Really nice app but missing a couple things
I really like this app (got the recommendation from Huberman Lab) but I wish there were more causes/factors to choose from outside of work and home/family. I would love to see things like gym, hobbies, social, outdoors, and adventures as options! They do give you an “other” option but that’s not as helpful as a true categorization.
The app also advises me to call someone a lot when I want to shift my mood, so it would be nice to see additional suggestions pop up from time to time (breath work, gratitude, reflection, etc.)
The app also advises me to call someone a lot when I want to shift my mood, so it would be nice to see additional suggestions pop up from time to time (breath work, gratitude, reflection, etc.)
Show more
Very limited
As a therapist, I was hoping this app could be something I could recommend for clients. Unfortunately, with much of the work I do helping clients unlearning familial and cultural rules around emotions, this app sets up it’s own problems in trying to rank order emotion words along two axis. This is a useful tool for those looking to increase their emotional vocabulary and take a moment to look inward, but for those with even a bit more more emotional awareness, the challenge of feeling more than one way at the same time, and the challenge of defining your own unique relationship with your emotions and internal state are not only not addressed, but ignored entirely. I would like the app to give space to explore somatic sensations, and allow for more exploration of what an emotional is like for the individual. Separating the choosing of arousal state, good or poor valance, and emotion words (‘do one of these words apply?’ with an if not option), while adding somatic awareness (where do you feel this in your body) could be a great start. I like the work being done here, but there is so much more potential, and the app, perhaps great for some, would likely leave others feeling lost when they don’t fit into this cookie cutter approach.
Show more
Great bones, hope it continues development
This is a nice app, thank you devs for making it. Here are my suggestions to grow its usefulness:
1. Offer an option to enter the number values (-5 to 5) for both energy and pleasantness. The UX here is often “leading” in that you basically “pick” your mood rather than discovering it based on assessing your energy and pleasantness first
2. The journal view shows dots on a chart but you are not able to see what you wrote or if a given score was work/home etc. this whole section could be greatly expanded. I’m sure there are some great visualizations that could be provided for tracking mood
3. “Shift” your mood is really basic right now, would love to see more thought out into this rather than “do something fun”. The way I learned the mood meter is that when you want to shift you actually pick the mood you want to have and then think of a strategy/actions to take to get there. Again, great bones in this app, now needing a little meat!
Thanks devs
1. Offer an option to enter the number values (-5 to 5) for both energy and pleasantness. The UX here is often “leading” in that you basically “pick” your mood rather than discovering it based on assessing your energy and pleasantness first
2. The journal view shows dots on a chart but you are not able to see what you wrote or if a given score was work/home etc. this whole section could be greatly expanded. I’m sure there are some great visualizations that could be provided for tracking mood
3. “Shift” your mood is really basic right now, would love to see more thought out into this rather than “do something fun”. The way I learned the mood meter is that when you want to shift you actually pick the mood you want to have and then think of a strategy/actions to take to get there. Again, great bones in this app, now needing a little meat!
Thanks devs
Show more
It USED to be somewhat OK…now it’s a waste
I heard about this app a few years ago while I was in a meeting at work. They recommended everyone to try this mindful activity, so we downloaded this app. Back then, if you wanted to shift mood, it would give you ways in which to do that. The concept was pretty OK, but could use work. However, since updating it, as others have mentioned, they removed the old information and took away the ways to shift mood to replaced it with a quote. Before, they had calming scenes and sounds. Now-NOTHING. The update was a downgrade, and this app has become far surpassed by other apps in the same category.
Show more
Helpful app, but could be improved
I got the app because I was reading Permission to Feel. I find it vey helpful for checking into my feelings and labeling them. It was particularly helpful because I have the Kindle version of the app, which does not show the Mood Meter clearly.
I have the following suggestions for improvements:
1) Double the character limit on explanations to 300 or eliminate it entirely. It’s frustrating to be cut off after just a few sentences.
2) If you choose to shift your mood, make sure the quotes and suggestions are relevant to the emotion. I said I was feeling anxious and got a quote about anger.
3) After you identify your mood, where it asks if you want to stay or shift, add a prompt to explore the resources accessed through an icon at the bottom of the screen
4) Add to the resources an explanation of the different regulation strategies (mindful breathing, forward-looking strategies, attention-shifting strategies, and cognitive-reframing strategies). It would be helpful to add more articles and videos, the resources were sparse.
I have the following suggestions for improvements:
1) Double the character limit on explanations to 300 or eliminate it entirely. It’s frustrating to be cut off after just a few sentences.
