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4 apps for meditation and mindfulness.Blog
Whether you’re stressed from work or just need to take a moment of calm, it can be hard to remember to fit it in when you have a busy schedule. There is even a day to help people do just that - National Relaxation Day, celebrated annually on August 15th. On that day, we’re encouraged to take a break from stress and anxiety and do something they truly find relaxing. Whether it’s going on spa break or just reading a book – it’s all about having time to chill in a way that works for you. And if you’re looking for another kind of chill, be sure to check out our competition at the bottom of the page. We’re giving away a Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan. Not only is it super powerful, it’s whisper quiet too. So, it won’t interrupt your moment of peace. One of the best ways you can reduce stress in your day is with a little meditation or mindfulness. And there’s no need to run off to a yoga retreat. There are loads of amazing apps that can help you get into the healthy habit of taking some quiet time. Here are 4 of our faves. Deep breath… Apple Fitness+ and Apple Mindfulness Apple Fitness+ has guided meditation sessions with experienced teachers – from 5 to 45 minutes per session. But it’s not all just sitting and breathing. Their Mindfulness Cooldown combines stretching with relaxation, and they have lots of yoga classes too. As for the meditation, it’s cut into different categories to help you with specific issues - whether it’s stress reduction, improved sleep or enhanced focus. Meanwhile, Apple Mindfulness is specifically for Apple Watch owners. On the small, square screen you can either follow a full meditation session or you can get a reminder to take a few rejuvenating breaths. Fitness+ on iOS Mindfulness on Apple Watch Headspace Headspace is one of the most well-known meditation apps, famous for its user-friendly interface and massive library of guided meditations. With its search function, you can find a meditation for almost any situation. Woke up in the night and can’t get back to sleep? There’s a meditation for that. And sleep stories too. Going on a walk and what to be more mindful? There’s a mindful activity you can listen to. They have podcasts, daily schedules that are easy to follow and courses galore. Headspace makes meditation accessible for beginners while also providing advanced content for aspiring yogis. Available on iOS and Android Calm Calm is another highly popular app that focuses on meditation, relaxation and getting better sleep. Not only will you find traditional meditation practices, but there’s famous voices reading bedtime stories, soothing soundtracks and breathing exercises designed to help you unwind. The app's Daily Calm feature provides a new meditation each day, making sure you stick to mindfulness practice. And there are also long-term courses you can take tailored to what you want to get out of mindfulness. Available on iOS and Android Balance Balance was created to fit the needs of whoever’s using the app – so no two experiences are alike. Balance asks users a series of questions to understand their goals, then tailors meditation programs to fit. Whether your goal is to reduce anxiety, improve focus or get on in your career, Balance helps you build a mindfulness practice you can stick to - and that will evolve with your progress. You can always adjust the time of your meditation sessions. So, there’s always the chance to find a quick moment of calm, even if you’re rushing out the door! Right now, Balance is doing a one-year free membership – so it might be worth a go. Available on iOS and Android So, why not whip out your phone, download a few of these apps and see which one works for you. Win a Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK! Want to stay calm and cool? We’re giving away a Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK. It’s cool, super quiet and has 12 different modes – including outdoors, cordless and tabletop – so you can take it with you pretty much anywhere. It’s also water resistant, so is even pool splash and British summer weatherproof too! To enter, just share your best relaxation and mindfulness tips with the Community below. Entries close at 23:59 on 19th August 2024. Winners are chosen at random, and we'll announce the lucky iD community member shortly after. Stay calm, you’ve still got time to win.
What is a Bluetooth tracker?Blog
Ever got ready to leave the house for work on time, only to discover that your keys aren't by the front door? Yup, that’s probably most of us. And we know it can be infuriating hunting around for them knowing that the clock's ticking away. If you spend too much time looking for things, a Bluetooth tracker can be a total gamechanger. But what are they exactly? And how do they work? Let's find out… What is a Bluetooth tracker? Bluetooth item trackers are nifty little devices you can attach to your valuables — like a set of keys, your wallet, a bag, or a laptop — to help you find them if they ever get misplaced. This makes them a must-have if you go travelling on the reg and want to reduce the risk of losing your luggage. Or if you're just forgetful in general! How do Bluetooth trackers work? Bluetooth trackers work by connecting to your phone or tablet using, you guessed it — Bluetooth. You can then use an app to find the location of the belonging you've attached the tracker to. Most Bluetooth trackers can also make a loud sound to help you locate your missing item — handy if your wallet's hiding under the sofa. Because Bluetooth's range is limited to around 60 metres , some trackers are made just for finding stuff around the home or in your office at work. But a popular tracker like the Apple AirTag uses the Find My network — made up from millions of Apple devices all over the world. This means they can be detected almost anywhere, as long as other Apple gadgets are nearby. Who makes Bluetooth item trackers? Loads of tech brands now make Bluetooth trackers to help you keep an eye on where your valuables are. Here are some of the most well-known, which you can find at Currys: Apple AirTag: If you own an iPhone or iPad, you can easily keep track of your stuff with an AirTag and the Find My app. It'll point you in the right direction and even tell you how far away your lost item is. The battery lasts over a year and is a doddle to replace, and you won't have to worry if it gets wet thanks to an IP67 water resistance rating. Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2: Samsung's answer to the AirTag works with devices in the Galaxy family. Your tagged item shows up on a map in the SmartThings Find app so you can easily find it. And the tracker even has a Lost Mode, which will display your contact info on the phone of whoever's found your missing item — helping you get reunited even faster! Eufy SmartTrack Link: This affordable tracker works with Apple devices and Eufy's Security app, which drops alerts to tell you if you're straying too far from your tracked items. That way, you won't lose them in the first place. And if you've lost your connected phone, just double tap the tracker to make it ring — even if it's on silent mode. How do you prevent unwanted tracking? While Bluetooth tracking devices are amazing at helping you find your personal items, you might not want your location accessible to other people. But you can rest easy. Apple and Google have recently worked together on an industry standard that alerts iPhone and Android users when a device is being used to track them. Regardless of whether the tracker has been connected with an Android or iPhone mobile, users on both operating systems will get a "Found Moving With You" notification to alert them. As long as they're running on iOS 17.5 or Android 6 and up. What items do people lose the most? According to Chipolo, the five items most people in both the UK and US lose are keys, wallets, phones, TV remotes, and glasses. In fact, over 71% of Americans lose their TV remote at least once a month! So, if you’re fed up endless searching, we’d recommend grabbing some Bluetooth trackers now. You’ll thank us later! Which item do you reckon you lose most often? Let us know in the comments!