I Tried Madefor‘s Mental Wellness Program for 30 Days – Here‘s What Happened

Hey there! If you‘re like me, you‘re always on the lookout for new ways to feel your best mentally and physically. We all know how easy it is to get overwhelmed and off-balance with work, relationships, and just…life. That‘s why I was excited to discover Madefor, a science-based mental wellness program that promised to help me build healthy habits and tackle challenges with a fresh mindset.

Curious to see if it was the real deal, I decided to sign up and document my experience. Over the next 30 days, I dove into Madefor‘s signature program: 10 "action plans" based on key wellness pillars like hydration, gratitude, rest and connection. Each plan included daily challenges, expert videos, a physical toolkit, and access to an online community.

Want to know how it went? In this Madefor review, I‘ll give you the inside scoop on the program, the research behind it, how it stacks up to other wellness apps, and most importantly – whether it actually made a difference in my day-to-day life. Plus, I‘ll share some insights from other Madefor users to give you the full picture. Let‘s dive in!

Why I Decided to Try Madefor

First, a little context on why I was drawn to Madefor in the first place. Like a lot of millennials, I‘ve dealt with my fair share of stress and anxiety. Nothing too serious, but enough to impact my focus, sleep and overall sense of wellbeing. I‘ve tried meditating, journaling, therapy…you name it. And while all of those things helped to some degree, I never felt like I had a clear roadmap to feeling my best consistently.

Enter Madefor. I first heard about the program on social media, where people were raving about how it helped them feel more grounded, energetic and purposeful. The fact that it was created by the founder of TOMS shoes and a former Navy SEAL caught my attention – I figured they must know a thing or two about performing under pressure.

What really sold me was the science angle. As a bit of a research nerd, I loved that Madefor consulted with top neuroscientists to design the program based on proven principles of behavior change and habit formation. The 10 areas they focus on – from basic self-care to cultivating gratitude and clarity – made intuitive sense and seemed to cover all the bases.

At $199 for the annual program, it was definitely an investment, but I reasoned that it was a small price to pay for better mental health. After all, we don‘t hesitate to spend money on gym memberships or skincare to look and feel our best – why not apply the same logic to our minds? I took the plunge and signed up.

Unboxing the Madefor Experience

Right off the bat, I was impressed with how thoughtfully designed the Madefor experience was. A few days after signing up, a sleek black box arrived at my doorstep with all the physical tools I‘d need for the program – a Madefor water bottle, gratitude journal, blue light blocking glasses, and more. The unboxing felt a bit like Christmas morning, with each item corresponding to one of the 10 action plans.

Of course, the real substance of the program was in the online portal. After creating an account, I was greeted with a clean, intuitive dashboard where I could access my daily plan, track my progress, and connect with the Madefor community. Each day, I‘d get a short video from one of Madefor‘s experts explaining the science and philosophy behind that day‘s focus area and guiding me through the specific challenge.

I loved this multimedia approach to learning – being able to watch, read, write and connect with others based on what I was focusing on each day. It beat trying to remembering tips from a self-help book or passively scrolling through an app. The information actually stuck and inspired me to take action.

Breaking Down the Madefor Method

So what exactly does a Madefor plan entail? In a nutshell, it‘s a series of small, science-backed practices designed to help you build physical, mental and emotional resilience. The program is based on the insight that we often fail to make changes because we try to do too much too quickly, or we don‘t understand how our brains really work to create lasting habits.

Madefor solves this by breaking things down into bite-sized daily actions rooted in research and organized into themed 21-day "sprints". The 10 core areas are:

1. Hydration
2. Gratitude
3. Fuel
4. Connection
5. Breath
6. Movement
7. Nature
8. Clarity
9. Rest
10. Vision

Within each area, you learn the underlying science – like how even mild dehydration can zap your mental performance, or how spending time in nature lowers cortisol levels – and concrete ways to apply that knowledge in your life.

Some of my favorite daily challenges included:

• Drinking a glass of water first thing in the morning (Hydration)
• Texting someone to let them know why I appreciate them (Gratitude)
• Taking a walking break during my workday (Movement)
• Decluttering a space for 10 minutes (Clarity)
• Wearing blue light glasses before bed (Rest)

Nothing revolutionary, but that‘s kind of the point. Madefor is all about accessible, evidence-based actions you can easily integrate into your existing routine to yield major benefits over time. It really drove home for me the power of small habits done consistently.

