As part of Noom’s free tier, Mindful Art Break expands our reach from physical health into mental wellbeing — giving millions of members access to mood-boosting and mindset tools designed to nurture both body and mind.
This new feature turns the power of fine art into a transformative microhabit, grounded in positive psychology and neuroaesthetics. Each Mindful Art Break invites members to pause, reflect, and re-center through short, guided art interactions that activate neural pathways linked to awe, calm, and creativity.
It’s more than a new feature — it’s the beginning of Noom’s broader mission to support mental and emotional health alongside physical change, helping members strengthen self-awareness and resilience through science-backed design. And, like many of Noom’s best innovations, it began with a single spark from our community.
A Member’s Journey: Finding Wellness Beyond Weight
Courtney Matlock, a longtime Noom user and Princeton-area resident, had navigated the familiar ups and downs of weight loss. She’d tried countless wellness apps — from fitness trackers to meditation platforms — but found that most focused on short-term results, not lasting transformation.
When she discovered Noom, she was drawn to its psychology-backed tools and human support, which helped her build lasting habits. With guidance, she lost weight and gained confidence. But after reaching her goal, old habits returned, and she realized that true wellbeing required nurturing her mental health as much as her physical health.
Courtney Matlock, longtime Noom member
“I’d been reflecting on why, after my initial success using the app, I regained the weight,” said Courtney. “As a former college athlete, I knew consistency mattered. But I also knew something was missing.”
That reflection set the stage for a chance encounter that would spark something new.
After meeting Geoff Cook, Noom’s CEO, at a local Chamber of Commerce event, Courtney read that Noom had relocated its headquarters to Princeton — and decided to reach out.
“One thing that stood out to me about Noom was its approachability,” Courtney said. “Even through the app, it felt human and supportive — so I trusted that would carry through in person.”
The Unexpected Conversation That Sparked A Breakthrough
Geoff took the meeting personally, eager to learn from a longtime member.
“It’s always a privilege to hear from members directly, and I wanted to understand how we could better support our Noom community,” said Geoff.
When Courtney stepped into Noom’s office, inspiration struck.
“The first thing I saw was a Degas painting,” she said. “The colors, the movement — I remember being completely absorbed by it. For a few moments, everything else fell away.”
Their conversation shifted from weight loss to art, emotion, and the deeper meaning of wellbeing.
“We talked about the role of art in our lives,” said Geoff. “I shared stories about my daughter, a student artist who had recently illustrated her first book, and my own fascination with how creativity connects to mental health.”
“I’d just finished creating an art wall in my living room after a conversation with my mother, an artist herself,” said Courtney. “As a former college athlete, I’ve always focused on movement and discipline — but rediscovering creativity gave me a different kind of energy. It was grounding, restorative. I noticed that when I made time for art, it became easier to keep up with my other healthy habits.”
A painting by Courtney’s mother, the inspiration behind the tool
That realization led to a shared idea: what if Noom could turn that spark of reflection into a microhabit that members could experience in just minutes a day?
“I wanted something short and visual — a way to pause and recenter,” said Courtney.
That night, Geoff shared the idea with his family. His daughter — the artist — made an observation that became the cornerstone of a new idea:
“Art doesn’t just make people feel good,” she told him. “If we understand why it moves us, we can use it intentionally to help people flourish.”
That insight led Geoff to explore positive psychology — the science of human flourishing — and neuroaesthetics, which studies how the brain responds to beauty and art.
“Positive psychology gave us a framework for cultivating mood and mindset,” said Geoff. “Neuroaesthetics explained how art activates the brain. Together, they provided the science behind what Courtney had felt intuitively: that even brief encounters with art can shift the mind toward calm, focus, and joy.”
From that insight, Mindful Art Break was born — a digital experience that transforms art into a science-backed moment of reflection.
Beyond the Canvas: Turning Inspiration Into Everyday Wellness
With the launch of Mindful Art Break, Courtney has rediscovered momentum in her health journey. The feature hasn’t just improved her mindset and mood — it’s strengthened her consistency with other healthy habits.
“My conversation with Geoff came at the perfect time,” she said. “I realized I’d started treating Noom only as a weight-loss app. True wellness integrates mind and body. The microhabits I’ve built now stack together to help me show up for myself every day.”
For Noom, Mindful Art Break represents more than a feature — it’s a commitment to mental wellbeing, helping members cultivate positivity, calm, and focus.
“The world is facing two overlapping epidemics: chronic disease and mental health,” said Geoff. “At Noom, we believe true prevention must address both. Mindful Art Break helps members understand and express their positive emotions — building mental discipline that strengthens physical health.”
What began as one member’s idea has grown into a movement bringing the benefits of art therapy to millions.
“I give Geoff and the Noom team so much credit for bringing Mindful Art Break to life,” said Courtney. “I didn’t define what the feature should be — I simply shared what I was craving: a few quiet moments to reset. Noom translated that into something meaningful for everyone.”
Courtney’s favorite art pieces include (clockwise, from top left):
- Poppies, Isles of Shoals by Childe Hassam (National Gallery of Art)
- The Mill Pond by George Inness (Art Institute of Chicago)
- Bashi-Bazouk by Jean-Léon Gérôme (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
- No te aha oe riri (Why are you angry?) by Paul Gauguin (Art Institute of Chicago)
- The Bridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne by Alfred Sisley (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
- Roadside Cottage by Dennis Miller Bunker (National Gallery of Art)
“By integrating art and wellness,” said Geoff, “we’re helping members become the best version of themselves — not just physically, but mentally.”
Now available in Noom’s free microhabits tier and rolling out to all members soon, Mindful Art Break stands at the frontier of mental wellbeing — blending behavioral science with the timeless inspiration of fine art to help millions find calm, focus, and flourishing in just a few mindful minutes a day.
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