LOTUS

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  LOTUS

Despite how social media creates global connections, young people today are feeling increasingly isolated. According to UCLA’s loneliness scale, the average Gen-Z and millennial is considered lonely (any score above 43/100 is considered “lonely” and both Gen-Z and millenials surpassed this with the respective scores of 48.3 and 45.3). Research from Hope Lab also illustrates that 90% of young people turn to the internet for more information on mental health issues in place of seeking help in-person. Although technology today is seemingly individualized, a majority of people agree that social media is a valuable tool in combating loneliness. Rather than demonizing technology and advocating unplugging, we decided to flip the script and “plug to unplug” through LOTUS.

We all know that self-care is a necessity, yet many people lack the discipline and resources to consistently engage in it. The problem with most self-care apps on the market these days is that they are highly individualized, they lack accessibility, and lack consideration for SES (socio-economic status). LOTUS  is a versatile app that aims to further encourage community engagement and inclusivity in order to combat mental health issues stemming from social isolation. 

Lotus focuses on both tuning in with ourselves through one of our 5 senses, and it also promotes community connectivity. By providing users with a list of suggested activities based on price, time they would like to commit, location, and sense they want to focus on, users can have more individualized results. Suggested activities such as volunteering or simply going for a walk around their neighborhood allows users to both engage with their community and themselves. The more activities that the user achieves, the more the lotus blooms which provides a meaningful incentive and increases commitment. Over time, users will have to complete an activity in order to bloom their lotus, and this allows them to continue being more integrated into their communities and further challenge themselves. Research shows that every time a task is completed or when someone does something self-gratifying, there is a small dopamine burst in the brain. We utilize this knowledge through LOTUS by creating a “plugged” community where users share how they “unplug.” 

Built With

• adobe-xd
• invision
• processing