2) If you choose to shift your mood, make sure the quotes and suggestions are relevant to the emotion. I said I was feeling anxious and got a quote about anger.
3) After you identify your mood, where it asks if you want to stay or shift, add a prompt to explore the resources accessed through an icon at the bottom of the screen
4) Add to the resources an explanation of the different regulation strategies (mindful breathing, forward-looking strategies, attention-shifting strategies, and cognitive-reframing strategies). It would be helpful to add more articles and videos, the resources were sparse.
Show more
Chain reaction
You probably have downloaded this application from “permission to feel”. Well utilizing RULER has never passed my mind until I started reading the book. I have been able to recognize and understand my emotions, but putting a label on them was the hard part. When I am in a bad mood I take this app out and look through the words to find what best suits my mood. By strengthening my emotional vocabulary I will have a suite of words to help label my emotions. By doing so I can effectively express them and then regulate them if need be.
After inputting your emotion you are prompted to “stay or shift” and if you choose to shift it gives you a great motivational quote and advice to try to move you to a different quadrant. Such a beautiful good and a powerful tool.
Thank you Marc and the developers of this application you have really helped my life out.
After inputting your emotion you are prompted to “stay or shift” and if you choose to shift it gives you a great motivational quote and advice to try to move you to a different quadrant. Such a beautiful good and a powerful tool.
Thank you Marc and the developers of this application you have really helped my life out.
Show more
Simple and helpful
Even though I’m an adult and have done a lot of therapy, this app is so helpful. I’ve realized I default to saying the same three emotions and doing this has really helped me be more aware of how I’m feeling and has thus allowed me to better handle it.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I wish you were able to view definitions on the mood meter. Some of the words are so similar, and without really knowing what the distinctions are, it’s hard to choose wisely. You could add the definition in the mood square directly; that’d be easy for users. Otherwise I love that the app is simple, I hope it stays that way!
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I wish you were able to view definitions on the mood meter. Some of the words are so similar, and without really knowing what the distinctions are, it’s hard to choose wisely. You could add the definition in the mood square directly; that’d be easy for users. Otherwise I love that the app is simple, I hope it stays that way!
Show more
Love it, with one suggestion
As a coach, I find this app helpful in self reflection and mood monitoring, trending, etc. I am using it for myself and with clients. It’s perfect for what I need. However, I would love a reminder setting built into the app where I could schedule checkin reminders for so many times a day, or at specific times of day. This would help tremendously with trending and learning your own patterns around your moods. Currently I have to use a separate app to set reminders. So maybe in a newer version?!?
Show more
Great concept, could be better!
I really love this app & the mood meter concept for reinforcing a habit of self-awareness. This has so much potential! Suggested improvements for future programing:
1.) The ability for users to schedule prompts/notifications to check-in with their emotions throughout the day.
2.) Adding a function for identifying the location of tension-sensations in the body at those check-ins.
3.)I also wish the meter could capture more than one emotion simultaneously (ie: the multi-dimensional aspects of feeling “sentimental” [simultaneous joy, sorrow, love]).
4.) The “advice” given for shifting an emotion needs to be more than one sentence & more than one option (& perhaps discuss the brain science supporting each option). Moving the body, crossing the midline, journaling, talking to a friend, sitting with a pet, meditating, deep breathing, doing yoga, painting or even coloring with crayons, playing music, etc.
Thank you!!!
1.) The ability for users to schedule prompts/notifications to check-in with their emotions throughout the day.
2.) Adding a function for identifying the location of tension-sensations in the body at those check-ins.
3.)I also wish the meter could capture more than one emotion simultaneously (ie: the multi-dimensional aspects of feeling “sentimental” [simultaneous joy, sorrow, love]).
4.) The “advice” given for shifting an emotion needs to be more than one sentence & more than one option (& perhaps discuss the brain science supporting each option). Moving the body, crossing the midline, journaling, talking to a friend, sitting with a pet, meditating, deep breathing, doing yoga, painting or even coloring with crayons, playing music, etc.
Thank you!!!
Show more
Great for mood mindfulness but not for mood management
I love the idea of this app but I think there is need for improvement. I appreciate the color chart for practicing awareness of my moods and feelings. However once I’ve logged my feelings I find this app fails to deliver meaningful advice or direction, particularly if I want to “shift” my mood, as the app prompts.
If you choose to shift your mood you are brought to a page that has two sentences on it. One is a quote, and the other is a piece of direction for how to help shift your mood. Nice...except the sentence of direction is not especially helpful, and some of the directions are actually frustrating or help emphasize my bad feelings. For example, it is not helpful at all when I am feeling depressed to hear the advice “put a smile on your face”. In fact not only is it not helpful or substantial in any way, it’s also a little insulting.
