These are a few of my favorite things. I always like to round off the year by sharing some of my favorite things that promote digital wellbeing (and make great gifts) as we shift into the new year. Let’s do it in a thoughtful way to bring joy, peace and love to those who really matter to us.
HYBRID JOURNAL
I love to write and sometimes offline is where my best ideas are created. That last minute thought before bed (or even one that comes in the middle of the night). Skip the screen and go straight to the notebook. Rocketbook is a great tool for those of us who still like to write on paper, but need to be able to organize our thoughts digitally. Even better, it is well thought through on sustainability as you can use it over and over (after you have synched it). It is one of my favorite writing tools for both note taking and ideation (you can draw too). I recently discovered their markers which makes it even more fun. Check them out here http://bit.ly/2zowYmH Use code: RB-Ref18-15 to get 15% off your order.
TECH-NECK RELIEF!
After many years of suffering from chronic pain caused by poor posture, tech-neck and then Lyme Disease, I found this amazing non-opioid (yes, no drugs) solution. OskaPulse is a Pain Relief and Recovery Device using Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF). It creates an electromagnetic field that pulsates while it modulates the damaged cells to squeeze the toxins out and opens the cells to allow nutrients (potassium, sodium and magnesium) to flow into the cell. The Oska Pulse puts the damaged cells in the best situation to repair themselves and then replicates the electrical signals your body creates to fix the damaged cells. For discount http://bit.ly/EDS-Oska, enter 2BU at checkout at OskaWellness.com.
GIVE YOUR DEVICES A LITTLE LOVE AND PAMPERING
Did you realize that a frayed charging cable may be impacting your phone’s ability to fully charge or relay sync information? You spend several hundred dollars on your phone, don’t be cheap about taking good care of your investment. Replacement phone cables for all those frayed ends. This is the time to start the year freshen up. Treat your devices to the gift of a clean connection, for better power and communication. You will both benefit.
Apple Lightning Cable is usually best with Apple products to stay in their eco-system. If you cannot get one, make sure it is at least Apple MFI certified (you could otherwise be damaging your battery.
Short lightning cable for travel, car or connecting to external battery pack
Mixed lengths Micro USB for all non-apple devices
I love these for travel as they accommodate all my needs and don’t take up much extra space. As long as I have one short microUSB and one short lightning, I find that I am covered in a pinch!
BETTER SLEEP BY BLOCKING BLUE LIGHT
With all the screen time, our systems are getting all out of whack. From manipulating your circadian rhythms (sleep patterns) to increasing your cortisol production (Stress hormone) they are generally not doing good things to our body.
Fortunately, blue blocking glasses have been proven to help. Even better, there are a lot of new choices in design. You no longer have to stick with the ultra geeky (unless you want that). I have found them so helpful that I bought them for the rest of my family. I find the ones with yellow lenses for nighttime use are the most effective for me. That said, you may not like that style and there are options. It also depends on when you are most in front of screens. (also good with artificial light if you fly a lot). I have a pair of TruDark and husband and daughter have Swannies and son loves his BluBlck. It is about finding a good pair that you will wear, so enjoy the fact that you have choices.
DOCK AND REST EASY
Every year I put the same thing on my favorite things list, but the options grow to fit different styles. I love having a docking station in my kitchen. Devices are ready to go when I need them and they don’t come to the bedroom (unless I want them too).
I suggest you get a mix of short cables to accommodate different devices and also visitors a 5 pack of Apple lightning and a 5 pack of MicroUSB will only run you about $15/each.
DELEGATE
for WIN-WIN
One of my favorite new resources as an entrepreneur, GenM. I was very fortunate in having the opportunity to interview their founder, Moe Abbas (Episode 057 on Evolving Digital Self) earlier this year. They are providing solutions for digital marketing talent to find their fit through online courses and on the job training, while providing an affordable resource to small businesses. Truly taking advantage of the growing gig economy and helping both new MBA student and small businesses grow. Use this link https://genm.co/r/21tf8huj5 and you get $25 off
PRIORITIZE YOURSELF
Speaking of great online resources for road warrior entrepreneurs, I LOVE my FoundersCard. As a remote worker, I am either nestled into my home office or on the road. The older I get the more creature comforts I need and higher my expectations when I travel. Now the caveat is, you must use the benefits to make this resource worth it. But if you do, woah, it pays for itself in really quickly. Sweet deals with upgrades status and priority treatment and discounts make things work so much more enjoyable. Fly through airports with Clear, Order your MOO cards at a discount and even get help with your legal stuff with LegalZoom. Not to mention I have met great people at the face to face networking events.
Why is this a digital life balance item? Because you would never have the change to take advantage of these offers so easily if it weren’t for this crazy amazing thing called the internet. That same beautiful thing can be a time suck when we are searching for the things we need. Great services like Founders Card consolidate great finds and negotiate great relationships for their members. So, that is why I include it. If you use my code: FCHEIDI899 when you register, you get $200 off the annual fee until Dec.11
TRACKING WHAT MATTERS
As many of you know, I have a sweet spot for wearables. Now, I love my AppleWatch4. Since they get plenty of love elsewhere, I will share my new favorite, the MOTIV ring. I even wear it with my AppleWatch. Why, because it tracks my sleep and heart-rate while my watch is in nightstand-mode charging. The ring fills in the gaps where my watch is not. I haven’t even begun to test to authentication feature.
Most importantly I like the way it looks, feels and responds to me. I am not a big jewelry person, and this one is simple, elegant and functional. It definitely appeals to the Swede in me. It functions stand-alone or in concert with other devices. Definitely loving where wearables are going. Check out my interview with Motiv CEO Tejash Unadkat (yes, I love to interview people who work with the products I love) on Season One, Episode 56
IMPROVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH TECHNOLOGY
Digital Self Mastery Across Generations is now available in print! I wrote this book for YOU. It is full of practical tools for understanding and mastering your own relationship with technology. It will also help understand those around you who have a different relationship with it. I am really proud of this edition, especially since my “ain’t 80” mother was giggling out-loud as she read it. It was selected to be one of the six books for Gary’s Book Club CES2019 (Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas). For the techie and non-techie alike.
OPEN YOURSELF TO NEW PERSPECTIVES
So my last suggestion is a gift for you. Put on your favorite headset. My favorite are sound reduction Bose, and settle into listening to podcasts. Some of my favorites are Consciously Speaking, Humans 2.0and WellnessForce Radio. If you would like to hear more from me, check out the weekly podcast, Evolving Digital Self. We had a great launch year 2018 sharing stories of the human relationship with technology. If you are not already subscribed on your favorite podcast app, please do so. If you are already, thank you and please share it with your friends. The podcast is now featured on ApplePodcasts, Spotify, Alexa, BingeNetworks, YouTube, GooglePlay, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, and most other podcast apps. If you are already a podcast listener, encourage others to check out this great medium. It is rich with great content to provide fresh perspectives.
Please note: These are all things that I use and love (I wouldn’t recommend them otherwise). Some of them I have been able to negotiate a discount for you (use the links). By doing this, you also support the Evolving Digital Self podcast production.
Wishing you the very best as 2018 comes to a close and 2019 begins.
The original post can be found at http://2BalanceU.com/blog/10-favorite-things-2018