Happy Sunday! We dedicate each Sunday to featuring content that supports wellbeing, health, and self-care. This week, we are profiling Maddy and Julia, the co-founders of Sentiment. Maddy and Julia are recent Columbia graduates, and after their senior year being cut short due to COVID-19, they were inspired to create a self-care texting service. Read below to learn more about Sentiment, the power of daily self-care reminders, and what it means for Madeline and Julia to be powerful. 
What inspired the creation of Sentiment?
After we were sent home from school due to coronavirus, we noticed that we were both feeling out of sorts and had a hard time dealing with our mental health and everything going on around us. We wanted to know if others were feeling the same, so we sent out a Quarantine Well-Being Survey. We got a lot of feedback that filling out the survey was cathartic in itself because it created a space for people to reflect. We then created Sentiment to make these check-ins a daily routine.
Can you describe how the texting service works?
Anyone can join the texting service by texting DAZGPV to 310-919-2586. You can also join by going to www.joinsentiment.com and entering your phone number. Once you join, you will get a welcome text and then you’ll start receiving our daily text messages. You can also follow our Instagram @joinsentiment!
How do you envision Sentiment to impact the way we interact with technology and social media, specifically to its relationship to mental health?
It’s common for our interactions with technology and social media to have a negative effect on our mental well-being. Sentiment transforms this relationship by providing gentle reminders to check in on ourselves and our loved ones through our phones. Our daily texts and Instagram posts ensure a burst of positivity in your day-to-day technology use.
Where do you draw your inspiration for the check-in texts?
We draw our inspiration from what’s happening in our personal lives, our favorite quotes, and common experiences we may all be facing. Some of our texts prompt our community to send texts back while others prompt more personal reflection. At least once a week we’ll ask our users to reach out to a friend or a loved one.
What’s the greatest piece of ‘Wellness Wisdom’ you’ve been given?
It can be so easy in the hustle and bustle of our lives to lose sight of how we’re actually feeling or what we actually want. Taking as little as five minutes to check in with yourself can change the course of your entire day.
How can people get involved and join the Sentiment community?
First and foremost, joining our texting service is the best way to get involved in the community. You can also follow our Instagram @joinsentiment or join our private Facebook group to feel more connected to our text community.
What are some next steps for Sentiment?
We’re looking to expand our network by partnering with other great platforms, like the Power Thread! We hope to continuously tailor our service based on feedback we receive because we want Sentiment to mold to our users’ needs. We see Sentiment growing not only as a texting service but as a wellness brand to remind individuals that you’re never too busy to check in with yourself and your loved ones.
What does it mean for you to be powerful?
To us, being powerful and confident means not being afraid to acknowledge how you’re actually feeling. Once you gain ownership of your own feelings, it becomes easier to navigate your personal ups and downs and be present for those around you.