When I tried to refresh for more meaningful advice I found that the sentence rotated between 5 or 6 short directions, some of which might be effective, like calling a loved one, and some that were not especially inspired, like “do something fun”.
This app helps me with recording and noticing moods but it does not help with shifting or managing moods. At least not directly. I feel that work needs to be done to make that part of the app more robust and meaningful.
If you choose to shift your mood you are brought to a page that has two sentences on it. One is a quote, and the other is a piece of direction for how to help shift your mood. Nice...except the sentence of direction is not especially helpful, and some of the directions are actually frustrating or help emphasize my bad feelings. For example, it is not helpful at all when I am feeling depressed to hear the advice “put a smile on your face”. In fact not only is it not helpful or substantial in any way, it’s also a little insulting.
When I tried to refresh for more meaningful advice I found that the sentence rotated between 5 or 6 short directions, some of which might be effective, like calling a loved one, and some that were not especially inspired, like “do something fun”.
This app helps me with recording and noticing moods but it does not help with shifting or managing moods. At least not directly. I feel that work needs to be done to make that part of the app more robust and meaningful.
Show more
My overall rating
All in all, I will give a rating of 4.5/5 for the Mood Meter app. The strengths of this app are the personalization, feasibility, privacy features and ability to gain critical skills that are especially important for teens during a very sensitive and altering time period. My only critiques are that the app is only available in English and via Apple, which does not make it fully accessible to individuals and that it does not have push notifications to encourage consistency.
Show more
Better understanding
I’ve been using this app for one month or so. I’ve already acquired more vocabulary about my own emotional world and I’m feeling how it helps me flow my energies!
Just one thing: I believe it would be awesome to also have some questions that could help me go through the blue quadrant emotions. It’s hard to stay there, so the instinct in me tries to avoid it and I always click on shift. But doing something fun sounds like avoiding.... some help going through RULER would be even greater!!
Thank you so much for developing this App!
Just one thing: I believe it would be awesome to also have some questions that could help me go through the blue quadrant emotions. It’s hard to stay there, so the instinct in me tries to avoid it and I always click on shift. But doing something fun sounds like avoiding.... some help going through RULER would be even greater!!
Thank you so much for developing this App!
Show more
Super Helpful E.I Tool
As an educator working at a Title 1 school, emotional regulation is a BIG part of my teaching day. Kids need to learn to recognize their emotions, understand the “why” to what they’re feeling and then learn the skills of regulation. While I know this is critical for our students, I am aiming to learn these skills for my own well-being. This tool has been empowering for me! As I become better equipped, I can see myself using this with my students to give them the emotional language they need.
Feedback: I’m hoping this app could eventually keep record of the journal/reflections? I’d love to be able to look back and reread my reflections to recognize the patterns or habit that lead to my emotional reactions.
Also - I wouldn’t understand the legality of this request, BUT is there any way this tool could sync with a Google Classroom? It would be an awesome tool to use digitally but our school does not have access to apple products.
Feedback: I’m hoping this app could eventually keep record of the journal/reflections? I’d love to be able to look back and reread my reflections to recognize the patterns or habit that lead to my emotional reactions.
Also - I wouldn’t understand the legality of this request, BUT is there any way this tool could sync with a Google Classroom? It would be an awesome tool to use digitally but our school does not have access to apple products.
Show more
Good way to check in with self
I read the book, Permission to Feel by the creator of the Mood Meter and it was a very thought provoking book. In it they mention this app and so I am trying it. It is a good way to check in with my feelings. I like the data it provides and it’s a reason to be self reflective and learn about how I can change my mood if I don’t like its current state (there are tips on how to do that).
Show more
❤️
I started using Mood Meter during a dark time in life. When I was a young teen, I’d shut off my emotions after my dad died. Fast forward 30 years. Deep grief forced me to reckon with emotions I’d largely left dormant for decades. When I felt lost in a sea of emotions, Mood Meter helped me to ID my feelings and what triggered them. This tool still helps me, even though life is quite sunny now. Thanks for bringing back the log to jot down notes in this newest update!!
Show more
Extremely useful tool. Not a good redesign
I’ve been using the mood meter for a few years, and I’ve found it to be a simple, but powerful tool. The old version not only helped you identify and name the emotion, but it prompted you to identify the source of the emotion, and allowed you to save strategies that work for you. The new version took away the prompts and personal strategies. They do ask for feedback, and recently put back in the prompt to identify the source, I’m hoping they will also replace the option to save your own strategies. Hopefully they will keep responding to user feedback.
