How to Return to the App After Time Away

Who this is for: Users who practiced consistently in the past, drifted away for a few weeks or months, and are now returning — especially in a moment when they need support.

Amara is a freelance graphic designer who used the app intensely during a difficult period, then stopped when she felt better. After a client publicly criticized her work, her inner critic came back louder than before. She opened the app again after six weeks away.

Steps

1. Open the app. If you've been away for more than a few days, the Home screen shows a warm welcome-back message: something that acknowledges your return without guilt-tripping you about the gap. There's no streak counter front and center, no "You missed 42 days!" — just a gentle acknowledgment that you're here now.

2. Notice what's waiting for you. Your previous practice history, journal entries, and mood data are intact. Nothing is deleted after periods of inactivity. On Plus, your data is synced from when you last used the app. On free, your local data is preserved as long as you haven't cleared app data or uninstalled.

3. Navigate to the Practice tab. Browse the library. Your previously completed practices show in your history, and favorites (if marked) appear at the top.

4. Find a practice you completed before. Scroll to your history or browse the library by pillar. Look for a practice you remember — one that helped before. Tap it to read the description and confirm it's the one you want.

   Amara's favorite: Compassionate Letter to Myself — an extended writing practice in the Self-Kindness pillar. She completed it 8 times in her original period.

5. Start the practice. Tap Begin. The app walks you through the same guided sequence you remember. For returning users, familiar practices often feel like coming home rather than starting over.

6. Complete the practice. Follow the guided steps to the completion screen. Tap Done.

7. See your updated history. The practice is logged. Your streak resets to 1 if you missed days — this is accurate, not a bug. The Progress tab shows your full timeline including your earlier active period and today's return.

Expected Outcome

You've completed a practice. Your history is intact from your previous period. The re-engagement experience is warm and non-judgmental — the app treats returning as a continuation, not a failure.

Notes

• Your old data is yours. The app does not delete entries, hide old streaks, or remove practice history after inactivity. Your 47 original journal entries from two months ago are still there.
• The streak is not the measure. A streak resets during gaps, but your practice history, mood trends, and journal entries don't reset. You can see exactly how much progress you made in your first period — and that progress is real, even with the gap.
• Touch targets are generous. If you have reduced fine motor dexterity (from repetitive strain injury, arthritis, or other causes), all interactive elements in the app meet minimum touch-target sizes of 44×44 points. You shouldn't need to tap precisely to navigate the library or start a practice.
• No shame about the gap. The app's welcome-back message is intentionally low-key. Self-compassion practice includes applying kindness to yourself about the lapse. The app won't do the judging for you.
• Free-tier note. If you uninstalled and reinstalled the app, local data may be lost. On Plus with sync active, your data is preserved in the cloud and restores automatically on sign-in.