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Beat the January blues with these clever tech aids
There's a whole world of inventions out there to help you stay upbeat during the winter months
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.
Taking the edge off those dark mornings, Lumie's Bodyclock LUXE mimics natural light with a sunrise setting to help you wake up gradually, so by the time you open your eyes you feel ready to start the day. Choose from over 20 sounds and set a wake-up duration time to suit you, from 15 to 90 minutes. At nighttime, a fading sunset setting helps you to unwind in a similar manner. Additionally, this latest model includes a low-blue-light feature for bedtime lighting that won't disrupt your sleep and a host of other features, including Bluetooth connectivity for wirelessly streaming your own music or radio.
The creators of Headspace call it a "gym membership for the mind". This mindfulness app offers guided meditation sessions ranging from a three-minute "SOS" for emergency stress-busting, to courses focusing on a variety of topics from relationships to creativity. Download the app for free to access the "take 10" introduction series and activate the handy reminder function for regular "mindful moments" alerting you to stop, breathe and be present.
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Download the Headspace app for free. To unlock the full suite of content, subscriptions start from £3.74 per month; headspace.com
Happy feet
An invigorating walk rarely fails to lift the spirits, and the promise of a relaxing foot spa at the end is an extra incentive to stay active and get out in the fresh air throughout the winter months. HoMedics Luxury Foot Spa takes seconds to fill and its "keep warm" system allows you to enjoy a lengthy session that will leave you feeling refreshed and revived. Bubbles, water jets and vibration massage rollers stimulate the circulation in your feet, while magnetic field technology enhances the body's healing capabilities. And on days when the weather does force you to stay inside, a little hydrotherapy combined with a good book or Netflix binge will make for a truly indulgent afternoon of pampering at home.
We all know the difference a good night's sleep can make to one's mood, but how often do we actually get one? This sound therapy system by Sound+Sleep emits soothing natural sounds to lull you into a blissful slumber and uses patented Adaptive Sound technology that adjusts its soundtrack to counteract any external noise such as dog barks, overhead airplanes or noisy housemates. Choose from a library of SoundStories, each expertly composed to ensure you wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed every day.