Show more
Strongly dislike the new version
All my data is gone from prior years, I can see more in version history this would happen but who’s phone isn’t on auto-update?
Also lost the ability to add a note along with the mood. There’s a multiple choice for work, home other.. why can’t there also be a short text field to enter exactly what is going on?? And a true upgrade would be showing the user to add their own tags.
The design isn’t even that much better, it’s not that intuitive, I’m clicking around expecting more. It’s a lump of design updates at the expense of enhancing the product. I prefer the simplicity of the original. I liked the 4 quadrant view and the tutorial was helpful and I was able to share the concept with many people with that tutorial alone.
Also lost the ability to add a note along with the mood. There’s a multiple choice for work, home other.. why can’t there also be a short text field to enter exactly what is going on?? And a true upgrade would be showing the user to add their own tags.
The design isn’t even that much better, it’s not that intuitive, I’m clicking around expecting more. It’s a lump of design updates at the expense of enhancing the product. I prefer the simplicity of the original. I liked the 4 quadrant view and the tutorial was helpful and I was able to share the concept with many people with that tutorial alone.
Show more
Week 1 review
It was discovered by myself that after two decades I had learned that counseling is a tool that allows one to privately share and sort out personal and family problems and issues. I have found this mood meter can be utilized as an additional resource to assist in diagnostic review for psychological and personal evaluation.
The mood meter is a brilliant way to allow the recording of one’s own mood and is motivating, interesting and enjoyable at the same time. Being that there is also a solution offered at the end is a bonus and a surprise. The solution offered in the end as a way to change your mood, if so desired, serves as a means to entice the person back to track their own mood another day, to know themselves more and possibly receive private options for help.
The mood meter is a brilliant way to allow the recording of one’s own mood and is motivating, interesting and enjoyable at the same time. Being that there is also a solution offered at the end is a bonus and a surprise. The solution offered in the end as a way to change your mood, if so desired, serves as a means to entice the person back to track their own mood another day, to know themselves more and possibly receive private options for help.
Show more
Why did it delete my entries?!
I loved mood meter. I used it every day and it has been a big help. Then the app updated automatically to the new version and several things enraged me:
- All of my months of entries were completely deleted! I have been logging so I can see patterns in my thinking and they are just gone!
- The new version doesn’t even let you write down why you are feeling how you are feeling. How are you supposed to find patterns in your life now? For example, if you are typically upset around a particular friend, or because you stay up to late. This was the biggest benefit of the app. Now it just lets your mark if you are home, work, other. What’s the point of that?
I just can’t believe all my entries have just been wiped. I loved this app and now I have no use for it. Can I switch back to the old version and get my entries again?
- All of my months of entries were completely deleted! I have been logging so I can see patterns in my thinking and they are just gone!
- The new version doesn’t even let you write down why you are feeling how you are feeling. How are you supposed to find patterns in your life now? For example, if you are typically upset around a particular friend, or because you stay up to late. This was the biggest benefit of the app. Now it just lets your mark if you are home, work, other. What’s the point of that?
I just can’t believe all my entries have just been wiped. I loved this app and now I have no use for it. Can I switch back to the old version and get my entries again?
Show more
Also a mechanism for collecting data for research
The mood meter is used by schools in my area so I thought I’d check this app out. It raises some privacy concerns for me. Even if you opt out of providing any personal info, you are still required to provide your [a] birthdate to use this paid app.
You may want to read the privacy policy before paying for it! I know I am not comfortable with a paid-for app tracking family members’ emotional states and then using it for research purposes without more information on the specific research questions being addressed and ability to opt out. Not sure how this passes IRB requirements...
Uses of ‘aggregated’ data include “We may use and disclose aggregated and/or non-personal information about users of the Service for research and measurement purposes. No such use of disclosure will identify or be able to identify any individual user. For example, we might want to know how many people in Texas are feeling in the “Blue” at a particular time. If you are from Texas, your data may be included in this analysis, but we will not include any of your personal information. “
You may want to read the privacy policy before paying for it! I know I am not comfortable with a paid-for app tracking family members’ emotional states and then using it for research purposes without more information on the specific research questions being addressed and ability to opt out. Not sure how this passes IRB requirements...
Uses of ‘aggregated’ data include “We may use and disclose aggregated and/or non-personal information about users of the Service for research and measurement purposes. No such use of disclosure will identify or be able to identify any individual user. For example, we might want to know how many people in Texas are feeling in the “Blue” at a particular time. If you are from Texas, your data may be included in this analysis, but we will not include any of your personal information. “
Show more
