Happy Not Perfect App launches to combat anxiety and stress among millennials
As Mental Health Awareness Week begins, British entrepreneur Poppy Jamie introduces the burnout-busting tool that might help boost wellbeing
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Feeling overwhelmed by social media? You aren't alone. Selfie-obsessed tweens and multi-tasking millennials are reporting record levels of stress and anxiety, as social media tightens its grip on human interaction.
New app Happy Not Perfect is a very modern solution to this growing modern problem. Created by former TV presenter Poppy Jamie, its dedicated to helping people feel happier, less stressed and more emotionally balanced.
When experiencing stress and anxiety herself, 27-year-old Poppy found there were very few outlets that offered understanding or relief appropriate for millennials.
Happy Not Perfect has been more than three years in the making, and has been developed with the help of neuroscientists and psychologists. Its launch coincides with Mental Health Awareness Week (14 - 20 May), an annual nationwide initiative to educate, reduce stigma, and help those in need seek help.
This year's Mental Health Awareness Week focuses on stress, something Poppy and the Happy Not Perfect team believe is an addressable problem.
The app is stylish and engaging, providing convenient, snack-able tools to monitor and manage wellbeing. Users start with an internal check-in, choosing how they’re feeling from an array of emotions ranging from the ubiquitous millennial “meh,” to “angry,” or even “heartbroken”. From there, you’re sent on a customised experience that changes daily.
There are RECHARGE sessions, filled with mini-games, quick techniques, and over 50 breathing exercises, plus a five-minute REFRESH which starts by guiding you to reflect and relax the nervous system, lowering cortisol levels through proper, slow belly breathing. Then you’re directed to the “Burn Bin” to process your thoughts as they type out the chatter in their mind.
There’s also a log to write daily gratitude list, promoting the powerful notion that in those moments when the situation cannot be changed, our perspectives can be.
Yes, there’s a certain irony in needing an app to manage how other apps make you feel. But in less than five minutes, Happy Not Perfect shows you tools that can help hack your bio-chemistry, which might just lead to a happier, calmer and less stressed state of mind. Sounds pretty perfect to us.
For more information visit happynotperfect.com or follow @happynotperfect
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments