App Reviews - Finch Self-Care

By: Meredith Knauer

A few years ago, in a post-covid slump, I was searching for self-care apps and came across Finch, a cute little bird friend who I would take care of by taking care of myself. What started off as another self-care focused to-do list app has since turned into an extremely customizable goal tracking system full of encouragement and dopamine dispensing prizes galore. And the best part? The free version is totally usable AND ADHD friendly!

Features

• Personalized Self-Care Journey: The Journey feature allows users to choose from many pre-determined long-term goals that are broken down into daily tasks. For example, the "So Fresh, So Clean" journey lets you pick from short-term goals like "brush your teeth before bed," "clean bed linens," and "wash your face." You can also add in your own goals to these journeys and even create your own. I've created one for my business with tasks like doing consultation calls and earning continuing education credits.

• Daily Check-Ins: Users can engage in daily mood tracking and reflections, fostering mindfulness and self-awareness. The app will track these check-ins for you and allow you to view trends in mood and which tasks you've completed on a calendar. If you indicate that you're having a particularly bad day, the app will suggest some first aid tasks like breathing exercises, doing a depression inventory, or even just stepping outside.

• Interactive Activities: The app offers a variety of activities such as journaling prompts, breathing exercises, stretches, and guided meditations to help users manage stress and anxiety.

• Gamification: Users can earn rewards and level up their bird friend by completing self-care tasks, making the experience fun and motivating. Oh, and did I mention that each task you complete gives you prizes that you can use to dress your bird and decorate their little bedroom?

• Community Support: Finch includes a community feature where users can connect, share experiences, and support one another in their self-care journeys. They have a discord channel and do monthly fundraising to offer scholarships for the paid version of the app for people who are starting out their journey and otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it. Oh, and your friends can join in, too, so you can encourage and support one another as you go.

• Low Pressure & No Judgement: Not only does the app offer tasks as simple as making sure you drink a glass of water, but if you miss a day, there's no pressure. Your bird friend won't chastise you for missing a day like certain chaotic green owls, and there's no added benefit of having a streak other than getting to see the number go up.

ADHD-Friendliness

Not only is the app cute, colorful, and customizable, but it's so easy to navigate and get started! The Finch team has taken great care in implementing user feedback by allowing you to bypass annoying pop ups, increasing accessibility features, and adding quests. As far as ADHD friendliness goes, I give it full marks. Between rewards for every task, pre-set and customizable goals, visual appeal, and constantly adding new cosmetics through monthly events, this app is a dopamine machine!

It even has a widget you can put on your home screen so you can see when your little bird friend is done going on adventures and is ready to chat and check in. While you can use it as a general to-do list, I take a more passive approach. At the end of the day, I go through my different journeys and check off different tasks that I did throughout the day. Some days, I don't have enough points to send my bird on an adventure, and that's okay. I simply do a journal prompt or two to give me all the points I need for the day. Even on bad days, the app helps me be a little more mindful of my experiences and do something for myself, even if it's 1 am, and I spent all day being a couch potato.

You can even set your goals to repeat on certain intervals. For example, every 2 or 3 days, "wash your hair" will appear in my "So Fresh, So Clean" journey. You can set each goal to stay in your dashboard until it's completed, so if I notice that particular goal appear and I'm unable to check it off, I know that I should wash my hair with my next shower so I can check it off later. Taking the time to customize these goals can be a little tedious, but that seems to be how setting up these systems to help us manage our day-to-day lives goes.

Oh, and one of my favorite parts: the suggested goals can be very tiny. I'm talking "put away one item that's not in its place," or "do 5 jumping jacks." As an ADHD coach, I find that when we have a hard time meeting our goals, it's because we are trying to take too big of a step. Finch really seems to understand that concept, and they've included it in their design. Then again, what else could I expect from a team of therapists and psychologists?

Effectiveness

Many users have reported positive changes in their mental health and well-being after using Finch. The app encourages consistency through its daily check-ins and rewards system, promoting healthy habits. The variety of activities available caters to different preferences, ensuring that users can find what resonates with them. Personally, this app helped me get into the habit of brushing my teeth before bed, taking a pause to appreciate the little joys in life, and even keep in contact with my loved ones. I'm not all the way there yet with certain goals (I'm looking at you, fitness), but the accessibility of the suggested steps does make it easier to fight decision paralysis and overcome that motivational hurdle of getting started.

Conclusion

Overall, the Finch Self-Care App is a delightful and effective tool for anyone looking to enhance their mental well-being. Its unique approach to self-care, combined with a supportive community and engaging features, makes it a standout choice in the realm of mental health apps. Whether you’re a self-care novice or a seasoned practitioner, Finch has something to offer everyone, and I'm hard pressed to think of any criticisms. If you find one, though, let the team know, and they'll genuinely take your feedback into consideration.

Rating: 5/5

Link: https://finchcare.com/

Disclosure: I am no conflict of interest in supporting this app. I am not affiliated or receiving kickbacks. I just really like the app.