When it comes to mental health and self-care we talk a lot about putting down our devices and getting away from screens. This is important, and it’s also true that we can use technology as a tool to stay healthy!
Have you tried out an app to help you keep on top of your self-care? There are quite a few apps out there that can make self-care feel more manageable by making it a like game on your phone.
For people who struggle with elements of self-care because of serious mental illness or even neuro divergence, these apps can be a game changer.
An example is the Finch app, which is more accessible to many than other options (Chillio, Fabulous, and more) because it has a free version. It’s been around for over four years, so you might have tried it. When someone downloads the app and opens it they’ll see an animation of an egg cracking and opening to reveal a baby finch bird character. The user cares for the baby bird and helps it to grow by completing self-care tasks that come pre-loaded, and the user can input their own self-care goals too.
Goals might include “Get out of bed” or “Drink water”, “Wash my face” or “Do one thing that makes me happy.”
As goals are achieved and clicked, points are gathered that can be used to buy items for the baby finch character. The app user is instantly rewarded for attending to self-care and the character grows and goes on adventures.
Finch and the other self-care apps are developed with evidence based science, which users can read about within the app.
Like any self-care approach, what works for one person doesn’t always work for another. For some people, a self-care app can be a game changer.
One youth shared about her experience trying the Finch app: “I was having a hard time with some things like remembering to brush my teeth every day, and some other things. I used the Finch app for about four months and got into the habit of a daily routine. It made me feel better about myself. Once I was in the habit, I didn’t need the app anymore.”
Adults also can benefit from the app. An adult user of Finch was amazed at the impact it made: “I have never been so on top of dishes in my life. I wake up to a clean kitchen every morning! This has never happened to me before and it’s so good for my mental health. I also use it to remind me to check messages and respond to them, and this is improving my relationships with my loved ones.”
For people who live with the negative symptoms of serious mental illness, and are struggling to manage their hygiene and social connections, such an app might have a positive impact on their wellbeing. Likewise with people who struggle with executive dysfunction, or a trauma response of “freeze.”
There is new research coming out on the use of technology to “gamify” self-care as well as different kinds of therapy and treatment. So far, it is looking hopeful!
Have you ever tried an app to help stay on track with your self-care goals? Did it help?
Have you found any ways to use technology to improve your wellbeing?