productivity
self-care
A gamified self-care system designed to eliminate decision fatigue and make wellness sustainable.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
CONTEXT
As self-care becomes increasingly recognized as essential to overall well-being, many people still struggle to integrate it into their daily lives. Over half (52%) of U.S. adults feel they need more self-care every day, not just the occasional treat.
PROBLEM
Maintaining a full self-care routine is beyond overwhelming. Time constraints get in the way, routines quickly become monotonous, and the pressure to stay consistent leads to burnout and abandonment. Even with the best intentions, people face decision fatigue and guilt under the unrealistic expectation to “do it all.” Self-care apps blindly recommend habits that may not make sense for users' current state of mind and body.
SOLUTION
A mobile website that helps users achieve ambitious self-care goals by implementation of a gamified, highly-customizable system built directly into a daily planner. By checking in with their current mood, energy level, and available time, the system recommends a tailored self-care habit drawn from their personalized database. Each spin of the wheel keeps the experience fresh and motivating, helping users build sustainable routines.
jump to prototype
ROLE
UX Designer (end-to-end)
SCOPE
Full UX process from discovery to prototype
PROCESS
Research —> Synthesis —> Ideation —> Wireframes —> UI Design —> Prototyping —> Testing
TOOLS
Figma, Figjam, Miro, Zoom, Fathom AI, Procreate
Method: Secondary Research (articles, reports)
BACKGROUND
In recent years, self-care has moved far beyond just being a buzzword, in the U.S., 82 % of consumers say wellness is a “top or important priority” in their lives; 58 % said they prioritized wellness more now than a year ago. According to the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), the global wellness economy was valued at US$ 6.3 trillion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 9 trillion by 2028, representing a CAGR of ~7.3%.
Its rise in popularity has fortunately brought greater awareness to mental health and well-being, but also higher expectations and problematic misconceptions. From extensive skincare routines to militant exercise practices, the message often implies that effective self-care requires time, money, and perfection.
The cycle goes like this: people get a wave of inspiration to take better care of themselves, set their expectations too high, and inevitably fall short of their lofty goals. This has made what should be restorative backfire, leaving users feeling defeated, guilty, and frustrated for not doing enough. Self-care feels like a complicated, overwhelming burden and users are left feeling unsure how to practice self-care in a way that feels authentic and attainable.
My user doesn't want to succumb to that feeling of overwhelm. They're ready to build a healthier life through self-care. They want to feel grounded, to truly improve their wellbeing and sense of self.
Why self-care feels overwhelming:
Burnout from trying too hard → perfectionism
Guilt and self-judgement
Overwhelming information → confusion and paralysis
Unrealistic expectations
Decision Fatigue
Boredom → abandoning efforts
Existing apps tend to offer a one-size-fits-all approach
Time constraints
what are the apps doing to help?
Method: Competitive & SWOT Analysis
A self-care app that helps users build daily routines through mood tracking, journaling, and habit reflection—while connecting with a supportive community and celebrating progress. Free to use, with premium upgrades available.
A self-care app that uses behavioral science and habit-stacking to help users build lasting daily rituals. It offers a library of coaching resources and access to real human coaching, including support for ADHD.
Method: Secondary Research (articles, reports)
Why self-care winds up being a loaded issue:
Widespread “treat yourself” culture has blurred the line between genuine rest and consumer indulgence.
Many say they don’t have time to practice the self-care they wish they could, and sadly as a result they do nothing at all. When in reality, even 15 minutes of mindful rest or movement could make a meaningful difference in their day. This gap between intention and action highlights a key design opportunity: to make self-care approachable, adaptable, and aligned with how people actually live.
Why self-care apps don’t always help
Limited personalization:
Generic self-care information without tailoring to individual needs, wants, or circumstances.
Bad UX:
Asks for too much info upfront before building trust, boring interfaces, complex navigation, or lack of motivating features.
Limited calendar integration:
Self-care features feel scattered, not actionable.
Method: User interviews
Here's what I learned from talking to real people about it:
People don't like talking about it. Self-care is a really sensitive subject.
Many interviewees stuck to listing the self-care activities they do, or wish they could do, but couldn’t express much about why it doesn’t happen.
