Happify: for Stress & Worry

I had Happify on my phone for a couple of years before I used it. I got it for free when Starbucks gave away apps and music. I started a minimalism lifestyle transition earlier this year and by summer decided to reduce the number of apps on my phone. I decided to open up Happify and see what it was about before I deleted it. I did the first track recommend and it was awesome. I was going through my annual feeling stuck and hopeless season. I felt I needed to do something drastic this time around. I was tired of the loop that was my life. I had to break free. No drastic actions needed. This app gradually transformed my mind state. I am happier now for real. I don’t have to force myself to be happy. I have less anxiety about money, my negative mind-state is now struggling for survival instead of being dominant. I feel freer. I have a refreshing perspective on life-a paradigm shift. When the student is ready the Teacher will appear. This app was in my life, patiently waiting for me to see it. Thank you Starbucks. Thank you Happify. Thank you Universe for putting tools in place in my life. The Universe puts things and people in our lives for a reason. This life-changer was hanging out on my phone for years and showed up when I really needed. I deleted a lot of apps I got from Starbucks but never this one. 🤔

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I had high hopes for Happify, but, so far, it’s stressing me out. Imposing deadlines I never meant to put in myself by challenging me to do something nice for someone is stressful. The words in the “uplift” game that are supposed to be empowering and uplifting are sometimes actually unattainable ideals and/or things some people don’t aspire to (I don’t want to be “perky,” for instance. That’s not my personality. I am happy, and pleasant, and even outgoing, but not perky). Some people reading these words won’t feel uplifted so much as invalidated. Words like “peace,” “calm” and “uplift” were fine. When the game got too cluttered, again, it was just stressful, because I couldn’t read anything. The reminders from Happify of what I am supposed to be doing on the app, the little icon that shows my mood, and tools that measure my progress ~ all of this would be great, if it was designed to make sure the user easily maintained upward movement, but it’s not. It’s all extremely pressuring and stressful, in my opinion. It feels more like a challenge I am trying to meet than an app that is supposed to help me feel better.

I’ve tried numerous other like this one but after using them once or twice I lost interest. I’m so glad that I found Happify! It has been very helpful and I noticed that I’m drawn to it several times throughout my day, unusually at a time when I need it most. To my surprise it actually makes me smile and I look forward to the activities instead of that guiltily feeling I have come to dread. Other apps felt more like a chore I have to get done or I would feel worse over my laziness and since I’ve been using Happify it has been the complete opposite, and I couldn’t ask for more. I high recommend giving it a try, I’m glad I found it before I gave up on finding the right one for me.

I have used this app for less than two days and already it has been more understanding and compassionate about my emotions and feelings than all of my family members put together. I had a poll about my least favorite chore and that made me feel listened to. I was just having an emotional meltdown that peaked after three hours and after looking at my phone and seeing a notif for a ‘Happiness Check-In’, I had stopped by the time I read the first question. It was comforting to be acknowledged and cared about individually. The games actually are helpful and the ‘Why this Works’ section is informative and inspires faith and confidence. I recommend this app to my family, friends and anyone who is having it rough. I have tried a lot of these sort of apps before and this one stands out from the rest. One yearly subscription fee ($4.99 a month with $60 as full payment for a year) is $20 cheaper than two weekly visits to my old therapist under insurance. Please give this app a chance. Thank you developers for making such a great thing for everyone. Edit: Purchased the full version, have a week free trial of coaching. 4 days have gone by, no daily advice, questions answered, or progress reviews as promised. Trial expires in two days and haven’t even gotten to use it. Very upset. Considering a full refund.

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Had hoped this app would help, but it only made me more stressed and upset. Keeping score and subtracting when you miss something? Scrambling to keep up and not miss things? Turning happiness into a competition? NOT a positive thing! Now I feel like I have to measure up and do better and succeed more when that kind of stress is part of the problem to begin with. It was also really distracting with pop-ups about winning certain perks, not to mention confusing as to what they are and do. Honestly, not here to try and earn points. I found the overall layout pretty confusing as well. The emails that are meant to encourage you to do more activities in the app are incredibly annoying. Also didn’t like what I read in the legal and privacy policies, and feeling forced to share my real data. I’d have paid money for an app that was actually relaxing and uplifting while maintaining a feeling of anonymity and privacy. This is NOT that.