Get It Done: How to Complete Your Dream Project

by Gretchen Rubin

Whether it’s launching a business, writing a book, renovating your home, or planning a major event, you have a big project you want to finish, but somehow, you can’t get it done. Maybe you’re overwhelmed by all the steps, unclear where to begin, or frustrated that typical advice doesn’t seem to fit.

In Get it Done, bestselling author and human behavior expert Gretchen Rubin brings her signature approach to help you finally complete your dream project. Drawing on her decades of knowledge of how people successfully change behavior, Rubin offers tools to help you break down your project, stay focused, and keep moving forward. But this isn’t a one-size-fits-all guide. Rubin shows you how to recognize your own unique tendencies and preferences, so you can design a personalized plan that actually works for you, not someone else.

With practical strategies, step-by-step worksheets, and relatable insights, Get it Done is your essential playbook for turning big ideas into real results. By the end, you’ll have a clear, actionable roadmap, and the confidence to see your big project through to completion.

The advice contained in this Audible Original is not intended to be individual advice. Consult with a trusted advisor before making any drastic changes based on the topics discussed.

PLEASE When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

Genres: Audiobook, Nonfiction, Self Help

5 pages, Audible Audio

Published January 8, 2026

About the author

NEW AUDIBLE ORIGINAL AUDIOBOOK

In "Get It Done: How to Complete Your Dream Project," bestselling author Gretchen Rubin brings her signature approach to help you finally complete your dream project.

Drawing on her decades of knowledge of how people successfully change behavior, Rubin offers tools to help you break down any big project, stay focused, and keep moving forward. LISTEN ON AUDIBLE

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AUTHOR BIO

Gretchen Rubin is one of today’s most influential and thought-provoking observers of happiness and human nature. 

She’s the author of many New York Times bestselling books, such as The Happiness Project, Better Than Before, and The Four Tendencies, Life in Five Senses, and Secrets of Adulthood, which have sold millions of copies in more than thirty languages. Her next book Secrets of Adulthood comes out April 2025.

She’s the host of the popular, award-winning podcast Happier with Gretchen Rubin, where she and her co-host (and sister) Elizabeth Craft explore strategies and insights about how to make life happier. As the founder of The Happiness Project, she has helped create imaginative products for people to use in their own happiness projects.

She has been interviewed by Oprah, eaten dinner with Nobel Prize-winner Daniel Kahneman, walked arm-in-arm with the Dalai Lama, had her work reported on in a medical journal, been written up in the New Yorker, and been an answer on Jeopardy!

Gretchen Rubin started her career in law, and she realized she wanted to be a writer while she was clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. Raised in Kansas City, she lives in New York City with her family.

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Treat this as an audio-class with a specific project in mind (and print out the workbook and work through it as you listen), and I think you'll get a lot out of it. Fans of Gretchen Rubin who know her content may think this is a re-hash of her personality and habit theories at first, but when I treated it as class by Gretchen, it worked really well for me and help me make progress with my 'decorate my balcony' project.

[Hoda Marmar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it and found some practical ideas in it such as:
- set a treat to motivate yourself
- ta-da list to track what has already been accomplished
- set up a daily worry time
- set up a day for art

[Jack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not familiar with Rubin’s work so came into this unsure of what to expect. Definitely some useful take aways in here. Nothing overly eye opening or life changing, but enough to very helpful.

[Jackie Linkous · Rating 3 out of 5]

Don't let my 3 stars deter you!! I am a Gretchen Rubin fan, through and through. Reading The Happiness Project set me down a fulfilling path of self-discovery and personal growth.

I feel somewhat guilty for "only" giving this 3 stars but hear me out. If you're new to Gretchen's work, this is a great introduction to many of her ideas and concepts. Since I have read most of her work, much of this was refresher for me.

I do like the fact that this is focused specifically on getting a project done and I appreciate the accompanying workbook to help me plan out my project using my tendency and other attributes so that I can be successful.

[Hisgirl85 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Some helpful information. It may be more helpful to spread out the chapters a bit more or to go back to it. I did one chapter every couple of days to a chapter a day. I'm still finishing up the last few worksheets. I think it's more helpful if you have already started a project or started the project before and use this as a guide to revisit.

[Once Upon a Page · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dnf 34%

Lots of emphasis on 4 tendencies - i guess some people might like this, but I found the need to assign everyone a label annoying (especially when she admitted people could have a mix of different tendencies). Not for me.

