Gratitude Diary review – Pleasant concept, pointless app
App Type: Uncategorized
Our rating: 
By: Rude Labs S.L.
Version #: 1.0.1
Date Released: 2012-02-22
Developer: Rude Labs
Price: Free
User Rating:
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It’s nice to feel grateful to be alive. It can be hard sometimes to take time out from all the chaos of everyday urban living, and take a moment to reflect on the little (or big) things in life that make you happy. The question is, do you need a bare-bones iPhone app to help you do it?
Gratitude Diary is a no-nonsense app in which you should jot down things that make you happy for every day of your life. This isn’t in principle a bad idea. Many self-help methods involve you taking a step back from life and remembering the little things that make you happy. The thing about this app is that it doesn’t really offer anything you can’t do with a notepad and paper, or the iOS notepad function for that matter.
The only option you have in Gratitude Diary is to jot down things that make you happy on a given day. You write down the thing that makes you happy in the big text box, then can go into detail in the smaller box. That’s it. I suppose it’s nice that over time you can look back on a nice list of things that have made you happy since you started using the app, but surely bashing such things into an iPhone kind of takes away from the spirituality of being grateful?
Gratitude Diary is a nice idea in principle, but it doesn’t offer anything that really makes you want to do it on an iPhone rather than on paper, or in your mind. That being said, some people are so attached to their iPhones that maybe the only way they can express their gratitude towards life is on that tiny little touch-screen. If you’re one of these freakish people, then maybe this is for you. Otherwise, it’s a bit pointless really.
Quick Take
Value:High, just because it's free
Would I Buy Again:Nah
Learning Curve:Zero
Who Is It For:People who need an iPhone to express their gratitude in life
What I Like:It's a sweet idea, isn't it?
What I Don't Like:Doesn't do anything that a pen and paper can't do
Final Statement:A nice idea that's just too basic to be of any particular use
app "The single greatest thing you can do to change your life today would be to start being grateful for what you have right now. And the more grateful you are, the more you get." - Oprah Winfrey
“An empirical study in 2003 showed that people who used gratitude journals felt better about their lives and report fewer symptoms of illness.” - Wikipedia
Download it now, start to being thankful.
TIPS
- Use it every day, make it a habit
- Write in positive, do not underestimate the power of words
- Add a small description to help you relive the moment
- Gratitude is something deeply personal, feel free to write anything
- Review your notes every time you are looking for inspiration or you are feeling sad
Screenshots
Article By Robert Zak
I'm an up-and-coming freelance writer (or so I like to think) specialising in film, apps and gaming. Aside from writing app reviews on what sometimes feels like a mass scale, I've also contributed work to The Independent and IGN.com, and am on the writing team of the popular Lifestyle blog, WhatCulture.com. Like what you see? Follow me on Twitter @Rob_Zed and get in touch!
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