As the holiday shopping season approaches, Many of us think about buying our loved ones the latest, most advanced gadgets. I would suggest another way: Buying devices that help reduce stress and cognitive load. Let me explain what I mean.
Think how much our technology has built not to calm down. Your car probably has a touchscreen on the dashboard—although it’s incredibly dangerous and stressful to use while driving. At work, there are often several devices that are difficult to use or repair when they break. And when you sleep, there is probably one or more devices that emit blue light that will disturb your sleep. And that’s not even on our smartphones!
Fortunately, there are some great tech products out there do put the customer’s well-being first. They can also make thoughtful gifts for the people in your life.
Gifts for Children
30% of parents reported high levels of stress compared to 20% of non-parents. These high levels of stress are often passed on to their children, leaving little time for interaction and play. Here are three things, approved by parents to help reduce stress for both adults and their children.
- OK Wake Up – Baby Alarm Clock, Baby Sleep Coach ($39.99): OK Wakes help babies learn normal sleep patterns—thereby helping parents enjoy longer naps, too! The product works with soft, color-coded lights and quiet alarm sounds (white noise, soothing songs, nature, etc.) and uses a low-resolution indicator light that informs without being overwhelming.
- Time Period ($26.95): A time favorite for teachers and parents of children with autism and ADHD. Featuring a colored disc that gradually fades as time passes, it is often used for productivity, time management, and helping children understand the very concept of time. The gradual fading of the colored disc provides a calm, accurate way to show the passing of time, especially when placed across the room.
- Yoto Player Kids Bluetooth Speaker – Plays News, Music, Podcasts, White Noise, Thermometer, Nightlight, Alarm Clock ($99): Giving kids a break from the algorithmic content of YouTube and other social media, the Yoto Player plays curated bedtime stories, podcasts, and white noise at bedtime. The design is remarkably child-friendly, with simple controls and a soft LED display that won’t disturb sleep. Large tactile buttons (periphery interface) enable use in the dark without turning on the room lights or focusing on the bright UI screen.
Home/Personal Tech Gifts
Since our daily lives are full of distractions and push notifications, it’s important to consider products that help create a calm environment.
- 20x25x1 Air Filter by Colorfil | Color Changing Filters Designed for Cat and Dog Odors ($41.79): Our family pets are comforting; their hair and smell is absent. The Colorfil filter from NASA absorbs gas-phase chemicals and odors from the air—and literally turns pink to yellow as it does so, so you don’t have to set a calendar reminder to change the filter. You can just look. Rather than checking an LED meter or other invisible indicator, you know when the filter is ready to be replaced when it turns bright yellow.
- AirThing View Plus ($249): Indoor air quality affects human health, but is often invisible. AirThings makes air quality visible through seven sensors and visualizes it in a calm way. AirThings devices have an e-ink display and a color display, which compresses information into a visual display, while allowing for a detailed view of the application. Battery life is extremely long, while the visual indicator light and e-ink display provide visual indications about air quality without annoying audible alerts.
- Bose Headphones 700 – Noise Canceling over-ear Bluetooth headphones ($379.00): It easily removes unwanted ambient noise while allowing you to listen to music and take phone calls in a quieter sound. Bose uses a noise-cancelling design to remove noise from the environment, allowing you to focus on your thoughts and hear music while in a noisy environment, such as on an airplane. Technology should always enhance the best of technology and the beauty of humanity.
- The Daytime Computer ($729.00): A portable computer designed to be used outdoors and at night without disrupting the circadian rhythm, the Daylight Computer (DC-1) represents a paradigm shift in computing devices. This innovative device combines the advantages of digital technology with a user-friendly interface. And by providing a dedicated space for focused activities like reading, writing, and note-taking, the DC-1 minimizes digital distractions; days of use on a single battery charge reduce the worry associated with frequent charging needs.
- Loop Engage 2 Plus Ear Plugs ($44.95): Busy events and other social events can be overwhelming and distracting; these plugins filter out background noise while allowing you to focus on the specific conversations you’re having. (Note: These items are easily lost; neurodivergent users may want to keep them in a bag attached to a keychain.) The Loop uses a minimal amount of technology to solve the problem, resulting in a small solution that’s easy to use rather than squishy. foam earplug.
- NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A UltraSafe Car Battery Jump Starter ($99.95): Jumper ropes are a necessary but scary part of the diving experience. (Where will I put the connectors again? Will I waste my battery in time?) I recently used one of these when my car lost its battery life on a road trip. Luckily, a friend had brought his, bringing my car back to life long enough to drive to AutoZone. This model is designed to make jump starting simple, safe, and easy, with clear indications and instructions on the front, so you can start your car without fear of abuse.
- Upluq (Price varies by subscription): A simple keychain tag with NFC connectivity, Unpluq “locks” selected apps for a set period of time, preventing access unless they’re physically unlocked—giving users concrete, customizable ways to manage their digital habits while saving. visual communication. With an average reduction in screen time of one hour and 22 minutes per day, Unpluq shows lasting behavioral change. True to its purpose, Unpluq also requires minimal attention, using a physical key to control access to the phone, requiring no mental effort to engage or disengage from digital distractions.
The rapid growth of social media and smartphones, now increasingly powered by AI, has completely overwhelmed us. But there is a better, more humane approach to technology that we desperately need now. A great place to start is at our shopping and gifting centers.
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