So I recently was scrolling through Instagram when an ad came into my feed. Now, typically I breeze through these, not paying attention to their endless marketing tactics that try to rope me into buying their new line of skincare products or limited edition fuzzy slippers. But this time, soon after, I downloaded the app onto my overstocked phone.

“Manifest Motivation Reminders,” and I was in. It’s called I Am and is available for both Apple and Android users. The app itself is free to download, although there is a paid subscription that I’ll include the details on later. The app’s goal is to bring more mindfulness into our daily lives. With customizable options, you can choose how many times a day you want it to send you positive affirmations. 

  Soon after installing, it prompts you to answer questions about yourself and what you are looking to gain from the app. You can choose from different categories, including stress management, anxiety tips, and body positivity. Next, it asks you to pick the time parameters for when it will send you the alerts and how many times a day you would like to receive them. I have mine set to 8:00 am to 9:00 pm and 20 reminders a day. There’s the option to add alerts to practice mindfulness and writing, both of which I have enabled myself. Other features include the ability to add widgets, change the style of the app, add your own messages, view past alerts sent during the day, and swipe through affirmations specific to a category while in the app. My favorite aspect is adding messages that resonate with me to my favorites where I can go back and read through them later. 

A premium version of the app is available for $20/year, but I have not upgraded to that yet. This allows you to gain access to all the categories of affirmations, create more reminders, and enable alerts to remind you to change your mindset. I believe that this could be valuable, but the free version has me very impressed for right now. 

As someone who personally struggles with anxiety and depression, I am grateful that I stopped scrolling Instagram and downloaded this app. I would give this a 5 out of 5-star rating because it sends the right message at the right time. It sounds a little crazy, but just try this app to gain more control over your chaotic life, and you won’t regret it.