Discussions got very personal very fast, and most interviewees actually fell into a state of self-critique and frustration.
I found this interesting because it in itself confirms this sense of overwhelm around self-care.
In the end, the information I gathered from users was truly all over the map.
Method: Affinity Mapping
HOWEVER!
I was able to discover some interesting underlying patterns among my interviewees, thus gaining insights into their values, struggles, and desires.
Themes of note that emerged:
frustrations with self-care culture
difficulty with time management
a longing for balance
major correlation between self-care and mental health and holistic well-being
decision fatigue
guilt and self-judgement
Method: Personas
To better understand my user's motivations and pain points, I synthesized insights from user interviews and market research into two personas. These helped define who I was designing for and guided what research insights I prioritized.
Method: Insight Prioritization
DECIDING WHAT TO FOCUS ON
It was important to me that I prioritized insights from research and interviews that were both meaningful to users and feasible to address within the project's scope.
I decided to focus on:
Decision fatigue: users felt overwhelmed by too many choices, making it difficult to start or maintain routines.
Consistency and long-term practice: many struggle to sustain habits beyond the initial motivation phase.
Time constraints: users wanted self-care approaches that fit into short breaks or busy schedules.
Perfectionism: high expectations often led to guilt or avoidance when users couldn't meet their own standards.
Boredom with one's habits: monotony caused users to lose interest and ultimately abandon their self-care.
Method: Ideating & Solutioning
THEN I GOT TO THINKING
What if there was a way to bounce around within your list of habits over time, easing the pressure?
fitting in sessions where it made sense
based on how much time you have
even if it isn't much
and how you feel in the moment
and when you zoom out and look at your life,
you are doing it all
focusing on consistency over perfectionism
self-care remains a source of wellness,
not a source of stress
how do we get there though?
Method: Low-fi Wireframing
A roulette wheel contains your habits.
Spin it.
No overthinking allowed!
Method: Low-fi Wireframing
To set it up, select your habits from a list.
Method: Low-fi Wireframing
Add your own custom habits.
Method: Low-fi Wireframing
Access feature directly from your schedule.
Method: Ideating & Solutioning
Here's how this will help my user:
Modern self-care extends beyond indulgence or relaxation. It encompasses both effort and ease, recognizing that well-being requires periods of focus as well as rest. In addition to balance, today’s users are more conscious of how they spend their time: they want structure, but not rigidity.
By differentiating self-care habits based on whether they serve the body or mind, and whether they are active or restorative, this system supports a more nuanced and realistic approach to self-care.
The user is encouraged to customize and categorize their self-care habits, based on what is applicable to their life. This functionality builds a personalized database that powers the Wheel of Wellness feature.
Don't like running? No problem, remove it from your Wheel. Into a niche self-care habit not listed here? Add it to your Wheel!
Later, when users engage with the wheel, they start with how they feel rather than what they "should do", reducing decision paralysis and guiding them toward care that fits their current state.
Since self-care needs fluctuate daily, over time this system encourages consistency in practice over perfection in routine.
By introducing variety into daily habits, the Wheel of Wellness helps sustain user engagement for the long run.
Method: Design & Structure
TAKING A STEP BACK
Before designing the Wheel of Wellness in detail, I needed to understand the broader context in which it would live, what features the product would include, how they would connect, and where the Wheel would fit within the overall experience.
Through brainstorming, testing, and iteration, it became clear that the feature would be most effective when integrated into users’ daily routines, particularly as they moved through their day on the go. To support this, the product was designed as a mobile website rather than a desktop app, ensuring quick, flexible access whenever users needed it. The information architecture centers on the Planner, which includes both a calendar and a to-do list.
I also discovered that because of the Wheel of Wellness' highly-customizable nature, a Manage Habits section needed to be just as accessible. As a result, the Planner, Wheel of Wellness, and Manage Habits became the core tools.
OVERALL USER FLOW
In parallel with the sitemap, I also created a high-level flow to work out the full experience. This shows the main pathways and interactions, from setting up an account to using the Wheel of Wellness.
