Project Happy

February was all about Energy! Check-in with your lovable co-hosts as they discuss how it went. Caitlin maintains her moderator status and feels pretty high energy, except for when she gets existential at Ikea. Paula had to quarantine, broke some of her rules, and found a new way forward. How do we all take daily action so that everyone gets to thrive? Paula has a few helpful insights; Caitlin wants to harness her energy and has some resources to recommend.

Caitlin mentions a course with Michelle C. Johnson called Skill in Action - it’s also a book!

For more social justice, check out Gretchen Rubin’s podcast interview with Deepa Iyer, who talks about her map for social change.

Also, a note for theatre nerds everyone - the actual line in Streetcar Named Desire is “money just goes- it just goes places!” Accuracy. You know?

Paula is reading Homelands: Four Friends, Two Countries, and the Fate of the Great Mexican-American Migration by Alfredo Corchado. And Caitlin LOVED A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliot.

And be sure to check us out on Instagram @projecthappypodcast!

February is all about Energy! Listen in to this quick and dirty ep in which Caitlin and Paula discuss the merits of sleep, whether they are abstainers or moderators, and the energy drain of ruminating. Why is Caitlin doing so many fitness challenges? Is Paula continuing with her no TV before 7 pm rule? Tune in to find out what’s working and not working for them and maybe reflect on your own energy levels!

Caitlin mentions that she’s heard that resolutions don’t work. Here is an article that talks about why that might be. Current research support breaking tasks into small components - Caitlin has loved the book Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg - on the app Libby you can listen to audiobooks from your local library! It’s free! Or try your local bookseller.

Need a new workout regime? Paula loves Majorie O’Connor and Caitlin has been sweatin’ it up with Tight Club. If you’re looking for something free, POPSUGAR Fitness on Youtube has some good options. For more yoga related content, Caitlin is a huge fan of Mindful Strength and Jenni Rawlings! And if you’re a movement nerd, be sure to check out the podcast Mindful Strength.

And if you want to keep up with our journey, follow us on Instagram @projecthappypodcast!

Paula and Caitlin review EVERYTHING involved in following Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project Experience, both for January and for the coming year. It’s a lot! Caitlin is a bit grumpy about how many expectations there are and Paula is taking what works for her. Join them as they discuss the privilege of happiness, the merits of constructive criticism, and how much wine might be too much wine.

Curious about the Myers-Briggs Personality Test? Here’s one we like.

Caitlin loved the audiobook of Little Weirds by Jenny Slate. Did you know that with the app Libby you can listen to audiobooks from your local library? It’s free!

Paula is reading American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings. Try your local bookseller! Since airing this podcast we realized this book has received some criticism, which you can read about here.

Need a new workout regime? Paula loves Majorie O’Connor and Caitlin has been sweatin’ it up with Tight Club. If you’re looking for something free, POPSUGAR Fitness on Youtube has some good options. For more yoga-related content, Caitlin is a huge fan of Mindful Strength and Jenni Rawlings! And if you’re a movement nerd, be sure to check out the podcast Mindful Strength.

And if you want to keep up with our journey, follow us on Instagram @projecthappypodcast!

Paula Burrows is a HUGE fan of Gretchen Rubin’s work, and is finally embarking on her very own year-long focus on happiness à la The Happiness Experience. Joining Paula is her (somewhat reluctant) pal, Caitlin McCarthy. In this very first episode of Project Happy, get to know your hosts as they get to know themselves better. Find out what words they’ve chosen as themes for the year, how they plan to hold themselves accountable, and a few things they tried to do every single day in January in hopes of greater happiness.

Curious about how to hold yourself accountable? Take the Four Tendencies Quiz (link to https://gretchenrubin.com/2015/01/ta-da-the-launch-of-my-quiz-on-the-four-tendencies-learn-about-yourself/) to find out what strategy might work best for you.

Caitlin mentioned her bomb.com naturopath, Dr. Matthew Nagra. You can follow him on Instagram here (link to @dr.matthewnagra), and book an appointment with him at Tonume Integrated Health (link to tonume.janeapp.com)

If you’re looking for a great memoir, check out Carmen Aguirre’s Mexican Hooker #1. Aguirre is also the author of another great memoir called Something Fierce, which was the winner of CBC’s Canada Reads 2012. You can order both at Pulp Fiction Books in Vancouver. It’s available on the Big A, but try your local bookseller first!

And if you want to keep up with our journey, follow us on Instagram @projecthappypodcast

In Project Happy, one devotee of Gretchen Rubin and one reluctant friend spend 12 months living by the wisdom of The Happiness Experience. Will changing small habits truly make them any happier?  Paula thinks so; Caitlin’s not so sure. Paula Burrows is a Vancouver-based actor known for voicing Rayla on Netflix’s The Dragon Prince.  Sewing shows and being productive make her feel happy. Caitlin is an actor, writer, yoga teacher, and organizer of people and things. The smell of laundry and the perfect cup of coffee make her feel happy. Join them as they figure out how to make those good feelings a little more consistent.