I’ve always loved the saying, “April showers bring May flowers.”
At its core, it’s about cause and effect over time—specifically, how uncomfortable, messy, or uncertain periods create the conditions for something better to emerge. It’s a reminder that endurance through discomfort is necessary for growth. Without the rain, nothing blooms.
April’s theme is Showers. We’re releasing the need for instant payoffs and embracing patience and trusting the process. Storms are restorative and cleansing, not a burden.
Your first task: Take shelter in one of your favorite spaces: your bed, your reading chair, a corner of the couch. Then, adjust one small thing to make the moment feel even safer:
- Close a door or window to create a sense of separation
- Turn off overhead lights and using a softer lamp
- Face inward toward the room instead of outward
- Wrap up in something warm—a blanket, a sweatshirt, even your arms
- Put on a steady, familiar sound (rain ASMR, a fan, quiet music)
Let yourself be there for a few minutes, sitting with the feeling of being held while the outside world rages on. Tell yourself: What feels heavy now might be making room for something lighter.
Consider this your starting point—what you grow next is up to you 🌷
Recreate this Mood Board for yourself:
- Save this feel-good, low-effort April to-do calendar
- Complete a creative writing challenge
- Weather the storms with dark ‘n’ stormy cookies
- Bookmark this spring glow-up cheat sheet
- Stay up late (or rise early) to see a Lyrid meteor shower
- Brush up on the language of flowers
- Make DIY stained glass to reflect pockets of sun
- Brave the outdoors with allergy tea
- Let this playlist serve as a reminder that golden days are coming
Life, unplugged
💌 Shower someone with praise
Small gestures of kindness can feel especially meaningful during intense, heavy times. Use one of these simple ideas to shift the energy and spread a little sunshine to someone in your life today:
- Send a text or voice note just to say “you’re amazing”
- Create a mini playlist with songs that remind you of them
- Make a handmade card or doodle celebrating them
- Bake or buy a treat and leave it with a note
- Leave a surprise Post-it Note somewhere they’ll find it
- Put together a tiny “appreciation jar” with notes of praise they can open
- Arrange a flower bouquet on a budget
Familiar comforts
🫧 Turn your shower into the most therapeutic place in your home
After a long day, think of your shower as the calm after the storm—a place to reset, rinse off the day, and start anew. First, give your bathroom a relaxing, five-star spa feel:
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Tie dried eucalyptus around your shower head and keep shower steamers nearby. The rising steam releases calming aromatherapy that melts away tension.
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Skip harsh overhead lights and opt for a shower lamp or flickering candles to create a softer, warmer glow.
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Indulge in a towel warmer so you can wrap up in a perfectly heated towel the second you step out, keeping your body relaxed and cozy.
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Swap your fabric bath mat for a stone mat. Its natural texture feels grounding underfoot and wicks away moisture immediately, keeping your floors dry and clean.
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Apply a shimmery body oil post-shower to lock in moisture, add a subtle glow, and turn your routine into a luxurious sensory ritual.
The next time you step in the shower, pick one thing you’re ready to release and imagine it melting away with each drop of water.
For example, “I’m washing away the need to have all the answers right now.” Pair the words with a physical cue, like gently massaging your neck, arms, or chest, or taking a deeper breath as the water hits your skin.
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Help desk
🔔 Ring a bell to calm the skies
In parts of medieval Europe, church bells were rung when storms approached. People believed the sound could break up lightning, calm the skies, and protect what mattered. You can borrow that idea, ringing your own mental bell so you can respond to stress instead of simply bracing for impact.
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Notice the early signs: Tight shoulders, racing thoughts, irritability.
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Pause, just for a few seconds.
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Mentally “ring a bell.” Say “ding,” or tap your desk, mug, or keyboard.
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Choose one small action before it escalates: a sigh, a boundary, a moment alone.
When to ring the bell:
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You’re about to fire off a frustrated Slack. Ring the bell and step away for two minutes.
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Your calendar feels overwhelming. Ring the bell and pick just one task to focus on.
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A conversation is getting tense. Ring the bell and slow your response.
The bell won’t stop the storm, but it can interrupt it early while you still have a say in what happens next.
Reader insights
📱 Take a rain check on doomscrolling
Social media often sucks us into endless scrolling, stealing the time our bodies need to actually rest. We asked our audience how they limit their phone use, and while strategies varied, most respondents emphasized the value of phone-free time.
Here are our favorite reader-approved ways to step away and give your mind a mini break:
“I consider different devices for certain tasks/activities. Such as, I have a music player for jamming out; the laptop is for emails, articles, and projects; the phone for basic informational checkups, social check-ins (Messenger, texts), and calls (voice and video); etc. This allows me to use technology in various ways without feeling that I am connected to everyone and everything all the time. It's like a digital compartmentalization.” Learn to compartmentalize the rest of your life.
“I have silenced most notifications, and I have uninstalled most social media apps. Outside of regular phone functions, I mostly use my phone for listening to podcasts or audiobooks. I have replaced social media with taking classes for new hobbies with friends and indulging in creative hobbies I had as a teen.” Read how junk journaling and other creative hobbies can actually advance your career.
“I've deleted apps that I know only add additional stress to my life. If it's a particularly hard day I'll put my phone on personal 'do not disturb' with emergency contacts as an exception so if something really dire happens, I'll hear my phone ring, but can leave it in another room or away from me.” Romanticize using your phone less on “90s rom-com lead” DND mode.
“My partner and I have designated screen free Monday and Thursday evenings and plan things that increase connection and don’t need to be near any screens.” Pick a low-pressure, meaningful way to stay connected to loved ones.
