Photo: Rocio Ramos. Vogue Arabia, January 2022
Apple has gone one step further in the world of wellness with the launch of its Journal application, which aims to aid mental health. The app, which was initially announced alongside iOS 17, is now available across all Apple devices that have updated to the iOS 17.2 firmware.
What is the Journal app?
Apple describes the launch as “a new app to reflect on everyday moments and life’s special events.” Journaling, the mindful practice that involves noting down your daily activities and emotions has long been a key tool in bettering one’s mental wellbeing. Bringing exactly this to the fingertips, with Apple’s signature smart tech and clean design, the app allows users to log their journals using audio, photo, and video inputs.
Photo: Courtesy of Apple
How to use the Journal app
There are two ways to go about journaling on the app. The first involves using app-generated moments—which are “intelligently curated personalized suggestions”—based on the day’s texts, calls, workouts, photos, and more, to begin the journal entry. The suggestions also include writing prompts under a Reflection tab, with questions like “What’s the kindest thing anyone has said about you recently?” and “Is there anything you experienced today that changed perspective or outlook?” A second way to use the app involves skipping the suggestions entirely or customizing to choose which activities Journal has access to for its suggestions. Once logged in, all Journal entries can be bookmarked, and filtered through based on photos, videos, places, or websites. Since journaling is a practice that calls for consistency and dedication, the app lets users set reminders via a notification schedule.
Are the Journal entries protected?
Given the private nature of the app, it naturally allows the entries to be locked and unlocked via Face ID. “When iPhone is locked with a passcode, entries in the Journal app are encrypted,” reads a statement from Apple. “Additionally, users can choose to enable secondary authentication, and lock the Journal app with their device passcode, Face ID, or Touch ID. ”
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