it stresses me out.
Worst habit is really a lack of routine. I'd like to wash my face every night, but I don't. I'd like to work exercise into a regular habit, but it's not. There are a lot of things I'd like to make a habit... I think I may *need* this book. 🙂
Lazy eating habits -premade food and too much sugar-instead of taking a few minutes to plan and preparereal food meals.
Lorraine - mindless eating... :o(
Gosh I have soooo many bad habits. Being a stay at home mom with kids in school allows me to be somewhat lazy and over indulgent in several ways. 🙁
Snacking. I can't buy snack food because it will disappear within the day and I have to watch myself when someone else offers me a snack, so I don't eat it all. I have such a bad habit of stealing fires from my husband's plate, that I once snatched a fry from the plate of a person I barely knew at a group dinner and was eating it before I realized what I'd done and awkwardly apologized.
Christy- Procrastination. I should be cleaning and washing clothes as I type this!
My name is Cherie and my worst habit is my horrible, horrible procrastination. About everything. Always. I'm surprised I got this comment in on time.
My worst habit is letting the dishes and laundry pile up until its rivaling mt Everest!
Not cleaning something until I can really see the inch of dust on it.
I'm Katie, and my worst habit is procrastinating. I will put off things I hate to do for ages and ages.
Cristie and my worst habit is probably my terrible potty mouth.
My worst habit is second guessing decisions I have already made. I know I just need to move on because I made the best decision I could with the information I had at the time but still I torture myself...
Sheila and it's a toss-up between chewing on my nails and my potty mouth. Hmm - both oral....
worst habit- wasting time online, especially when i have things to do!
negative thinking
My bad habit is not finishing projects. I have a few half crocheted projects, half cleaned family room, half beaded necklaces...well a lot of in progress things!
Procrastination, without a doubt or even a close contender--and I obviously have a lot of company here! I hope there is a VERY long chapter about this in Gretchen's new book!
Overcommitting - doing so many things I feel like I do none of them well.
My name is Roberta Price, and my worst habit is Pinterest. (I feel like I'm at a 12-step meeting...) Or general untidiness. Or impatience with my kids. (Or that's a character flaw) :/
Mine is procrastinating housework.
being addicted to my phone and hitting the snooze button one too many times so I'm not able to get anything done in the morning, just get ready for work and go.
My worst habit is taking on more than I can handle 😉
My worst habit is blog stalking.
procrastinating housework
Don't know if this is my worst, but I save a lot of stuff because of my "creativity". LOL
My name is Morgan and my worst habit is taking on too many things, thinking I can do them all myself!
Sarah...I only get to list one bad habit?! I think have time to do so many craft projects so I go buy the supplies and then never do them. 🙁
I'm just going to go with biting my nails. Mostly because my boyfriend scolded me for it last night (by scolded I mean told me to use the clippers if it was bothering me).
My worst habit is not finishing a task 100%...like baking cookies but leaving the dirty cookie sheets in the sink, or washing clothes but not folding them and putting them away. 🙁
Starbucks.
Tricia Sinon Murray - My worst habit: One more thing ~ thinking I can always get one more thing done before I leave the house. Then I am often late! It negates the good feeling of getting one more thing done...
Procrastination is by far my worst habit. I've given up. It's who I am. I embrace it now, making it work for me, and it doesn't cripple me near as much as it used to!
My worst habit is piling too much on my plate and not leaving enough time to relax. "Overdoing leaves too little time for savoring."
My name is Diane C and I'm a procrastinator. If I could figure out how to submit this comment at the very last second, I would. Whoa, does that mean I'm not procrastinating on something? Progress!
Worst habit is going to thrift centers or garage sales and buying something that I really don't need because it's ridiculously cheap.
My worst habit is not dealing with photos and paperwork, I put the photos in boxes with every intension of doing "something" with them and they are still there...in a box, unlabeled and no one knows what they are about but me.
Paperwork, unfiled and save too much, for too long.
Worst habit - procrastinating! I have been looking forward to reading this book.
Avoiding things that I am afraid of such as driving unfamiliar vehicles or in unfamiliar places, making big financial moves, conflict, oh so many things! I'm such a fraidy cat!
My worst habit is not putting away the laundry after I've folded it. Sometimes I let it sit in the laundry basket for a week or more.
Definitely procrastinating!
Staying up too late is one of my worst habits. I only get about 3 or 4 hours sleep a night and I'm chronically tired, but it's the only "me" time I have to read, etc.
My worst habit is sometimes not sticking to my tight budget and instead having to rely on my emergency/travel fund for covering my expenses and bills.
Oh, my worst habit is procrastination!
That's back and forth not back on forth. Guess I like to correct people's grammar too!
But...my worst bad habit is procrastination.
Staying up too late waiting for my husband to get home from work, watching Netflix, or trying to get the house cleaned up
I have heard so much about this book! It is on my "To Read" list. Worst habit, hands down sugar!
Heather- not sticking to my dinner plan schedule when life gets crazy or when I'm sick or work late and succumb to the ease of take out!
Jo Baca. General procrastination and laziness
Lazy. If I get a day off, all I want to do is watch TV or sleep. I have to force myself to do things!
Elizabeth here and Procrastinating is my worst habit.
My worst habit is avoidance.
I will avoid any task I hate until it absolutely has to be done. Taxes, dusting - you name, I can avoid it. Blah!
-Vickie Allen
My worst habit is not stopping to think about what actually needs doing and instead just doing whatever just interrupted me. Argh!
My worst habit is facebook.
Oh, and Karen. My name is Karen. 🙂
Horible-izing!
Impulse buying Pez at the grocery store. I may still be a ten year old.
My worst habit is immediately jumping to the worst case scenario. I often imagine doomsday situations instead of calmly and rationally assessing a situation. (Btw, thanks for running the giveaway!)
My worst habit is spending too much time online.
Mindless eating!
Too much disorganized paper clutter!! Ugh!
Biting my cuticles. Just can't stop!
worst habit=procrastination 🙁
"I'll get to that later..."
My worst habit is wasting time on the internet.
Procrastination!!!! Ugh!!!
My worst habit is procrastinating everything; work, exercise, chores, you name it I will put it off!
Too much Diet Mountain Dew
Nancy K.
My worst habit...snacking and hanging out the computer on social media, surfing, blogs, etc.
Hi. I'm Diana Engstrom and I'm a procrastinator! Is there a 12-step program for this? LOL
One of my worst habits is starting too many projects all at once and then not being able to finish any of them.
My worst habit is playing solitaire instead of reading.
I'm Emma and my worst habit is procrastinating. Which I am doing right now. Gotta go!
I'm terrible about binge watching TV!
My worst habit is getting lost in a book and losing track of time.
Hi, I'm Jodi and my worst habit is letting perfectionism stop me from doing things (as in: "I can't clean out the fridge, I don't have time to do it RIGHT" instead of "I only have 10 minutes, let's see how much I can get done"). And procrastination. I meant to post this yesterday!
Worst habit - ignoring housework. Ugh!
My name is Alycia, and my worst habit is too much screen time!
Monica Z from Connecticut and I bite my nails!!!
Allowing myself to get anxious and reactive to things and not being as positive as I would like to be.
My worst habit is procrastination. Based on the other comments on this post, I'm not alone.