This Virtual Pet for Self-Care is Motivating Me to Improve My Life

Every day can be a challenge, especially when you’re dealing with chronic illnesses. Many find it tough to maintain routines amid fatigue and lack of motivation, and accomplishing daily tasks often feels like a game of chance. I’ve grappled with this reality, balancing a full-time job with the demands of life, where even the simple act of getting out of bed can appear monumental.

Recently, I discovered the Finch app, which was suggested by a friend. I had seen advertisements for this “self-care pet” on social media, and that recommendation prompted me to give the app a try. Four months later, I’m still using Finch regularly, almost as if it’s my personal life coach.

Finch combines elements of a habit tracker, motivation app, and virtual pet into one engaging experience. In the app, you care for a bird, known as a “birb.” The virtual pet requires much less maintenance than traditional digital pets, as it doesn’t need to be kept alive in the same way.

Your interactions with the birb involve fun tasks like dressing it in adorable outfits, decorating its environment, and sending it on little adventures. In exchange, the birb supports you with encouragement, goal reminders, and celebrations for your achievements. While I use the free version of Finch, which meets my needs very well, there is also a paid version that offers additional features and resources.

When you check your goals in the app, it may look overwhelming at first, with over 20 tasks listed daily. These tasks range from essential morning routines, such as getting out of bed and taking medication, to more involved activities like exercising or doing laundry. Importantly, Finch takes a guilt-free approach to goal tracking, focusing on achievements rather than failures. There are no penalties for not completing every task; instead, it highlights what you have accomplished and fosters the development of healthy habits.

Completing tasks earns you rainbow stones, which serve as the currency in the app. You can use these to buy clothing, furniture, and colors for your birb, and collect additional cute “micropets” along the way. Moreover, Finch allows you to group tasks into “Journeys,” helping track overall progress across different categories. Although I might not always achieve my goal of exercising for thirty minutes daily, every completed session contributes to my broader health journey.

The act of opening the app each day also serves as a reward in itself. I strive to maintain my streak of usage—my longest is 32 days—each day bringing a sense of accomplishment. Even if I accidentally break my streak on a busy day, the overall commitment to self-care offers its own motivation. The app provides themed rewards and bonuses for completing daily challenges.

One of the standout aspects of Finch is the community it fosters. You can connect with friends on the app through a code, enabling your virtual pets to interact and exchange messages. This social dimension allows users to send each other encouragement and positivity, enhancing the sense of shared support within the Finch community.

There’s also an option to gift the Finch Plus paid version to those who might not afford it, contributing to a spirit of kindness within the user base. The app constantly reminds users that there’s someone cheering for them, whether it’s through their virtual pet or fellow users.

Finch includes various built-in tools promoting self-care, such as guided breathing exercises, movement routines, and writing prompts to reflect on your emotions. The app consistently checks in on your mood, suggesting activities to help you navigate through harder times. Additionally, it provides links to helplines for emotional support, emphasizing a commitment to user well-being.

Previously, I had tried several self-care and productivity applications, but Finch is the first one I’ve consistently engaged with for an extended period. Its flexibility, allowing for customized goals alongside preset options, combined with the enjoyable experience of caring for a virtual pet, makes it truly engaging. My birb, Ripper Jr., and the collection of micropets we’ve gathered together have become meaningful companions. While I may not fit the mold of an early riser achieving multiple tasks before lunch, my journey with Finch shows that I am still making progress with Ripper Jr. by my side.