Jazzy Mullins, CLT Summer Intern

We’re excited to feature our intern’s very first article - a thoughtful review of the habit-tracking and self-care app Finch. In her piece, she explores how the app helps users (especially teens and young adults) stay motivated, build healthy habits, and check in on their mental health—all in a gentle, gamified way. If you're curious about digital tools that actually support wellness, this one’s worth a read!

I’ve been using Finch as part of my daily self-care for about 6 months now. I can honestly say it’s one of the most helpful, encouraging, and interactive apps I’ve ever used for mental health and habit tracking. It has helped me to become more mindful, motivated and aware. It’s completely customizable to your needs and the biggest incentive is having an adorable virtual pet that grows with you!

Getting Started:

When you first sign up:

You get to choose the color of your Finch and give them a name.

I chose the color green and named her Halo :)

The app then asks you what self-care goals you want to work toward, some examples include:

Reducing anxiety
Practicing gratitude
Building healthy habits
Improving mood
Boosting self-esteem

Next, you choose your daily goals/priorities, such as:

Sleeping better
Drinking more water
Practicing mindfulness
Being more productive
Moving your body

Based on your responses, Finch gives you a set of suggested daily habits, but you’re not locked into them. You can edit them or create your own based on your needs, with no limit on how many. This feature is extremely helpful for those who want to start somewhere but are unsure of where to start.

Habit Tracking:

Each individual habit is completely customizable, you can:

Choose how often it repeats:

Never
Everyday
Weekdays only
Weekly on a specific day
Monthly
Custom selected days

Choose what time of day it occurs, including multiple times per day
Decide whether or not you want reminders/notifications
Go back and check if you’ve completed goals from previous days
See stats about which goals you complete or miss the most

This level of flexibility makes it easy to build routines that match your lifestyle without pressure. For me, having too many things to do (even small ones) everyday can be really overwhelming. Having the option to customize the days I choose to do them, while still having them in one place is such a relief!

Daily Check-Ins:

Finch is great for tracking your mental and emotional well-being throughout the day.

The first time you open the app each day, it asks:

“How motivated are you for the day?” and gives you a 1-5 scale using weather icons. (Stormy being 1 to Sunny being 5)

Throughout the day, it asks:

“How are you feeling right now?” and gives you a 1-5 scale using facial expressions. (Frown being 1 to Smile being 5)

At the end of the day, it asks:

“How satisfied are you with your day?” and gives you a 1-5 scale using facial expressions. (Frown being 1 to Smile being 5)

These check-ins have really helped me realize and track my moods throughout the day, especially when I go into the app multiple times. When I realize my mood is lower on the scale it gives an awareness that motivates me to move up the scale throughout the day.

Streaks:

Finch asks if you’d like to commit to a 2, 5, 7, or 14-day streak.

This gives a sense of control, but also something to work toward
There are no negative consequences if you miss a day, it will then ask you the question again and you restart

I see this feature in both a negative and positive light. It gives you a goal chosen by yourself to work toward, which is positive. Although, having no consequence for restarting your streak has made me fall back a little knowing that I can just restart another day.

Daily Quests:

Daily quests give you the greatest gift, reflection and self-care. Some examples include:

Repeat an affirmation 3 times
Boost your confidence with different prompts
Do a breathing exercise
Write 3 things you’re grateful for

These take less than a minute each, but they always give me a reset throughout the day and remind me of the little things that make me feel refreshed.

Rewards and Incentives:

Every habit or quest you complete gives you diamonds, which you can use to:

Buy your Finch pet new outfits
Decorate your Finch’s home
Help your Finch grow through life stages:

Baby > Kid > Teen > Adult

Strengthen your friendship bond with your Finch

Getting to know you > Growing closer > True companions > Deep Bond > Lifelong friendship

Unlock micropets (super cute companions for your finch)

This is the fun part! I would be lying if I said that I didn’t change my Finch’s outfit multiple times per week.

Social Features:

Finch lets you invite friends and connect with their Finches. You can send them sweet, supportive notifications like:

Good morning
Hugs
Gratitude
Outfit love
Encouragement
Strength
Calm
Sweet dreams

This is a wholesome way to stay connected and cheer each other on. When you don’t have the time or energy to text or call a friend, this has been a great way for me to let them know I’m thinking about them and vice versa.

Finch isn’t just a habit tracker, it’s a daily support system, a mood journal, a goal-setting tool, and a personal cheerleader all in one. It gives me structure without pressure, accountability without shame, and joy through small daily wins. Watching Halo grow alongside me makes every habit feel like it matters. Finch is suitable for all ages. I’m 20 years old and my friend group and I all use it, but so does my 10 year old sister. With Finch, nothing is off the table. If you think you shouldn’t be reminded of something, but you need to be, there’s no judgement. When your mom says “I’m not rewarding you for brushing your teeth,” Finch will!

“Finch” Habit Tracker App Review