Go Freestyle!
Grab your favorite journal or notebook and spend five minutes each day writing about what you're grateful for. No prompts required.
66-Day Appreciology Journaling Challenge
What if 5 minutes a day helped you smile more, laugh more, and be aware of the moments that matter most, even on hard days?
The FREE 66-Day Appreciology Journaling Challenge is a guided appreciation and journaling experience for everyone who works in education.
BeginsNovember 16, 2026
ConcludesJanuary 20, 2027
Seeing this after November 16? No problem! You can still join the challenge.
Your information is private and will not be shared with your school district. Registration opens November 2. The challenge begins November 16.
We are keeping it simple!
How the Appreciology Journaling Challenge Works
- Nov 2
Sign up for free
Access your challenge materials and invite others to join you.
- Nov 16
Take just five minutes a day
Read a short prompt each morning. In the evening, write about what you noticed and finish with three things you're grateful for.
- Every week
Receive weekly encouragement
Supportive emails help you stay connected, inspired, and motivated throughout the challenge.
- Optional
Connect with others
Join our private LinkedIn group to share experiences, exchange ideas, and encourage other education professionals.
- Optional
Notice what shifts
Well-being check-ins invite you to reflect on how you're doing at different points along the way.
What is it?
Working in education is meaningful. It also asks a lot of the people who do it.
The 66-Day Appreciology Journaling Challenge is a free, guided experience designed to help you grow your appreciation for yourself, the people around you, and the moments that make a difference in your everyday life.
This challenge is inspired by the Gratitude Root from the book Appreciology, with a further focus on the subroots of Abundance, Awareness, and Recognition. Each week ends with a Grow Through It question.
Just five minutes a day to pause, reflect, and make room for appreciation.
Root 1 · The focus of this challenge
Gratitude: recognizing and appreciating the good in our lives, whether it comes from people, circumstances, or experiences.
AbundanceViewing life's resources as plentiful rather than scarce.
AwarenessBeing fully present and engaged in the moment.
RecognitionAcknowledging the contributions and value of others, and ourselves, openly and frequently.
Grow Through It. Each week closes with one question that helps you find something to appreciate, even in the challenging moments.
The Four Roots of Appreciology
- 01Gratitude
- 02Connection
- 03Clarity
- 04Intentionality
The challenge starts with gratitude, the first of the four roots. Our book, keynotes, workshops and certifications help schools grow all four roots, until appreciation runs through the whole culture. Explore Appreciology →
Who is it for?
Everyone who works in education!
From classrooms and school offices to cafeterias, buses, and everywhere in between, every role matters.
TeachersPrincipalsParaprofessionalsSchool counselorsBus driversCafeteria teamsCustodiansOffice staffAdministratorsSupport staffEveryone who helps make education possible
Whatever your role, this challenge is for you.
Who's behind the challenge?
Meet Tom and Phil
Phil Herman has held many roles in Ohio school districts: teacher, coach, principal, HR director, assistant superintendent and, for 11 years, superintendent.
Tom Speaks has spent more than 20 years as a strategic advisor to Ohio school leaders, guiding districts through complex situations and positioning them for long-term success.
Together they co-wrote Appreciology. They know how hard this work is, and they built this challenge for the people who do it every day.
11 yearsPhil as superintendent, and over 25 years serving Ohio schools
Since 2002Tom has worked alongside Ohio schools
Why 66 days?
Sixty-six days gives appreciation time to take root.
The 66-day journaling challenge comes straight from the book Appreciology. The number has research behind it: in a University College London study, a new daily habit took a median of 66 days to feel automatic, though the time varied a lot from person to person.
Source: Lally, van Jaarsveld, Potts & Wardle (2009), European Journal of Social Psychology.
Your Challenge. Your Way.
One challenge. Four ways to participate. Just five minutes a day.
There's no one right way to practice appreciation. Choose what works best for you!
Print & Write
Download the free 66-Day Appreciology Journaling Challenge Workbook, print the pages you want, and enjoy putting pen to paper as you reflect on the daily prompts.
