April is the cruelest month because it comes on the heels of February and March. In our hemisphere, this means that we arrive in April after months of very little direct sunlight, suffering from avitaminosis, low energy, excessive weight put on during the limited mobility of the snowy winter, and exhaustion. All of this affects our mental health and makes us sluggish, moody, and sad.

This is why I’m starting a 13-week challenge that will help me get through the difficult months of February, March and April and arrive in May in an energized, healthy state of mind and body.

Everybody is welcome to do the SELF-CARE AND HAPPINESS challenge with me. It will consist of weekly sub-challenges that can be started or abandoned at any point. It will start with easier tasks and grow a little harder, but just a little. Feel free to do all of them, some of them, or none of them. The goal of the challenge is to practice consistent self-care and psychological hygiene.

I warn you, though, that for people who don’t love themselves a whole lot, this challenge might present quite a challenge.

Apart from the weekly challenges that will appear before the start of the week, there will be middle of the week check-ins and unscheduled exercises.

Here are the weekly challenges:

WEEK I: SHEDDING THE OLD SKIN

WEEK II: MEET THE SKY

WEEK III: PROTECT THE FIRE

12 responses to “SELF-CARE AND HAPPINESS: A 13-Week Challenge”

  1. Sister Avatar
    Sister

    I’m excited! Let’s get started!

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  2. musteryou Avatar

    Here’s your challenge. Do sparring and get wrecked!

    Sparring makes you sweat

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    1. Clarissa Avatar

      This challenge is not about intensity. Its goal is quite the opposite.

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      1. musteryou Avatar

        My training isn’t so much about intensity either, but about learning to focus DESPITE intensity. That is an important distinction!

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  3. cliff arroyo Avatar

    My internal calendar is a lot different. For me (in Poland) the worst is normally around mid-December to mid-February (depending on when the snow stops). By March or so I’m psyched and increasing in energy and by April I’m positively giddy. My problem isn’t coming out of hibernation but falling into the zombie state to begin with (this year hasn’t been too bad).

    It’s hard to remember in the US because I lived in a never snows kind of place.

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  4. cliff arroyo Avatar

    Oh, but good luck on your project! I know you love cold and snow so I hope withdrawal is relatively painless this year.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar

      Any excuse to self-absorb works for me. 🙂 🙂

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  5. musteryou Avatar

    round four of four. Looking for fitness/sparring partners. 🙂

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  6. Lucinde Avatar
    Lucinde

    I’m on similar mental schedule as cliff, once February rolls around I feel like the worst is behind me. However when it comes to skincare and weight management, I’m on track with Clarissa. So bring it on. I will do it with you as long as it doesn’t involve zumba.

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    1. Clarissa Avatar

      No zumba, I promise. I don’t hate my readers or anything. 🙂

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  7. Titfortat Avatar
    Titfortat

    Just so you know, April is a great month for me as my Mother, Daughter and Stepson all have their birthdays in it!
    Hopefully youre training will make it just as exciting and appealing as it is for me. 🙂

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    1. David Bellamy Avatar

      As do both Clarissa and I.

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