Wellness & relaxation
Home doesn’t have to feel like prison (well, unless you’re in prison) – Chris Rowlands finds gadgets to combat lockdown cabin fever
We can tell from the way you’re reading this sentence that you’re all tense and agitated… maybe one of these gadgets will help?
The wall warbler Zwitscherbox
Stick the motion-sensitive Zwitscherbox on your wall and you’ll hear two minutes of blissful Black Forest birdsong whenever you go past. Sure, it’s not quite the same as a long walk in the woods, but it might just stop you going cuckoo, and it comes in a diverse choice of colours. from €49 / zwitscherbox.com
The fragrant filterer Moodo Air
Address aromatic catastrophes with this mix-and-match diffuser and air purifier: pick a pack of recyclable pods, pop them in the top then tweak the blend. You can use the partner app to adjust the potency, or add the Air to your smart home setup and have Alexa mix fragrance cocktails for you. $165 / moodo.co
The holistic head hugger Muse S
A headband that tracks brain activity in real time, this meditation assistant encourages focus by means of background sound, steering your brain away from distractions with rushing rain and rewarding calm with soothing ambience. It’ll also monitor your heart rate, breath, posture and sleep. £330 / choosemuse.com
The nocturnal nuzzler Soundasleep Speaker Pillow
Pillow noise will be nothing new if you snooze beside a snorer; but if you want a softer soundtrack to your dreams, rest your head on this. Hidden beneath the quilted microfibre is a Bluetooth speaker: play an audiobook or a soothing playlist, or use the app for more advanced options. £40 / soundasleeppillow.co.uk
The tension-tasting ticker Fitbit Sense
The Sense is designed to manage stress, monitor your body’s long-term trends and find calm in all the chaos. It harbours a host of health-tracking tools, including one-tap breathing exercises and an app that logs electrodermal activity to illustrate the effects a few quiet moments can have. £300 / fitbit.com
The burring boulder Kikkerland Sound Pebble
The right amount of ambient noise can aid relaxation and soothe your subconscious. This sound-emitting pebble is way more melodious than a real rock, playing six natural sounds on a loop for constant calm. Think falling rain, ocean waves or the comforting crackle of a campfire.
€28 / kikkerlandeu.com
The nastiness neutraliser Blue Pure 411
Pollutants don’t make for a peaceful pad. Hit the button on the Pure 411 and its three-layer system will filter the air in a 15m² room every 12 minutes, tackling all manner of floating evils from household odours to pet hair. The fabric pre-filter is available in a range of colours to match your chillout zone. £135 / blueair.com
The cute canal cuddlers Flare Audio Calmer
Enhance your ear canals with these clever inserts. Rather than blocking noise out, the Calmer uses a soft silicone waveguide to change how vibrations travel through the ear, subtly improving the quality of the sound you hear by filtering out the harsh frequencies known to cause stress. £20 / flareaudio.com