The Importance of Digital Wellbeing in UX: What I Learned from Researching Forest App
In today’s digital age, maintaining a healthy relationship with technology is becoming increasingly important. The concept of digital wellbeing has gained momentum as more people are seeking ways to balance their online habits and their overall health. As a UX professional, understanding how design can impact user wellbeing is crucial—not just for creating more humane experiences, but also for increasing engagement and user retention.
Recently, I conducted UX research on the app Forest: Stay Focused, which is designed to help users stay focused and avoid distractions by growing a virtual tree while they work. Although the app is highly praised for its gamification elements and its positive impact on productivity, I found that many users disengage from the app over time despite its unique features. This led me to explore how digital wellbeing can be integrated into UX design and the key insights I gained from my research.
Digital wellbeing refers to the practice of managing one’s use of technology in a way that supports mental and physical health. This concept goes beyond simply reducing screen time—it's about creating intentional, mindful interactions with technology that promote balance, focus, and productivity. As UX designers, our role is to create experiences that not only engage users but also respect their wellbeing.
Forest is an app that encourages users to stay focused by growing a virtual tree whenever they resist the temptation to check their phone. The longer users remain focused, the bigger and more vibrant the tree grows. On the surface, this seems like the perfect solution for reducing distractions, but through my research, I discovered some important factors that influence user engagement and disengagement with the app.
While gamification elements in Forest are designed to make staying focused fun, the pressure to complete tasks and grow virtual trees can become overwhelming for some users. If they are unable to focus due to external factors, it can lead to frustration and guilt, ultimately contributing to disengagement. This highlights the importance of understanding user emotions and motivations—what might seem like a positive challenge to some could be a stressor for others.
Another key takeaway was how some users experienced burnout from overusing the app. The sense of accomplishment from completing a task and growing a tree is gratifying at first, but over time, users can feel like they are forced to use the app to maintain their streaks or build a perfect virtual garden. This sense of compulsion can negatively impact digital wellbeing by making users feel obligated to use the app even when they need a break.
What I found is that Forest could benefit from clearer communication about the app’s intended purpose. Users who felt more connected to the app’s core mission of promoting focus and productivity were more likely to use it intentionally and positively. Integrating messaging that reinforces the app’s role in helping users achieve their goals—without pressuring them to keep up with artificial metrics—would enhance user wellbeing.
From my research, it's clear that integrating digital wellbeing into UX design requires a careful balance of engagement and mindfulness. Here are a few strategies that UX professionals can adopt:
Digital wellbeing is a critical consideration in UX design, especially as we navigate a world that is increasingly reliant on technology. My research with the Forest app revealed how the balance between productivity and wellbeing can easily tip if we’re not careful in our design decisions. By understanding user motivations, setting clear intentions, and offering flexibility, we can create digital experiences that contribute to both productivity and mental health.As designers, it’s our responsibility to craft experiences that not only delight users but also support their long-term wellbeing. Incorporating digital wellbeing principles into UX design is not just a trend—it’s a necessity for fostering healthier relationships with technology.
