Gratitude

I’ve
neglected the self-care category on the blog this year! I apologize. It’s a
terrible time to skip such topics. Recently, I attended a mini-workshop about
self-care and stress reduction. I would highly recommend taking such a class,
even if you think you’re doing fine. Writers tend to work in a vacuum, and we
don’t realize the damage we do to ourselves. Two years of isolation takes a
toll. Treat yourself to some care.

Gratitude
by Hapjoy is a guided journal app to focus and clarify your thinking. A fellow
author in the Albany NaNoWriMo group recommended it to me. The program won’t
magically fix your writing blocks, but it can help your sense of well-being.

Features
on the app include a gratitude journal, positive affirmations, a daily Zen
quote or thought, and creative vision boards. The app has a simple interface
for creating journal entries and vision boards. In other words, it’s a self-help
program that does not require a master’s degree in tech to operate.

The
app is available for both Android and Apple devices. The Google play store lists
the app as Gratitude Journal Affirmations. The icon above is the logo for the
app. It is a mobile device-only app. It does not work in a browser.

Gratitude
is a free app with an upgrade option. Premium costs $30 a year. You get a no-cost
seven-day trial to test out the paid features. Features for upgrade include
cloud-save on Google drive, exporting to a PDF, and additional photos for your
journal. Note, the app will not transfer devices without the premium payments.
If you start on your phone and want to keep it free, you need to stay on the
same phone.