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Spring Forward and Step Out
Like the seasons change, so do we! Join us on a journey designed to help you break out of your comfort zone and embrace personal growth through simple — and fun! — weekly activities.
What is The Ethel Spring Forward Challenge?
The Ethel Spring Forward Challenge is a program designed to motivate women to try new things, step out of their comfort zones, and pursue personal growth. The Ethel community champions women breaking stereotypes around aging while celebrating life at every stage. Join The Ethel Challenge Facebook Group, a safe space where you can share your experiences, concerns, tips, questions, jokes — anything related to the Spring Forward Challenge. Once you sign up for the Spring Forward Challenge, you’ll gain access to:
Weekly challenge emails
Discussion prompts
A chance to be featured in The Ethel newsletter or on the Ethel website
How It Works
- Sign-Up For Free
- Get Weekly Challenges
- Daily Encouragement
- Stay Connected
- Reflect & Celebrate
Join the challenge using your free aarp.org account. You don’t have to be an AARP member. The challenge begins on April 6th! When you sign up for the challenge, you’ll receive a registration confirmation email and access to the Challenge Hub where you can find your weekly activities, tips and resources!
Every Sunday morning from April 5th to May 3rd, you'll get an email with two activities and a bonus activity. You can participate at your own pace! There’s no pressure to complete every activity — every step counts.
Find inspiration through check-ins and discussion starters in the private The Ethel Challenge Facebook group.
Visit the private The Ethel Challenge Facebook group on Facebook daily to support others. You can also upload your Challenge photos to show us how your journey is going. We may even reach out to see if you’d like to be featured on The Ethel website or in The Ethel newsletter.
Complete a short survey at the end of the month to give feedback and help shape future challenges.
Curious what The Ethel Spring Forward Challenge looks like?
Here’s a look at one of our themed weeks, where each activity offers a small, meaningful action to inspire you to step outside your comfort zone and try new things.
Step Out and Show Up Week:
- Plan a day trip or an overnight excursion to somewhere you've never been.
- Introduce yourself to someone new.
Testimonials
The Ethel Spring Forward Sweepstakes
Enter for a chance to win a Grand Prize Bundle of Ethel Store products, including Sunglasses, Tumbler, Tote and more! NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends Friday, May 8th, 11:59 PM Eastern Time. See Official Rules for details.
Show up for Yourself
Personal growth doesn’t require a huge leap, but small daily steps that can result in long-lasting change.
- Are you ready to try new things and step outside your comfort zone? Then you’re all set for The Ethel Spring Forward Challenge. So, how does it work, and why would you want to try new things?
- Well, continuing to learn and embrace change are important for your overall well-being.
- This challenge provides you with two “starter” challenges each week to try at your own pace and in your preferred setting. These daily activities can boost reflection, personal growth, and connection in your life.
- And you don’t have to do all the activities! Completing even one task is a step beyond your comfort zone.
- Here’s more good news: The Ethel team will support and encourage you in The Ethel Challenge Facebook group.
- In The Challenge Facebook group, you’ll have the chance to share your experiences with other Ethels and may be featured on The Ethel website or newsletter.
To join The Ethel Challenge Facebook Group community:
Step 1: Log in using your Facebook account.
Step 2: Click this Facebook group link and press “Join Group” to request access to the community.
It’s that simple! All of the members of the Facebook group will be participating in the Challenge along with you.
No, The Ethel Spring Forward Challenge is completely free. You only need an aarp.org account to sign up. There is no cost to create an account, and an AARP membership is not required.
No, an AARP membership is not required. You only need an aarp.org account to sign up, and creating an account is free.
You will receive your first Challenge email on April 5th, 2026. After that, you’ll receive weekly challenge emails on Sundays through May 3rd, plus discussion prompts in The Ethel Challenge Facebook group, in which you can connect and share with other women also doing the Challenge. At the end of the pilot, we would love to gather your feedback and details on your experience through an emailed survey.
Each Sunday until May 3rd, you’ll receive two new tasks designed to help you step outside your comfort zone and stimulate personal growth. But don’t feel as though you have to do it all. Completing even one task takes you one step further outside your comfort zone.
Connect with other participants in The Ethel Challenge Facebook group, where you can share your experience via posts and comments.
A mix of both, so you can participate in what fits your lifestyle best. Every Sunday, we will email you with two activities. But don’t feel as though you have to do both – pick what works for you. Completing even one task takes you one step further outside your comfort zone. Share your success on your social channels, challenge friends to also participate, and connect with other participants in The Ethel Challenge Facebook group, a friendly space for sharing experiences and encouragement.
Yes, we aim to provide a mix of activities for women from all walks of life. Every Sunday, we will email you with two activities; choose whichever your body is comfortable with completing. Completing even one task takes you one step further outside your comfort zone. You’ll also have access to The Ethel Challenge Facebook group, a friendly virtual space for sharing experiences and encouragement.
Throughout this pilot program, we hope to provide a variety of activities suitable for women from all walks of life. You can modify to fit your goals and intentions for this challenge. Completing even one task takes you one step further outside your comfort zone. You can see how other participants complete their challenges in The Ethel Challenge Facebook group, a friendly virtual space for sharing experiences and encouragement.
Learn more about The Ethel Spring Forward Sweepstakes and sign up with the official entry form here: The Ethel Spring Forward Challenge Sweepstakes
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Ends Friday, May 8th, 11:59 PM Eastern Time. See Official Rules for details.
Show us how you're showing up for yourself this Spring! For a chance to be featured on our website or newsletter, look out for a Docusign photo release form in your registration confirmation email. This form allows us to feature photos you post in The Ethel Challenge Facebook group, onto The Ethel website, newsletter, and other social media platforms — only with your consent!
If you experience issues, please reach out to aarpethel@aarp.org for assistance.
If you have trouble logging into your AARP.org account to sign up, please try the following steps:
- Try resetting your password.
- Clear your cookies and cache, and ensure your browser is up to date.
- Close and reopen your browser and try logging in again.
If you continue to experience issues, email aarpethel@aarp.org for assistance.
Find Friendship & Community
The Ethel Community supports and celebrates women in their 50s, 60s, 70s and beyond through our Social Groups. Find the one that suits you best or join them all!
Local Gathering Groups
Meet new friends in your area or virtually. Or start a new Ethel Gathering Group near you!
The Ethel Circle
Join other women in the convo on navigating aging. Uplift each other and break stereotypes.
Ethel On-the-Go
Join a like-minded community of travelers who prove you're never too old for adventure.