The site helps users block out time for a particular task, for “focus time” (which will even block websites that you find distracting) to maximize productivity, and for breaks and check-ins. Additionally, though there is a free-writing section, this app is less conducive to written expression than other journaling apps.įriday is a work and planner website, not an app. The analytics on this app were interesting and helpful however, I think this would be better suited for someone trying to build good habits or someone who struggles to maintain certain activities. This helped me see which habits I should hone and which ones are not serving me. The app produces a graph that tracks my mood throughout the week or month and counts how frequently I’ve selected each mood. It shows how often I complete each activity on my list, my average daily mood, and which activities are associated with which moods. One of my favorite features of this app is the “stats” section. I also set a goal of drinking more water and tracked its completion. Completing an entry takes only a minute or less, and I usually used it in the morning and evening. The app comes with preset habits, but they are easy to change, delete, and customize to meet your goals and needs. Users can select their moods from five emojis and segment different activities to track. I should note that I used the free version of the app the $2.50 per month premium membership includes a free-writing notes section, customizable journal questions, mood tracking, and the ability to add images and videos to entries, among others-all features that would have made this the perfect app for me.ĭaylio is a mood and habit tracker. This practice took only a few minutes, so it was easy to do over breakfast and before bed. I liked this app because it encouraged me to focus on the positive moments and the changes I can affect. This journal does harken back to practices that researchers have shown are effective, such as gratitude journaling and achievable goal setting. The evening prompts ask users to reflect and think about the best parts of their days and how they could have improved the day. The morning prompts ask users to consider what they’re grateful for, set goals for the day, and lay out affirmations. The entry begins with a new quote every day, and the same prompts. The app has a mechanism for both morning and evening journaling. Five Minute Journal uses principles of positive psychology in its structure. The Five Minute Journal app is adapted from a physical book with the same title, which features a similar structure. I tried to help you choose one that will work best for you. Here are my honest opinions of the apps (and a few other formats). When the app was less structured, I set an alarm and aimed for 15–20 minutes of journaling, and when it was more structured, I wrote for as long as the prompts called for, usually a few minutes. 2 I decided to try each app for at least four days. 1 Psychotherapist Haley Neidich claimed that even two to five minutes of journaling is enough to see benefits. James Pennebaker, an eminent social psychologist in journaling therapy, suggested a journaling practice that includes writing for 15–20 minutes at a time over three to five sessions. I knew it was important to select an app that made my experience easy and pleasant while remaining effective. Some offer structured journaling, while others provide mood trackers and planners. My problem then became that there were far too many apps to choose from. However, I always have my phone on me, so I decided to try a journaling app. I usually like to put pen to paper, but this method is often inefficient-I don’t carry around a journal and pen all day long, and my hand starts to cramp up just a few minutes in-and I have plenty of partially filled notebooks to prove it. After researching and writing about the enumerated benefits of journaling and journaling therapy, I decided it was time to commit to the practice. I’ve always been an occasional journal writer-I’ll write every day for a few days or weeks, and then I won’t look at my journal for months.
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