Another game-changer was learning from Madefor‘s roster of experts on topics like nutrition, focus, anxiety and goal-setting. I‘ve followed the work of advisor Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neuroscientist, for a while – so getting to absorb his insights in a structured format was awesome. Ditto for the other Madefor coaches who shared wisdom from their fields in a relatable way.

To see how Madefor‘s approach compares to other popular wellness programs, check out this handy chart:

Program	Focus Areas	Format	Price
Madefor	10 pillars of wellness	App, physical tools, community	$199/year
Calm	Stress, anxiety, sleep	App	$70/year
Headspace	Mindfulness, stress, focus	App	$70/year
Noom	Weight loss, habit change	App, coaching	$199/year
Woebot	Stress, anxiety, mood	AI chatbot	$39/month

While each program has its merits, I found Madefor to be the most comprehensive and well-rounded. Instead of just honing in on one aspect of mental health, it takes a holistic approach to wellbeing that goes beyond quick-fix hacks.

My 30-Day Madefor Journey

Armed with my toolkit and daily plan, I embarked on my month-long Madefor journey with cautious optimism. Could something as simple as drinking more water and jotting down what I‘m grateful for really move the needle on my mental health? I was determined to find out.

Week 1 was all about building a foundation with the Hydration, Gratitude and Fuel plans. I‘ll admit I was a little skeptical at first – I mean, I know drinking water is good for you, but I didn‘t expect it to impact my mood and cognition so noticeably. But as I sipped from my Madefor bottle throughout the day, I found myself feeling more clearheaded and energetic, without my usual afternoon slump.

The Gratitude plan was an eye-opener too. I‘ve tried gratitude journaling in the past but struggled to stick with it. Madefor‘s approach of identifying one specific thing to be thankful for each day – a person, an experience, a personal strength – and sharing that appreciation felt way more meaningful. It shifted my mindset from dwelling on little annoyances to noticing the good all around me.

In Week 2, I focused on Connection, Breath and Movement. As an introvert who works from home, prioritizing social connection is a challenge for me. The daily prompts to reach out to friends and engage in small talk pushed me out of my comfort zone in a needed way. I ended up having some great conversations and feeling more plugged into my community.

The Breath work was a revelation too. I didn‘t realize how often I was holding my breath or taking shallow inhales throughout the day. Madefor‘s guided breathing exercises gave me a tool to find instant calm when stress or anxiety popped up. Several times I‘d start a project feeling scattered and after a few minutes of intentional breathing I could approach it with way more clarity.

Week 3 brought the Nature, Clarity and Rest plans. This was probably my favorite week, since it aligned so much with my goals and values. I‘ve always found nature to be restorative, but I loved having a "prescription" to spend at least 20 tech-free minutes outdoors each day. I got in the habit of taking a short walk in a nearby park every morning, which did wonders for my outlook and focus.

The Clarity plan really resonated with me too. As someone who can be a bit of a digital hoarder, the prompt to declutter a space each day was surprisingly satisfying. Unsubscribing from junk emails, organizing a junk drawer, donating clothes I don‘t wear – each action left me feeling lighter and more in control.

Finally, the Rest plan was a much-needed lesson in the power of slowing down. Madefor‘s wind-down routine checklist and blue light blocking glasses made me realize how wired I usually am before bed. Prioritizing rest as an active part of my wellbeing vs. something that happens when I have time left over has been a game changer.

To wrap up the month, I did the Vision plan in Week 4. This is where everything I‘d been practicing came together in a powerful way. Doing exercises to clarify my values, set meaningful goals and visualize my best self made me realize how much more grounded and purposeful I felt after just 30 days of small, consistent changes.

Was it a perfectly linear journey? Of course not. Life still happened, with its usual ups and downs. But I noticed I was able to navigate those ups and downs with a lot more resilience and mental agility than before. The Madefor practices gave me an anchor to come back to and tools to reframe challenges as opportunities.

The Madefor Community

One thing I didn‘t expect going into Madefor was how much I‘d enjoy and benefit from the community aspect. As a self-proclaimed lone wolf, I wasn‘t sure I‘d gel with the whole "social" side of the program. But as it turns out, having a crew of like-minded folks on the same journey makes a world of difference.

Madefor‘s online community is a judgment-free space to share wins, challenges, questions and encouragement. I loved scrolling through people‘s posts about how the daily practices were showing up in their lives and cheering each other on. It made the whole experience feel less like a solo self-improvement project and more like a team effort.