Type & Reflect
Prefer to journal digitally? Use the fillable PDF workbook to type your reflections directly into the pages.
Take It With You
Use the Appreciology Journaling app to access daily prompts and reflect wherever you are.
App link coming soonHowever you choose to participate, the invitation is the same: make a little room for appreciation each day.
Mark Your Calendar!
Opportunities to learn, connect, reflect, and celebrate
We've created opportunities to learn, connect, reflect, and celebrate throughout the challenge.
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Nov 22026Registration
Registration Opens!
The challenge goes live! Sign up, access your challenge materials, and share the invitation with colleagues, friends, and others who work in education.
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Nov 105:00 PM ETLive & virtual · recorded
Virtual Kickoff: Let's Get Started!
Join us to learn more about the challenge, explore how it works, and ask questions before we begin. Can't make it live? The session will be recorded.
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Nov 16Day 1Day 1
The Challenge Begins!
Your 66-day appreciation practice starts here. Five minutes a day, in whatever format works best for you.
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Dec 85:00 PM ETLive & virtual · recorded
Checking In Together
Join our live virtual community check-in to share how it's going, ask questions, and receive encouragement. The session will be recorded.
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Jan 202027 · 5:00 PM ETDay 66 · Live & virtual
Bringing It All Together
Our final day! Join us virtually to celebrate, share discoveries, and explore how to carry appreciation forward. The session will be recorded.
One sign-up covers everything. When you join the challenge, we'll email you the links and reminders for all three live sessions.
You're Not Doing This Alone!
Support at every step
Along the way, you'll receive weekly supportive emails with encouragement, research-informed insights, and inspiration to help you stay connected to your practice.
You'll also be invited to join our private Appreciology LinkedIn group, where you can connect with other education professionals, share experiences, and encourage one another.
And all participants are welcome at our live virtual gatherings. Each session is optional and recorded, so you can participate in the way that works for you.
Five minutes a day is the practice. Everything else is support.
Why Appreciation?
Research suggests that practicing gratitude and appreciation can support mental health and help people manage stress.
The 66-Day Appreciology Journaling Challenge gives you a simple, intentional way to put that research into practice, just five minutes a day.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free?
Yes. The workbook, weekly emails, LinkedIn group and live sessions cost nothing.
What if I miss a day?
Pick up where you left off. Nobody's grading this.
What if I start late?
No problem! Start when you can and follow along from there.
Do I need the Appreciology book?
No. You don't need the book to complete the challenge. The book does, however, provide valuable context and information about the overall process. Find it on Amazon.
Do I have to attend the live sessions?
No. They're optional, and we record each one.
Can my whole school or team do it together?
Yes, and it's more fun that way. Share this page with your colleagues, or talk to us about a district-wide challenge.
What do you do with my information?
The information is private and will not be shared with your school district. It is being gathered to further enhance the overall Appreciology experience.
For school and district leaders
Want your district to experience a positive culture shift?
Appreciology at the district level helps a whole staff build a culture of appreciation together. The Impact Group brings it to schools four ways.
Appreciology Keynotes
Storytelling, practical strategies, and energizing insights for convocations, opening days, and conferences.
Appreciology Workshops
A hands-on 2 to 4 hour session where leaders and teams put the art and science of appreciation into practice.
Appreciology Certification Coming Soon
We certify members of your staff to lead Appreciology themselves, so it spreads effectively throughout your organization.
Cultural Transformation Package
Ongoing work that presents, communicates, reinforces, and rewards appreciation until it takes root.
"We were grateful to have The Impact Group join us at our Back-to-School Staff Convocation at Fairview Park City Schools. Creating a culture of appreciation was the perfect way to inspire us as we began a new school year. Our elementary staff was so energized that they are now interested in hosting a book study of Appreciology to dive deeper into the work."
Keith Ahearn, Superintendent, Fairview Park City Schools
Brought to you by The Impact Group
