I’m a solo founder building a journaling tool, but not just any journal – this is for the overthinkers, the 2AM spiralers, the replay-every-conversation-in-your-head crowd (aka, people like me).
Over the past few months, I’ve:
- Talked with dozens of folks who wrestle with busy minds and thought loops
- Built and scrapped multiple prototypes (the first was basically a fancy notepad – spoiler: nobody wanted it)
- Tested everything from AI-guided prompts to mood tagging to patterns that help people reflect more clearly (some worked, some… not so much)
What’s surprised me most? The stuff that sounds great on paper doesn’t always feel great in the moment. For example, a lot of people liked the idea of daily check-ins, but missing a day made them feel off-track. What actually helped was flexible, guilt-free prompts – and ways to zoom out and notice recurring thought patterns over time.
I’m still iterating (read: making glorious mistakes), but every conversation with another overthinking human has taught me something new. If you’ve ever tried to build a self-reflection tool, or you’re someone who’s constantly caught in a loop of thoughts, ask me anything – what’s worked, what hasn’t, or just share how your brain refuses to shut up sometimes.
What’s one thing you wish a journaling app would never do? Or what feature would actually help you get unstuck? Let’s talk!
Comments
Are you an over thinker ?
I personally never liked journaling in the form of writing things down, because thoughts were spinning constantly in my head, and by the time they reached the paper, they seemed redundant. There was too much lag there.
At the suggestion of a therapist, I started journaling out loud, or basically just talking to myself. This allowed stream of consciousness to facilitate a space that was more conducive to problem-solving. Then I started answering myself and offering suggestions. I also do IFS work and it really helps unearth the different ways that we talk to ourselves internally and manage our emotions, but it manifests it in a way that, to me, feels more action-based. Do I feel like I seem a little nuts when I do it? Absolutely I did, at first. Do the benefits outweigh the momentary embarrassment? Absolutely it does.
So I suppose, to answer your question, perhaps a feature that allows for voice notes that can be returned to or amended?