Gretchen Rubin: “Every very year, on the Happier with Gretchen Rubin podcast, my sister Elizabeth and I do the Happier Trifecta to set ourselves up for the new year. Many people don’t like making New Year’s resolutions, and the exercises of the Trifecta offer a fun (and still effective) alternative. The Trifecta for 2024:

• One-word theme—Elizabeth’s is “Book” and mine is “Revisited”
• Yearly Challenge—this year’s challenge is “Write 24 in ’24“
• “24 for ’24” list—see below!

Research shows that when we set specific aims for ourselves,  we’re far more likely to achieve them. So taking the time to make a list of things we want to accomplish during the year can make a big difference to our happiness. However, how we approach our aims can make a big difference. For instance, because many people have bad associations with “New Year’s resolutions,” they prefer to use the tools from the Trifecta. By reframing a task, we can make it seem more fun, more manageable, or less intimidating. For some reason, people love a “24 for 24” list! There’s no right way or wrong way to make this list—whatever works for you.”