Written by Aidy Smith
Technology has long been a passion of mine – and I’m always trying to get to grips with the latest gizmos and gear we can get our hands-on. In this issue, I want to focus on some new releases that will help you with your health and wellbeing as we enter some of the most testing months ahead. We’re nearly at the end of the tunnel, but the suggestions below will help make things that bit easier as you navigate any anxiety and stress you may be feeling. Here are some of the top-spec tech, gizmos and a couple of cheeky treats on the market right now.
OTO CBD Sleep Drops & Pillow Mist
For those who are restless or having difficulty sleeping each night, OTO is the benchmark of quality when it comes to CBD products. Their pillow mist contains a combination of CBD, lavender, roman chamomile and vetiver with the sleep drops produced from lavender, butterfly pea flower, field mint and CBD. Both have a distinct purpose to help alleviate stress, anxiety and pain while offering a host of other benefits given the distinct ingredients. From healing properties and enhancing memory capacity to a plethora of antioxidants and vitamins. Tested and tried by someone who suffers from insomnia. I can happily tell you; they work.
Find here: Sleep drops £69 and Pillow Mist £98
SEGA Flux
There’s nothing quite like looking up at the stars, completely in awe of the ever-expanding universe. Thanks to SEGA, you can now do this at home. For anyone thinking this may be a bit gimmicky, it’s not. It may be created by ‘Sega Toys’ but the reality is a planetarium created by world-renowned Japanese innovator, Takayuki Ohira who has spent decades in this field. As the evening draws in, thousands of stars allow you to completely unwind, reduce your anxiety levels and feel at one with yourself. Over 30 disks are available should you wish to have a different scene. From shooting stars to planets and even the aurora borealis.
Find here: £169
Somnox Sleep
The idea of sleeping with a robot might make you feel a little uncomfortable at first, but the technology behind this has been proven to help those who suffer from being unable to sleep. Controlled breathing has always been a technique to clear our mind and calm ourselves when feeling anxious, but it turns out the same thinking allows us to sleep easier too. This sleep robot essentially guides you into rhythmic breathing with its life-like expanding and deflating breathing program. Completely natural, there is no need for medicine to help you drift off – users have reported feeling safe, secure and comforted when next to Somnox, helping them drift off into a peaceful sleep with better, deeper relaxation resulting in more energy.
Find here: UK//US £499
Cartografie Chocolates
You may be wondering why chocolate and wellness are in the same category but there’s a good reason – it’s all to do with endorphins. Turns out quality cocoa causes our brain to release a surge of endorphins, which upon interacting with receptors in our brains cause a surge of euphoria. Let me be clear– your average bar of Cadbury’s is NOT going to have the same effect. What I’m talking about is the purest possible form of quality and indulgence, handcrafted with cocoa sourced directly (and ethically) from top cacao farmers. Head Chocolatier, Kae Shibata is no stranger to this world, having spent much of her career in some of London’s most reputed 5-star hotels. Each chocolate celebrates the unique expression of region, couverture and cocoa bean variety. With their elegance and refined taste, these are without question the best chocolates I’ve tasted. The latest venture of Kae Shibata, Sven Britt-Hanson and Daniela Nunzi-Mihranian will send your tastebuds to a whole new level.
Find here: From £7
Click & Grow
The past 12 months have been… yes, we won’t even go there. While 99% of the population took up making banana bread, those with gardens decided to plant flowers and herbs – how successful they were is another story. While we weren’t all lucky enough to have an outdoor space to unwind, Click & Grow has brought the greenery to us. This revolutionary technology is like an indoor greenhouse, allowing you to grow seed to plant or flower in as little as two weeks. Tried and tested, we can happily swear by it.
Find here: Machines start from £85
La Marzocco Linea Mini
Routine is so important, and it starts from the moment we wake up and begin our day. I’ve been a huge coffee fan for years and tested many machines – but my preference has always led me to a craft Italian producer called La Marzocco. The Linea Mini is based on their classic machine which is used and accoladed by thousands of top baristas across the planet. Having that same technology be a part of your in-home ritual gives you a sense of quality kickstarts each day on top form. It’s not often I have an emotional bond with a kitchen appliance, but this is the exception. With custom panels, auto turn-on via your phone app and an array of other benefits to make your life easier and your coffee better, this is the top machine on the market. Welcome to the espresso revolution.
