Guides

Short, sourced answers to the questions people who live alone, or live with everyday anxiety, ask us most: how to set up a check-in, what to do at 3 a.m., how to feel less lonely tonight. Each one is useful without Nuku, the small AI pet we make. General information, not medical advice.

• Daily check-in apps for people who live alone: a 2026 comparison

  Snug, Demumu, Apple Check In, Google Safety Check, RUOK calls and Nuku compared: how each notices a missed check-in, who is told, price and limits.

• What to do when you can't sleep at 3 a.m. and feel anxious

  Small, calm steps for the middle of the night: slow breathing, 5-4-3-2-1 grounding, getting up for a while, parking worries, and when to get help.

• How to set up a safety check-in for an elderly parent or a friend who lives alone

  A step-by-step plan for a parent or friend who lives alone: agree a daily signal, pick a tool, choose who acts, share a key, plan for a missed day.

• Is it okay to feel attached to a virtual pet?

  Yes, it's common and human. What research says about bonds with virtual pets and AI companions, when they help, and signs one is crowding out life.

• Living alone safety checklist

  A practical checklist for living alone: alarms, a spare key, medical info on your phone, a daily check-in, a door plan and the numbers to know.

• Ways to feel less lonely tonight: small and real

  Small, real things to do tonight when you feel lonely: send one message, change the room, get out for ten minutes, and who to call if it gets heavy.

• Virtual pet apps for adults with anxiety: what to look for, and four compared

  Finch, Tolan, Tamagotchi and Nuku compared for adults with anxiety: does the pet die, are there streaks, ads, price, and does it nudge you toward people.

If you are struggling right now, please talk to a person: 988 in the US and Canada, Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland, or findahelpline.com elsewhere. More on our safety page.