[Grace Huang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this as an audiobook while doing errands

Been on a self help / actionable-behavioral psych kick lately. As a person who has lots of goals and projects on their to do list, this was helpful in pointing out reasons and effective strategies to start/continue the thing. It’s probably most helpful to come into the book with one specific project you want to focus on.

The author breaks down project personalities as: 1. Upholder 2. Obliged 3. Questioner 4. Rebel and how each personality is motivated internally/extrinsically. Ex: why accountability partners might work well for some and not others, or how to set your goal to appeal to your own personality, common pitfalls for each etc.

I thought it was helpful as a framework - I think everyone has a bit of all 4. I lean more towards 2 of them. There’s some good pieces of advice here and there I’ll probably be taking forward (action is the antidote to anxiety, make a deadline to stop researching, add external accountability in a way that actually motivates you) and some inner reflecting on why I prioritize certain tasks, and if I want to change that approach. I do think the author skims over upholders and thinks that’s the group that needs this book the least (which makes sense given her definition). The sense I get is upholders are almost like a “secure” attachment style (where in attachment theory, folks try to become more secure over time) - even though she does make a point to say that one style is “not better” than the others, you just have different motivations and priorities, and each style brings different strengths (reliable to others, innovative, figuring out if this is the right approach, etc). Side note, I feel like people pleasers might tend to be obligers.

Anyways, overall thought it was a good light-listening, helpful to keep in mind as I approach doing my own projects

[Elizabeth]

I usually enjoy Rubin’s work, so I was disappointed to find that this wasn’t really new material. It was a synthesis and summary of her earlier books, Better than Before and The Four Tendencies, along with a couple of anecdotes and insights from her podcast. Good for a review session or a
shot of inspiration, but if you know the other books, then you’ve heard it all before.

[Jenn. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read as audiobook borrowed from Audible. Narrated by author, which I appreciate. Sporadic background music/sound was distracting and annoying.

Ultimately this book was a synopsis of her previous works filtered through the lens of productivity. I'm familiar with her previous works so this book really didn't bring anything new to the table. Quick, easy listen but nothing new or life changing.

[Jessica P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Long time fan of everything Gretchen has written and podcasted! If you’re familiar with her work, this will likely feel like more of a summary or review of her other books (very condensed), but I can see it being helpful to people who are just dipping their toes into the wonderful world of Gretchen Rubin!

[Dan Hayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This isn't just a book about cleaning your room or hitting the gym; it’s a book about freedom. It gives you the keys to your own brain. If you've ever felt stuck in a loop of procrastination, this is the manual you didn't know you were missing.
Since we just proved how well Outer Accountability works for you, would you like me to help you draft a "Habit Contract" for your next big goal?

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't really have a project that I want to work on, but this book still gave me loads to consider, and there are techniques I can apply to lots of aspects of my life. I enjoy Grethcen Rubin's newsletter and I really need to explore more of her back catalogue, she is a happiness bully that I need in my life.

[Sophie Mumford · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my second Gretchen Rubin book after The Happiness Project, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Get It Done is more “self-help-y” but it’s short and practical. I learned a few things about how I operate and why. I look forward to reading The Four Tendencies next.

[Katherine Lincoln · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible, read by author: discussing how to be successful getting a project done. Examines loop holes, being specific, and common stumbling blocks

[Dell Hilton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good thoughts and counsel, much of which I’ve read before in Gretchen’s other books. But as I contemplate some new projects this year, good reminders on how to” get things done “

[Krystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m actually going try this. I wish I had gotten the book itself because there is work book inside. But I think I can plan it out.

[Jessica-sim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly enlightening

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took advantage of our Audible trial. Nice collection of Gretchen Rubin-isms.

[Devyn Derksen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice little audiobook with practical tips for completing a project.

[Susan Frazier-Kouassi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author provides important insight as to how we approach tasks and how to actually get the project done! It was a helpful read.

[Estela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the practical ideas for completing your dream project. I suspect this will be a book that I refer to over and over again as I begin working towards creating my first quilt pattern.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧

[Esther Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

4 hr, 17 min.

[SANDEEP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read !!

[Stephanie Zeuli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this with an ADHD mindset. It was helpful. Some things I knew immediately would never work for me, but I left with some new stuff to try!

[Heather Kimball · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good quick read. Reason for the score was that nothing was astonishing. A lot of it I knew, but there were a few really good insights. The writing was good and engaging.