What it does
How We Feel is a free emotional wellness journal designed to help users better understand and regulate their feelings. The app's core function is a daily 'check-in' where users identify their emotions through a guided, multi-layered selection process. Based on these check-ins, it provides data-driven insights and a library of tools, such as breathing exercises and movement videos, to help manage those emotions.
Where it shines
How We Feel excels at making the abstract concept of emotional awareness feel concrete and actionable. The emotion selection wheel (00:43) is a prime example. It guides users from a general state of high or low energy to a specific feeling, which is an empowering act of self-discovery. Another strong moment is the 'Burn the Negative' tool (05:28), which uses a powerful burning metaphor to help users let go of negative self-talk. Finally, the analytics section (10:56) connects logged emotions to daily activities like sleep and exercise, providing users with tangible insights into their own mental patterns.
UX highlights
- Guided Emotion Identification: The app avoids overwhelming users with a long list of feelings. Instead, it uses a four-quadrant model of energy and pleasantness to narrow down the options progressively (00:41).
- Learn-by-Doing Onboarding: The very first task during onboarding is to complete an emotional check-in (00:40). This immediately teaches the core loop and demonstrates the app's value.
- Actionable Tools: The app provides a well-organized library of coping mechanisms categorized by need, like 'Breathing' (05:41) and 'Movement' (07:31). This gives users a clear next step after identifying how they feel.
- Metaphorical Interactions: Exercises like 'Burn the Negative' (05:28) use strong visual metaphors to make psychological concepts more tangible and memorable.
- Data-Driven Self-Awareness: The analytics dashboard (10:35) visualizes emotional trends over time and correlates them with lifestyle factors, helping users understand their personal triggers.
- Privacy-Forward Design: The app explicitly states its commitment to data privacy early in the onboarding (00:24) and offers features like iCloud Sync and data deletion in settings (11:44).
Monetization & growth
The video does not show any paywalls or subscription prompts. An introductory screen (00:21) mentions the app is free and made possible by donations, indicating a non-profit or donation-based model. Growth is facilitated through a social feature where users can add friends by sharing a code (10:04), allowing them to share their emotional state in a controlled way.
Who it’s for
This app is designed for individuals looking to build emotional self-awareness without the commitment of a paid subscription. Its user-friendly interface is suitable for people new to journaling or mindfulness. The tools and analytics appeal to those who want to understand the connections between their lifestyle and their mental state and find practical strategies for emotional regulation.
Notes & opportunities
The app offers a comprehensive suite of tools, but the sheer number of options could be slightly overwhelming. For example, the tools dashboard at 04:52 is dense. A more personalized recommendation system could guide users to the most relevant tool based on their recent check-in. The process for adding custom activities (02:42) is functional but could be streamlined to feel more integrated into the check-in flow itself.