This app calls you every day to make sure you journal

If you're anything like 50% of the population, you've tried to keep a journal at least once or twice. If you're anything like me, you could never stick with it for more than a few days.

While there are many strategies to actually sticking with it, there's a new app that just might finally make you a daily journaler.

There's no need to keep track of a notebook (or buy a fancy new one you'll never use), or even remember to open an app. And let's be real - your unused journaling app will be the first to go when your phone's running low on storage.

Instead, all you have to do is answer a phone call.

Yes, you read that right. A real-life, old-fashioned phone call.

Who's calling?

It's Reverie! And no, there's not a real person on the other end; instead, after a cheerful greeting and a journal prompt made just for you, the floor is yours.

You have as long as you'd like to speak your mind - talk about your day, your plans for the future, your annoying co-worker, anything you'd like.

On the other end, Reverie is listening and securely transcribing everything you say.

About 60 seconds after you hang up, you can head over to your online dashboard and view your entry in all its glory - it's all transcribed and formatted to your liking, with intelligent tagging built-in.

Why the phone call?

Interacting with Reverie is a whole new journaling experience. There are no ads on an app or distracting notifications, or more interesting things to look at on your screen.

Instead, your phone is up to your ear and your full attention is on making your entry. There aren't many apps where the primary interface is a phone call.

It's all very effortless - and dare I say even... enjoyable?

Besides the reflective experience of rehashing your day, you also get to look forward to seeing your entry once you're done.

Regardless of what stream-of-consciousness nonsense you share, Reverie will do its best to generate a cover image, title, and format your soliloquy into a delightful entry. Plug, it adds tags to help categorize your days.

Consistency, consistency, consistency.

Arguably the best part about Reverie is that it almost forces you to be a consistent journaler.

A big barrier to doing anything is putting in the initial effort and just starting. With journaling, that's keeping track of a notebook and finding the time and space to sit down and write; or deciding to open an app on your phone.

Reverie just calls you, and you answer. You can schedule it for whenever works best - even during your commute home. If you're really committed, a phone call also gives the social urgency to be able to excuse yourself to take it - something you'd never get with a regular journal app.

In terms of the psychology of making journaling a habit, Reverie flips the script. Instead of the active decision being to open that notebook or journaling app, it becomes an active decision to decline or ignore a phone call.

And if you skip a day? Reverie will call again tomorrow.

What's this gonna set me back?

Reverie is a premium journaling experience - there's no question about that. It makes real phone calls, has advanced AI features and its clean interface is a pleasure to use.

It's $11 a month - or $2.75 a week - if you pay month-by-month. You get a bit of a discount if you pay annually, at $111 - or ~$2.13 a week.

Overall pretty reasonably priced, all things considered!

A few more details.

Reverie is only available in select countries (remember, it's making real phone calls!). As of publication, it's available in:

• Canada and the United States
• United Kingdom
• Australia
• Germany
• Spain
• France
• The Netherlands
• South Korea
• India

Reverie is still new to the scene, and adding new countries and features every day - it only launched in August 2024. The team is also always happy to answer questions or listen to suggestions over on X / Twitter.

Well, what are you waiting for?

Oh that's right - for Reverie to call!

-- N.L.