Free Resources to Make Life Better
If you’re like me, and you probably are since we frequent the same place, you’re constantly trying to better yourself and optimize the tools you have that are meant to make life better and nicer. Of course, this means investing. But it doesn’t just have to be money you invest in yourself. Here are some tried and true FREE resources you can use to make you and your life a bit better.
Health and Wellbeing
1) Youtube: Let’s get the most obvious out the way. You definitely have to vet your sources, but you can find free yoga classes, guided meditations, calisthenic regiments, and so much info here! You can also develop new skills and figure out how to do your kid’s math homework.
2) Keelo: If you’re a member at this gym, then you have access to limited equipment, which is half the exercise battle. Honestly, you’re likely to find someone who’s hyped to share their workout routine, but Keelo is a free app that develops a program for you.
3) Healthy Living: Don’t recognize the 5 syllable word on the ingredients list of what should be an innocent bag of popcorn ? This app lets you look up information about ingredients in food and personal care products just by scanning the barcode so you fully understand your purchases.
4) Headspace: We all need a minute or two sometimes, especially when we’re definitely not going to get one. Headspace is a free guided meditation app that helps you maintain mindful calm throughout life, benefitting areas of your life like sleep, productivity, and general mental health. Bonus: it’s led by a clinical doctor and PhD psychiatrist.
Education and Entertainment
5) Libby: This is a public library app that gives you free access to books, audiobooks, and magazines you would normally need a subscription for. I have used this to read The Nature Fix (fun fact: the reason your 5 year old can’t reproduce a Jackson Pollock is because his art recreates fractals our brains see in nature that immediately lower our stress hormones) as well as other phenomenal books like The Body Keeps the Score and Why We Run. This app is also great for kids and your inner kid.
6) Duolingo: This gamified approach to language learning will give you an edge in your anatomy and physiology class as well as if you are trying to remember esoteric Portuguese/Japanese terminology.
Assistant Tools
7) Artificial Intelligence: AI can help you get stuff done. Speak to it like a human assistant and ask it to plan the perfect anniversary; design, write, and email a thank you card to your mother-in-law so she has NOTHING to complain about; and finish off by asking it to write the memo your boss asked you to send out. It’ll even give you validating and encouraging responses. If powerful, weirdly human tech makes you feel uncomforatble, remember that if you’ve ever used Alexa, Siri, or even a Roomba, you’re already brushing shoulders with AI.
Hobby Resources
8) Asheville Tool Library: Exactly what it sounds like, this library allows you to check out tools you may need to help repair your house or build that training shed/treehouse.
9) Black Mountain Blooms Seed Lending Library: This wordy organization is located at the back of the Black Mountain Library and provides visitors with free seeds, growing info, and even soil testing kits. This is what we call a short term investment in your mental health and a long term investment in your nutrition and property value.
Ok, my friends, I was told that I finally have to introduce myself since I spilled into the first person and gave advice based on my personal experiences. Didn’t take long. My name is Shannon. You’ve probably seen me at the front desk for a week or two at a time, filling in whenever an earthquake shakes the gym. Ryan is my other half and for him, I’d write the occasional sassy, informative article, play gym secretary, and bake birthday cupcakes.