Find Here: UK £3,690 // US $5400
Parks Candles
There’s just something about the way Parks create their candles that makes me feel so wholesome and comforted. Whether I’m working from home and need a boost of energy, in the bath and want to melt into pure relaxation or just want a background scent that keeps my cortisol levels down and my serotonin up – they’ve got it all. My personal favourites are Feu de Bois, Amber, Tobacco & Leather and of course Bourbon & Maple – but I’m sure you’ll fall in love with something that resonates with you too.
Find here: UK £10+ // US $15+
Vitruvi Essential Oil Diffusers
One thing I learnt by spending so much time at home in 2020 is that scent is crucial to our mental health and wellbeing. Whether it’s flowers, candles or something more permanent, we all need that little something to help make the same environment more bearable to be in. Enter, Vitruvi. Brought to us by a sibling duo of scent experts who have intertwined the world of botanicals to produce a number of essential oils to lighten up our mood, mind and day-to-day happiness. With blends, single origin and essential oil collections, there’s a heck of a lot of scents to choose from. I for one am rather excited about welcoming 2021 by enhancing more senses than my tastebuds. It’s time to let smell become an even more important part of mental health.
Find here: UK £84+ // US $119+
Phillips Hue Lighting
I was first introduced to Philips Hue about 5 years ago and it has changed my life. We often disregard just how important lighting is and the effect it has on our moods. Philips Hue hits every colour on the colour spectrum and comes in a variety of lightbulbs for existing fighting, standalone lamps and even strip lighting. You can create a variety of ambient lighting moods for waking up to give you energy, peace-time for a little midday meditation or nap time and as the evening rolls around to calm your senses and get you ready for a good night’s sleep. Their app allows you to control everything seamlessly via smart devices such as Google and Alexa and there are a plethora of in-app functions to get the most out of your tech. I cannot recommend these more highly.
Find the full range here
NeoRhythm
Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapies are becoming an increasingly popular alternative therapy. It may sound a little off-putting to send electromagnetic fields pulsing through your body, but it’s completely safe and the benefits are both scientifically backed and supported. Essentially, this is a non-invasive therapy normally used to stimulate your muscles and increase recovery which, in turn, enhances performance. NeoRhythm uses this exact technology to target the brain, without you needing to visit a clinic. This revolutionary PEMF device has a number of functions, allowing you to feel relaxation, rejuvenation or synchronization from the comfort of your own home. We exercise to keep fit – why not start with the brain?
Find here: UK £220 // US $299
Theragun PRO
Over the past year we’ve had to motivate ourselves to work out. Whether it’s a PT over zoom, going for a run each day, or joining an app where you can do crunches in your living room, exercise hasn’t (or at least shouldn’t have) stopped. The Theragun Pro is our answer to when we overdo it or just need a bit of recovery. PRO puts the power of a professional-grade treatment in the hands of everybody, delivering up to 60 lbs of no-stall force. Functions like QuietForce Technology and Active Torque Control make this the most innovative product within its category. If you’ve overdone it – Theragun will see to it. From advanced ergonomics to continuous battery life, they’ve thought about everything.
Fing here: UK £549 // US $599
IonFlow 2.0 Signature
If there’s one thing we learnt in 2020 it’s that we really don’t like viruses. We also learnt (hopefully) how to keep a cleaner home and a clearer mind. But it’s not just about clean surfaces and a nicely made bed. More than 90% of particles in the air are smaller than PM0.1, many of which are harmful like dust, mould and viruses. IonFlow 2.0 keeps the very air we breathe pure. This air cleansing device has a 99.94% ultra-fine particle reduction, getting rid of harmful elements that surrounded us. The result is a genuinely clearer space, mindset and not to mention the countless health benefits that arise as a result. It also looks pretty damn sexy too.
Find here: £495