Stress-free sites
If all you want to do is relax and take your mind off things, sometimes technology can be your friend; try one of these websites to help you unwind, however stressed you feel.
Silk
Sometimes a little simple creativity is just what you need. Click and drag to draw freehand on Silk’s blank page, filling it with beautiful and colourful patterns. It’s a little bit like an online Spirograph toy, and hugely relaxing to play with! Also available as an app.
Rain for Me
We’re not sure why the sound of rain is so relaxing, but this website has one simple idea: listen to the pattering of raindrops either alone, or accompanied by a song. According to the site, the “sound of rain can make great music even more enjoyable” – try it for yourself and see if you agree.
Into Time
Another simple yet strangely moreish concept – this site starts as one gently shifting block of colour, and by clicking anywhere you can divide it in half, then click to split that section in half, and so on and so on, until you’ve created your own little patchwork of calm.
Calm.com
Here’s a website that does just what it says! Choose from two to 20 minutes of guided relaxation, with a choice of animated backgrounds and soundtrack to help you wind down. There’s also an iPhone app so that you can take the relaxation with you.
The Quiet Place Project
The Quiet Place Project offers an internet-based escape from the internet. Put simply, it’s a short, interactive essay that uses gentle humour to make us question our addiction to social media – and to offer a brief respite from all those notifications.
Line 3D
How long is a piece of string? With this site, it could go on forever. Using tiny movements of your mouse, you can subtly direct an endlessly unfurling line into all kinds of shapes and swirls – a soothing and mesmerising way to spend a few minutes.
Headspace
This is a great little resource for anyone interested in mindful meditation, providing a simple guide to the practice and information about how it works. There’s also an app you can download which helps you track your progress and get motivation from friends.
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