How We Feel
I was recently introduced to the "How We Feel" app. It was shared in the context of a therapy resource and is incredible. I have been recommending it to many clients and have used it myself.
The creators describe it as "a free journal for your well-being created by scientists, designers, engineers, and psychologists." This app has been made accessible as a non-profit project supported by donations. Rarely do I see such a well-designed and beautiful app that I feel so confident about recommending to clients.
The idea is to "check-in" with your emotions throughout the day using four categories; high energy pleasant & unpleasant and low energy pleasant and unpleasant." Each group has nearly 40 emotion words to choose from, and there are brief descriptions for each emotion, helping you narrow down exactly how you're feeling. This feature is brilliant as so many people struggle with identifying precise language for their state of being.
Once you've chosen your emotion, you are prompted to record information such as where you are, who you are with and what you are doing. There is also the option to add photos, exercise and sleep information.
This mood journaling aims to learn more about your patterns of emotion. It's done in a simple and eye-catching manner. The categories are colour coded, and each emotion has an icon shape. So, when you review your check-ins over time, you are provided with simple but effective visuals. There are a variety of analytics and graphs to choose from including the various emotions you felt and the breakdown throughout a day or week.
Additionally, the Learn section of the app provides videos and activities on topics such as mindfulness, changing your thinking and behaviour change. These are available as a library, but the app will sometimes make a recommendation based on the emotion you logged.
This app's simplicity, visuals and comprehensiveness have made it stand out to me. The feedback I have gotten from clients has been entirely positive, and I can see its potential for people. I highly recommend trying out "How We Feel" if you want to increase your self-awareness and learn strategies to support your emotional state.