Some of my favorite community features:

• Live Q&A sessions with Madefor experts and coaches to dive deeper into topics
• Member-led meetups (virtual for now) to connect with people in your area
• Discussion boards organized by Action Plan and theme
• Habit tracking tools to celebrate streaks and milestones
• Exclusive content like guided meditations and recipes

The community vibe is really the secret sauce that makes Madefor more than just another app or challenge. The accountability and camaraderie dial up the motivation factor and make the whole thing feel more fun and rewarding.

What Other Madefor Members Are Saying

Don‘t just take it from me though – Madefor has racked up some rave reviews from all kinds of people. From busy parents to entrepreneurs to retirees, it seems to strike a chord with anyone seeking simple, science-backed ways to feel and function better. Here‘s a snapshot of what members are saying:

"I‘m only halfway through my Madefor year and already I‘m feeling more grounded, energetic and optimistic than I have in ages. The daily practices are totally doable and the cumulative effect is kind of mind-blowing. It‘s not about overhauling your whole life, but these micro-changes really do add up to a major shift. I‘m hooked." – Lauren, 32

"As a small business owner and dad of two, life is pretty non-stop. Before Madefor, I was really struggling to stay focused and motivated. I‘ve tried meditation apps and productivity hacks, but nothing really stuck. What I love about Madefor is how it takes the guesswork out of what to do each day to keep myself centered. It‘s not another thing on my to-do list, it‘s a toolkit to tackle everything on my list with more ease and clarity." – Mike, 45

"I was at a crossroads in my life when a friend recommended Madefor. I‘d recently retired and was feeling a bit unmoored without the structure and purpose of work. The Vision plan especially helped me rediscover what lights me up and set some exciting new goals for this chapter. I feel like I‘m learning and growing in a whole new way thanks to Madefor." – Susan, 67

The recurring theme? Madefor meets you where you‘re at and gives you a clear, actionable path to take ownership of your mental wellbeing. Instead of overwhelming you with lofty goals, it helps you build a strong foundation of daily habits to feel more resilient and in control.

The Verdict: Is Madefor Worth It?

So, after 30 days of Madefor, did I emerge as a glowing beacon of unshakeable calm and focus? Not quite. Like anything worth doing, improving mental fitness is an ongoing process with ups and downs. What I can say is that Madefor gave me a roadmap and tools to navigate that process with a lot more intention and self-awareness.

The beauty of the program is that it doesn‘t hinge on achieving a specific goal or outcome, like losing X pounds or meditating for X minutes. The point is to learn and practice fundamentally healthy ways of being so you can show up as a more grounded, purposeful version of yourself in any situation.

For me, the most valuable things I gained from Madefor were:

1. A clear understanding of the core components of mental wellbeing and how to strengthen them
2. A curated toolbox of science-backed practices to build healthy habits and mindsets
3. Greater self-awareness and mental flexibility to navigate challenges and opportunities
4. A shared language and support system with an amazing community

Those benefits will serve me well long after I‘ve completed the initial program. I plan on doing another round (you can redo it as many times as you want) since repetition is so key to cementing new habits. It‘s honestly become a way of life more than a one-and-done experience.

So back to the central question – is Madefor worth the investment? If you‘re looking for a magic bullet to "fix" your mental health, probably not. Let‘s be real, no app or program is a panacea. You‘ll get out of it what you put in.

But if you‘re down to play the long game and do the daily reps to build a strong base of mental fitness, Madefor is 100% worth considering. With its expert-designed programming, engaging multimedia content, nifty tools, and vibrant community, it‘s hands down the most comprehensive and actionable mental wellness platform I‘ve tried.

Instead of getting piecemeal advice from a zillion different sources, you get a trusted roadmap to integrate all the key pieces – physical health, emotional regulation, mental clarity, social connection – with guidance and accountability. For less than you‘d pay for a month of therapy or medication, you can give yourself a serious leg up on feeling and functioning better.

Of course, everyone‘s needs and preferences are different. If you‘re dealing with a diagnosed mental health condition, Madefor shouldn‘t replace professional help. And if you‘re more of a DIY type who can‘t stand anything that feels like "homework", the structure might feel constricting vs. comforting. Different strokes and all that.

But if you‘re ready to invest in your mental wellbeing and want a science-backed action plan to make it stick, I can‘t recommend Madefor enough. It‘s not a quick fix, but in my experience, it delivers on its promise to help you build the habits and mindset to navigate life‘s challenges with more clarity, purpose and mental agility. At a time when we could all use an extra dose of resilience, that‘s pretty priceless if you ask me.