In this article, we\u2019ll share why we built this feature, the insights that inspired it, how we approached the design process, and what\u2019s next on the roadmap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Insights and Data<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\nWe analyzed user behavior and conducted research on benchmark apps and uncovered several key insights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Social interaction plays a powerful role in sustaining personal motivation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Features that encourage mutual celebration<\/em> lead to higher challenge-completion and streak-retention rates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Users want to stay updated on their friends\u2019 activities and celebrate their progress \u2014 but they previously had no space to do so.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"why](\"https:\/\/blogadmin.mymentalpal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/why-mycircle-1024x1024.png\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFrom a long-term product perspective, building lasting connections between users has always been one of our core goals. Designing a space like My Circle<\/strong> felt like a natural next step toward creating a supportive network where small wins are seen and celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nBuild Mental Fitness<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nDesign Goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWe designed My Circle<\/strong> with four main goals in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Strengthen users\u2019 sense of connection and belonging<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Increase daily return rates<\/strong> to the app<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Boost challenge-completion and streak-retention<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grow monthly active users (MAU)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
One of our primary success metrics is the daily return rate<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n![\"UX](\"https:\/\/blogadmin.mymentalpal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/my-circle-process.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOur hypothesis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When users are celebrated for their achievements, they\u2019re more motivated to continue and to start new challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Design Process and Key Decisions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWe began by analyzing social and motivational patterns in learning, meditation, and wellness apps to understand what types of feeds and interactions feel natural to users. Through desk research and early user feedback, we identified two main needs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n- Beyond encouragement, users also need helpful and guiding messages<\/strong> to stay consistent and mindful.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The feed should also make it easy to invite new friends<\/strong>, fostering a stronger sense of collective progress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"myCircle](\"https:\/\/blogadmin.mymentalpal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/myCircle-UX.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWe faced several design challenges along the way \u2014 such as aligning the new feed experience with the app\u2019s existing information architecture<\/strong> and integrating it with the user data we already had.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe current version of My Circle<\/strong> is our first iteration. Future releases will focus on expanding interaction types, enhancing social experience quality, and personalizing motivational content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\nBuild Mental Fitness<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat We Launched and What We Expect<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nUsers can now access My Circle<\/strong> directly from the home page and:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- Invite their friends to join new challenges<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Celebrate<\/em> each other\u2019s milestones<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Nudge<\/em> friends to stay on track<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Read inspirational and educational messages<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Discover new challenges and product blogs to stay connected with our growth journey
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
We analyzed user behavior and conducted research on benchmark apps and uncovered several key insights:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Social interaction plays a powerful role in sustaining personal motivation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Features that encourage mutual celebration<\/em> lead to higher challenge-completion and streak-retention rates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Users want to stay updated on their friends\u2019 activities and celebrate their progress \u2014 but they previously had no space to do so.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nFrom a long-term product perspective, building lasting connections between users has always been one of our core goals. Designing a space like My Circle<\/strong> felt like a natural next step toward creating a supportive network where small wins are seen and celebrated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nBuild Mental Fitness<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nDesign Goals<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWe designed My Circle<\/strong> with four main goals in mind:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Strengthen users\u2019 sense of connection and belonging<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Increase daily return rates<\/strong> to the app<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Boost challenge-completion and streak-retention<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Grow monthly active users (MAU)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
One of our primary success metrics is the daily return rate<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nOur hypothesis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When users are celebrated for their achievements, they\u2019re more motivated to continue and to start new challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Design Process and Key Decisions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWe began by analyzing social and motivational patterns in learning, meditation, and wellness apps to understand what types of feeds and interactions feel natural to users. Through desk research and early user feedback, we identified two main needs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Beyond encouragement, users also need helpful and guiding messages<\/strong> to stay consistent and mindful.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The feed should also make it easy to invite new friends<\/strong>, fostering a stronger sense of collective progress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWe faced several design challenges along the way \u2014 such as aligning the new feed experience with the app\u2019s existing information architecture<\/strong> and integrating it with the user data we already had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The current version of My Circle<\/strong> is our first iteration. Future releases will focus on expanding interaction types, enhancing social experience quality, and personalizing motivational content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nBuild Mental Fitness<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat We Launched and What We Expect<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nUsers can now access My Circle<\/strong> directly from the home page and:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Invite their friends to join new challenges<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Celebrate<\/em> each other\u2019s milestones<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Nudge<\/em> friends to stay on track<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Read inspirational and educational messages<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Discover new challenges and product blogs to stay connected with our growth journey
<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n - Nudge<\/em> friends to stay on track<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The feed should also make it easy to invite new friends<\/strong>, fostering a stronger sense of collective progress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
- Increase daily return rates<\/strong> to the app<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Users want to stay updated on their friends\u2019 activities and celebrate their progress \u2014 but they previously had no space to do so.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
![\"app](\"https:\/\/blogadmin.mymentalpal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/app-feed-design-484x1024.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"my](\"https:\/\/blogadmin.mymentalpal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/myCircle-final-484x1024.png\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n