THE New Year always starts with good intentions, but let’s be honest, January can be a grind.
The cold bites, the daylight disappears before tea time, and everything feels just that bit harder.
That’s why I’ve leaned into tech that genuinely makes life easier and more enjoyable.
These are the five gadgets that are quietly getting me through the slog, and they’re all on sale.
Dreo Smart Dehumidifier
Dreo 20L/day Smart Dehumidifier, £178.49 (was £209.99)
It might not be a sexy piece of tech, but easily my favourite upgrade is my Dreo Dehumidifier.
After all, drying clothes indoors in winter can be a losing battle, but it needn’t be, and this thing is proof of that.
It pulls up to 20 litres of moisture from the air a day, and to my surprise, you can actually feel the room warming up as the damp disappears.
It’s quiet enough at around 35dB to run overnight, shuts off automatically when full, and rolls easily from room to room.
Philips Hue Ambience Smart Bulbs
Philips Hue Ambience Smart Bulbs, £64.99 (was £94.99)
Next up are my Philips Hue smart bulbs, which have, quite literally, set the tone for my winter evenings.
I’ve never been a supporter of the ‘big light’, but the soft, warm-white glow from these bulbs I can firmly get behind.
Mine are synced to Alexa, so the house lights can be controlled just by asking, and to really unwind, I set them to a soft 50% brightness.
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Tapo RV30 Max Plus
Tapo RV30 Max Plus, £199.99 (was £279.99)
If there’s one thing you’ll fall in love with, it’s the Tapo RV30 Max Plus robot vacuum.
It vacuums and mops using a grid system that actually cleans properly instead of meandering about mindlessly.
You can set it to a schedule, or use it as and when you need, emptying itself while you put your feet up – and if that doesn’t sell you, nothing will.
The compact base station holds weeks of dust and tucks neatly into a corner, keeping your floors gleaming with little effort on your part.
Anker MagGo Power Bank
Anker MagGo Power Bank, £49.99 (was £89.99)
Then there’s my Anker portable charger, which I now refuse to leave home without.
It delivers Qi2 wireless fast charging and enough power to keep my phone alive all day, so I no longer have battery anxiety when I need my phone most.
It packs a hefty 10,000mAh battery and delivers almost two full iPhone charges without weighing you down
The MagSafe connection is seriously solid; you feel it snap into place, and there’s no chance it’ll fall off.
Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones
Beats Solo 4 On-Ear Headphones, £149 (was £199.95)
And finally, my Beats Solo 4 headphones, which help me brave the commute.
They come with big, bassy sound you’d expect from Beats, and up to 50 hours of battery life. That’s not a typo; it really lasts just under two days.
A 10-minute top-up gives you five hours of playback, which has come in handy on those occasions I forget to charge it and need to rush out the door in the morning.
Another benefit (not found on the spec sheet) is that they’ve been keeping my ears warm during these increasingly cold winter mornings.
January feels a lot lighter with the right tech in tow, and they’ll keep paying you back long after winter ends.