Podcast 174: Make Something by Hand that You'd Ordinarily Buy, Throw a "Take My Stuff" Party, and Are You More Interested in the Event or Company? | Gretchen Rubin                                [Skip to content](#content)   [ ![](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/gretchenrubin-logo-768x344.png) ](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com)

    - June 20, 2018

# Podcast 174: Make Something by Hand that You’d Ordinarily Buy, Throw a “Take My Stuff” Party, and Are You More Interested in the Event or Company?

   Happier with Gretchen Rubin

[Listen OnExternal](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/happier-with-gretchen-rubin/id969519520?mt=2#)[Listen OnSpotify](https://open.spotify.com/episode/0YCXKng3UTFiMQvuhvUYs4)[Listen OnPandora](https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/happier-with-grechen-rubin/e/54968265?autoplay=true)

Ep. 174: Make Something by Hand

![Ep. 174: Make Something by Hand](https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/89bec498-34f6-11f1-8af6-1b479b344208/image/f255fc2790d879c623f0beb2f1ec2fbc.jpg?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress)

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        <a class="elementor-toggle-title" tabindex="0">EPISODE NOTES</a>

### **Update**

Many people reported that [episode 169’s](/podcast-episode/169-happier-stop-talking-strategy-joanna-coles) Try This at Home strategy to “stop talking” worked very well for them.

#### **Try This at Home**

Make something by hand that you’d ordinarily buy.

In *[Happier at Home](/books/happier-at-home/about-the-book/),* I explore why there’s something special about creating something with your own hands.

#### **Happiness Hack**

Organize a “Take My Stuff” party where you let all your friends take away anything they want from the things you’re giving away.

#### **Know Yourself** **Better**

As you’re making particular plans, what’s more important to you: the *event* or the *company*?

#### **Listener Question**

In [episode 167](/podcast-episode/167-happier-home-tourist), we discussed the “Season of Stress.” Michael asks, “How do you deal with the restlessness and anxiety that can strike after a Season of Stress ends?”

Elizabeth mentions an interview in [episode 51](http://happierinhollywood.com/episode51/) of [*Happier in Hollywood*](/2017/05/happier-in-hollywood-podcast), where Sheila Melody distinguishes between working “on the business” and working “in the business.”

We also mention two excellent podcasts: Chris Guillebeau’s [*Side Hustle School*](https://sidehustleschool.com/podcasts/) as well as [*StartUp*](http://www.gimletmedia.com/startup).

**Elizabeth’s Demerit:** Elizabeth agonized for weeks about whether to go to her college reunion, instead of making the decision and sticking to it.

 **Gretchen’s Gold Star**: I give a gold star to my daughter Eliza, for her **project on Instagram called “[TimesILikedMe](https://www.instagram.com/timesilikedme/).**” She describes it in [episode 89](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/eliza-starting-at-16/id1056806706?mt=2#) of her podcast [*Eliza Starting at 16*](https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/eliza-starting-at-16/id1056806706?mt=2). She decided to start this page for the teen/20-something crowd where people could send her their photos, and she’d post them. To find it, search for the account “**timesIlikedme**.” To send her a photo to include, DM or tag her. If you’re in that stage of life, or you know people who are, check it out.

#### **Resources**

In [episode 171](/podcast-episode/171-happier-limiting-beliefs), our producer Odelia explained how to **subscribe, rate, and review in Apple Podcasts**. Now **Lauren explains the process for Stitcher**.

> How to use the free app [Stitcher](https://www.stitcher.com/):
>
> Not only is Stitcher great for Android listeners, but there’s also an Apple Stitcher app that works on iPhone or iPad, and Sticher has a website that listeners can use to subscribe as well ([stitcher.com](https://www.stitcher.com/)).
>
> Specifically for Android phones, you can download the app by going to the Google Play Store, (an icon of a rainbow arrow).
>
> You’ll be asked to sign in or create a Gmail account, and you’ll then be brought to the main menu.
>
> From here, click the magnifying glass in the top right corner, search for “Stitcher,” push the app icon, and install.
>
> Once you’ve installed and opened the Stitcher app, you’ll be taken to a sign-on screen. If you already have a Facebook or Google account, you can use those to sign on very easily. Or you can use an email address to create an account.
>
> Once logged in, you’ll be taken to a selection screen. (There, if you like, you can choose a few categories of shows that interest you, so Stitcher can recommend shows based on your interests. Select whatever is of interest and click done.)
>
> From the home screen, you’ll see a variety of show suggestions. **In the top right corner, push a magnifying glass to search for [*Happier*](https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/panoply/happier-with-grechen-rubin). Once you reach the show tile, you simply push the blue plus button to subscribe.**

Also, **how to listen to a podcast on a home player:**

> **Alexa**: Tell Alexa to “Alexa, Play *Happier* *with Gretchen Rubin* on TuneIn”
>
> **Google Home**: “Okay Google, Play *Happier* *with Gretchen Rubin”*

   #### LATEST EPISODES

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[More Happier: Get Better at Socializing &amp; Make the Most of “Halfway Day”](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/more-happier-get-better-at-socializing-make-the-most-of-halfway-day/)

- June 27, 2026

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[Reflect on “Halfway Day,” Plus How Abstainers Can Moderate](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/reflect-on-halfway-day-plus-how-abstainers-can-moderate/)

- June 24, 2026

   #### YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE

    [  ](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/169-arranging-apps-by-color/)

[Podcast 169: Try the Strategy to “Stop Talking,” Arrange Your Apps by Color, and a Talk about Romance with Joanna Coles.](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/169-arranging-apps-by-color/)

- May 16, 2018

   [  ](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/171-question-your-limiting-beliefs-saying-no/)

[Podcast 171: Huge News! Plus Question Your Limiting Beliefs, Create Accountability to Say “No,” and a Hack Using Measuring Cups.](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/171-question-your-limiting-beliefs-saying-no/)

- May 30, 2018

   [  ](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/167-be-a-tourist-in-your-home-the-season-of-stress/)

[Podcast 167: Be a Tourist in Your Own Home, Deep Dive into the “Season of Stress,” and How to Keep an Empty Shelf in Your Smartphone.](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/167-be-a-tourist-in-your-home-the-season-of-stress/)

- May 2, 2018

   [  ](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/173-knowing-your-purpose-working-with-friends/)

[Podcast 173: Know Your Purpose, the Challenge of Working with a Close Friend, and How Do You Take Notes While Listening to a Podcast?](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/173-knowing-your-purpose-working-with-friends/)

- June 13, 2018

   [  ](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/172-toss-unnecessary-papers-invent-your-own-holiday/)

[Podcast 172: Toss Unnecessary Papers, Invent Your Own Holiday, and the Fun of the Scratch-n-Sniff.](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/podcast/172-toss-unnecessary-papers-invent-your-own-holiday/)

- June 6, 2018

  #### DISCOVER MORE

# Like what you see? Explore more about this topic.

- [Creativity](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/creativity/), [Friendship](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/friendship/), [Stress](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/stress/), [Work](https://staging.gretchenrubin.com/secondary_tag/work/)

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