Method: Mid-fi Wireframing
FROM CONCEPT TO SCREENS
With a clear understanding of features and user needs, I began wireframing Juno’s experience. Mid-fidelity wireframes allowed me to explore layout, hierarchy, and interactions.
Designing the Wheel of Wellness
(back when it was still called Self-Care Roulette)
tap self-care
load settings
spin wheel
results
Designing the Setup/Onboard Process
Introducing the user to the Wheel of Wellness; prompting them to select their self-care habits, organized into categories which will program the Wheel.
Designing the Planner
Today
Calendar
To-Do List
Method: Visual Identity Development
VISUAL DIRECTION
While designing the branding, my goal was to balance structure and softness with a contemporary, minimal style that blends flat design and subtle depth. A restrained, punchy color palette highlights key actions, with a dreamy sunset image signaling interaction with the Wheel of Wellness.
I settled on the name JUNO to evoke female empowerment with celestial undertones. DM Sans conveys a youthful, approachable tone and DM Mono adds a subtle tech-forward edge. Copy is encouraging, playful, and self-aware, reflecting the app’s focus on sustainable, enjoyable self-care that doesn't feel like the average wellness app.
Method: Hi-fi Wireframing
BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER
With the structure and interactions defined through mid-fidelity wireframes, and the brand identity established, I developed high-fidelity designs to bring JUNO to life.
Wheel of Wellness
tap self-care
load settings
spin wheel
results
As I moved into high-fidelity design, I found opportunities to strengthen the user experience. I recognized that the Wheel of Wellness needed a more immersive onboarding process to convey its functionality.
Onboarding
Guiding users to select custom habits during setup familiarized them with the Wheel and reinforced its functionality from the start.
Setup
After the onboarding, setup, and trial run of the Wheel, the final step is a friendly notification reminding users that they can customize all habits anytime in the Manage Habits section.
Manage Habits
Lastly, it became clear that the information architecture needed further refinement. This included expanding the Planner to support multiple views (day, week, and month) in addition to the To-do list.
Planner
every
thing’s
coming
to-
ge-
ther
MINIMUM VIABLE PRODUCT (MVP)
The MVP delivered JUNO’s core value: balancing structure and self-care in one place.
The MVP included its core tools:
Planner including a calendar with day, week, and month views and a to-do list.
Wheel of Wellness for nuanced in-the-moment controls and self-care suggestions.
Habits for customizing habits and preferences.
Method: Prototyping & Usability Testing
PUTTING IT TO THE TEST
prototype
I made a prototype to test if this actually makes sense to users. With a unique concept comes the risk of a significant learning curve.
I tested 2 tasks:
#1 — Set up the Wheel of Wellness based on your personal preferences.
#2 — Successfully use the Wheel of Wellness.
Key findings
Wheel of Wellness was clear, engaging, and easy to use; all participants completed tasks successfully.
Main friction point: onboarding slides moved too quickly/slowly, leading to skipped content.
Overall, the concept resonated strongly, needing only minor adjustments to improve onboarding and micro-interactions.
IMPACT
The most concrete measures of success came from quantitative data—task completion rates, click counts, and time-on-task—offering clear indicators of usability and efficiency. The prototype worked, yes, but the real question was: did it truly help my user?
The most valuable insights emerged after testing, during open conversation. Participants expressed genuine enthusiasm, noting that the concept would meaningfully support their self-care routines in real life. They praised its originality and thoughtful approach to managing wellness, highlighting the deep customization options and calendar format as standout features. Many also responded positively to the overall aesthetic, saying it felt fresh and distinct from the oversaturated landscape of self-care apps.
REFLECTION
This project gave me an opportunity to get creative in the search to solve the problem of overwhelm around self-care. I deeply related to the frustrations of my target user, and I had them in mind every step of the design process. My passion came from the urge to reframe our relationship with self-care and get back to a healthier, more attainable version that actually serves us.
WHAT I LEARNED:
If I could do it again, I’d beware of scope creep. It’s easy to get carried away adding polish and exploring complex features that aren’t essential for an MVP. This experience taught me that clarity and restraint go a long way. Testing early (even with a rough prototype) reveals more than weeks of design refinement.