Technology Tips: December 2022 (Hygge Edition)

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This month’s tips are all about using technology to make your home more relaxing and inviting, taking inspiration from the Nordic traditions of thriving in the darkest months of the year.

Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) encourages us to focus on simplicity, coziness, and what matters most.

If a goal of yours is to be happier and improve your mental health, then hygge is certainly for you. Technology warms up and cozies in with these tips perfect for the winter season.
 

Gratitude

Research tells us the benefits of establishing a gratitude practice can emerge over time and even rewire your brain. Of course, counting your blessings never requires technology, but it can solidify the habit.

One easy way to use existing technology to start a gratitude practice is to DIY a prompt and journal system. Set a reminder for before bed, during a public transit commute, or whenever you typically have a pocket of free time. Then pin a note to the top of your notes app and keep a running list of your grateful moments. You may even find yourself adding to the list in between your scheduled prompt times.

There are many different apps available to this end, but one piqued our interest due to its availability for any device, its thoughtful and limited privacy requirements, and its developer team’s responsiveness at fixing bugs and accommodating user feedback. Check out 365 Gratitude Journal for iOS or Android. Be aware a premium version exists, so read carefully to ensure you don’t receive any unexpected charges.
 

Boundaries

Is there anything more cursed than reviewing your screen time usage? (When your entire job is IT on screens, it’s hard to manage to say the least!) However you manage screen time, consider taking an extra critical look at the boundaries you set around this time of year. It’s more important to rest and recharge so you can work to your fullest potential than it is to be at everyone’s instant beck and call.

There are tech-savvy tools to make this happen, but the number one tip is to simply uninstall, sign out, or turn off notifications for work-related apps if possible and return to them at the end of your break or weekend. Even just a few hours may provide a mental reset away from notifications.

One fairly simple, free option is LeechBlockNG. You can block sites for chunks of time to either boost productivity, or, in our case, get some well-deserved peace. Other, more in-depth options exist and someone tried them all! Read his thoughts and recommendations for a variety of tools (some of which require subscriptions).
 

Smart home

Now for the fun part of using technology to get cozy: gadgets!

The lowest-hanging fruit here is the nifty smart lightbulbs available. A plethora of options for even the least tech-savvy households give anyone the power of dimming the lights in one area while keeping a reading lamp bright. The freedom to control the lighting of your home is so important when the sun disappears around the time school ends for the day.

From the more basic options like programmable coffee machines to more sophisticated options like powered drapes (seriously!), one of the coziest uses of technology is to make your winter cave a little more welcoming. Ensure your smart home gadgets are also protecting your network by selecting an ultra-secure passphrase. Here’s how to pick a good one that will keep you safe.


Technology sure does provide amazing opportunities, but sometimes we have to work hard to escape it. From our team to yours, we wish you a peaceful and selectively productive hygge season!