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Balance System

Understand and appreciate the give-and-take in your relationship.

What is the Balance System?​

The balance system is a visual representation of appreciation and effort in your relationship through tokens. Each partner can have up to 10 tokens at any time, creating a dynamic balance that reflects recent contributions.

Unlike a permanent score, the balance is a snapshot of recent appreciation — tokens gradually fade over 30 days, so the balance always reflects what's happening now in your relationship, not months ago.

How It Works​

Awarding Tokens​

When your partner does something thoughtful:

  1. Navigate to the Dashboard
  2. Tap the "+" button in the Balance section
  3. Choose the size of the gesture:
    • 🌟 Small (1 token) - Small thoughtful gesture
    • ⭐⭐ Medium (2 tokens) - Meaningful effort or kindness
    • 💫💫💫 Large (3 tokens) - Exceptional gesture or significant effort
  4. Optionally add a personal message (e.g., "Thanks for cooking dinner!")
  5. Tap "Send"
  6. Your partner receives a notification and the tokens

What Happens​

  • Tokens are added to your partner's balance (max 10)
  • You receive balance for awarding (max 10)
  • Balance visualization updates for both of you
  • Partner is notified with your message
  • Appears in Recent Moments feed

What Counts?​

Award tokens for genuine appreciation:

Daily Gestures:

  • Making dinner or breakfast
  • Doing household chores
  • Running an errand
  • Active listening during a tough day

Thoughtful Acts:

  • Planning a surprise date
  • Remembering something important
  • Offering emotional support
  • Helping with a project

Big Efforts:

  • Organizing a special celebration
  • Going above and beyond
  • Significant time investment
  • Especially meaningful gestures
Philosophy

The balance system is about appreciation, not scorekeeping. Award tokens generously to celebrate your partner's contributions, not to create obligations.

The Balance Visualization​

Dashboard Display​

On the Dashboard, you'll see:

Balance Chart:

  • Two bars: One for you, one for your partner
  • Up to 10 stars each (tokens)
  • Color-coded status:
    • 🟢 Green = Balanced (difference of 0-2 tokens)
    • 🟡 Yellow = Slight imbalance (difference of 3-4 tokens)
    • 🔴 Red = Significant imbalance (difference of 5+ tokens)

Balance Status:

  • "Balanced" - Healthy give-and-take (difference ≤ 2)
  • "You Lead" - You've given more recently
  • "Partner Leads" - Partner has given more recently

Health Badge:

  • "Strong" - Very balanced relationship (difference ≤ 1)
  • "Good" - Healthy balance (difference ≤ 3)

Understanding Your Balance​

Example 1: Balanced

You:     ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (7 tokens)
Partner: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8 tokens)
Status: "Balanced" 🟢

Difference of 1 token - very healthy!

Example 2: You Lead

You:     ⭐⭐⭐ (3 tokens)
Partner: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (9 tokens)
Status: "You Lead" 🟡

You've been giving more lately - partner might reciprocate soon.

Example 3: Partner Leads

You:     ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (8 tokens)
Partner: ⭐⭐⭐ (3 tokens)
Status: "Partner Leads" 🟢

Partner has been giving more - maybe it's your turn to show appreciation!

Recent Moments Feed​

What is Recent Moments?​

The Recent Moments section on the Dashboard shows the last 5 token exchanges between you and your partner.

For each moment:

  • Who sent: Giver's name
  • How many tokens: 1-3 stars
  • Optional message: Personal thank-you note
  • Timestamp: Relative time ("2 hours ago", "yesterday", "3 days ago")

Example:

"Sarah sent you 2⭐⭐: 'Thanks for making breakfast!'" 2 hours ago

Why Recent Moments Matter​

  • 💬 Remember appreciation - See the kind things you've done for each other
  • 📈 Track patterns - Notice when you last showed appreciation
  • 💝 Celebrate moments - Revisit thoughtful messages
  • 🎯 Stay motivated - Inspired to keep giving

Token Notifications​

When your partner awards you tokens, you receive:

  1. Push notification (if enabled): "[Partner] sent you X tokens"
  2. In-app notification: Appears in Notifications screen
  3. Dashboard update: Balance visualization refreshes
  4. Recent Moments: New entry appears at the top

Learn more about Notifications

Partner Requirement​

Partner Link Required

The Balance System requires a linked partner. You cannot award tokens without an active partner connection.

Tips for Healthy Balance​

1. Award Generously​

Don't wait for grand gestures. Small, frequent appreciation builds stronger connections than rare big moments.

2. Add Personal Messages​

Messages make tokens more meaningful:

  • ✅ "Thanks for listening when I was stressed!"
  • ✅ "Loved our surprise date night!"
  • ❌ Just clicking without a message (works, but less personal)

3. Award in the Moment​

Recognize gestures soon after they happen for maximum impact and authenticity.

4. Don't Overthink Size​

  • Small (1): Quick, everyday kindnesses
  • Medium (2): Thoughtful efforts
  • Large (3): Exceptional or time-intensive gestures

When in doubt, medium is usually perfect!

5. Don't Keep Score​

If your balance is imbalanced, don't panic:

  • Life has natural ebbs and flows
  • One partner may be giving more during stressful times
  • The goal is appreciation, not perfect 50/50 equality

6. Celebrate Balance​

When you're balanced, celebrate it! It means you're both actively showing appreciation.

7. Use It as a Communication Tool​

If balance is consistently tilted:

  • It might be worth a conversation (not an accusation!)
  • One partner may be feeling underappreciated
  • Adjust and recalibrate together

Frequently Asked Questions​

Q: What happens when I reach 10 tokens?

A: 10 is the maximum. Additional tokens sent to you won't increase your count, but the gesture is still recorded in Recent Moments and your partner's token count increases.

Q: Do tokens expire?

A: Tokens gradually fade over 30 days. A token sent today counts at full value, but its weight decreases each day until it fully fades after a month. This keeps the balance focused on recent appreciation rather than distant history.

Q: Can I take away tokens?

A: No, tokens can only be awarded, never removed. This is intentional - the system is positive-only.

Q: What if my partner never awards me tokens?

A: Have a conversation! The balance system works best when both partners actively participate. It's a tool for mutual appreciation.

Q: Can I see token history beyond the last 5?

A: Currently, only the last 5 moments appear on the Dashboard. Extended history may come in a future update.

Q: Does balance affect any other features?

A: Balance is primarily a visual appreciation tool. It may influence Badge unlocks related to generosity.

Q: Can I hide my balance from my partner?

A: No, balance is inherently shared. Both partners see the same visualization.

Q: What if we unlink?

A: Token history is lost when you unlink from a partner. If you re-link, you start fresh.

Q: Is there a limit to how many tokens I can send?

A: You can send as many tokens as you want! However, each partner's balance maxes out at 10 tokens at any time.