Your "Balance Score" might seem confusing at first – especially when it shows a good score but your screen time feels higher than you'd like. Here's what's really happening and how to understand your score better.
How your "Balance Score" works
Your "Balance Score" is calculated based on the personal "Daily Goals" you set when you first started using Roots, not just raw screen time numbers.
What influences your Balance Score:
How you're tracking against your personal screen time goal
Your phone pickup count vs. your target
Your "Digital Dopamine" hits (not all screen time is created equal!)
Device Downtime – those moments when you put it down and engage with the real world around you
Why you might see a good score with higher screen time
You might be staying within your personal daily goal even if it feels high to you
The apps you're using could be less stimulating (lower dopamine hits)
You might be doing better with pickups
You must be putting your phone down and taking breaks from screen time
How to get more clarity on your score
Refresh your data first: Tap the "Refresh" button at the top of your homepage to make sure your data is fully up-to-date
Check the breakdown: Tap the little "i" icon next to your Balance Score on the home screen. This will show you exactly what's contributing to your score
Adjust your goals if needed: You can modify your Daily Goals anytime by going to "Profile > Account Settings > Daily Screen Time Goal"
Remember
Your "Balance Score" is personalized to YOUR goals. What matters most is that you're making progress toward the balance that feels right for you – not comparing yourself to others or arbitrary numbers.
If your score doesn't feel aligned with how you're actually feeling about your phone use, consider adjusting your "Daily Goals" to better reflect your true goals.
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Need more help?
Get personal help from one of our founders here. We know this can be confusing, and we appreciate your patience. We're happy to assist—and we'll even reward you for your valuable time!