In Praise of Focus Friend

 I have a new favorite app: Focus Friend, designed by Hank Green. 

This app creates an adorable sentient coffee bean on your phone who loves to knit, except it can't knit if you are using your phone. So you set your phone aside to focus on non-phone tasks while it works. (You can't interrupt it or its work will be lost.) Then you can take the socks (free mode) and scarves (subscription mode) to decorate its rooms.

As a person who loves to check things off my list, I am thrilled to "earn" socks and scarves for not being distracted by my phone.

It has a count-up mode (which lets you stop at any point between 5 minutes and 2 hours without losing your progress) and a count-down mode (where you set a firm phone-free time where ending it early will cause your bean to lose its work).

I use this at social events when I'm tempted to be on my phone instead of socializing.

I use this when I'm doing chores and feel the urge to get side-tracked.

I'm using this now, as I'm writing on my computer. 

What is an app that improves your relationship with technology? 

Sciencing Your Stress Away

Right now, our stressors seem to be at an all time high. From national politics to international politics, our stress is skyrocketing. The uncertainty, the worry over new policies, and the toxicity of social media, is causing our stress to rise like the price of eggs.

There are plenty of books out there discussing scientific studies regarding ways to reduce stress.

When we are stressed, cardio exercise can release some of our stress. Find a cardio dance video or head outside for a power walk.

Long hugs (20 seconds or more) with people we care about can relieve some of our stress. Give that someone (with their consent) a long hug until you both relax.

A long smooch (6 seconds or more) with our significant other can reduce our stress levels. Give that someone (with their consent) a long kiss until you both relax.

Watching something that makes us truly and deeply laugh can vent off some of our stress. Find a video online or check out a comedy from your local library.

Journaling and counseling can help us manage our stress better. Writing and discussing stressors with a counselor can help us process our feelings and also see possible solutions.