Life is one big paradox -- and so is the technology we use to maximize every day.

On one hand, phones, gadgets and machines make our lives easier, efficient, and more connected. On the other, tech can wind us up, stress us out and add to the chaos of the everyday grind.

So what to do? Make the most of what you’ve got! Every device can be a benefit, if you choose it to be. Here’s three tips about stuff we all use to help you bust stress and live more peacefully today.

1. TURN ON SOME TUNES
   Hit ‘play’ on soothing, slow and meditative music and your nervous system will reward you -- a recent study according to the British journal Heart backed that (somewhat obvious) hypothesis up. Another tip: white noise or different types of ambient noise as well as colors from pink to brown and everything in between can reset our brains and reduce anxiety. 

   Choose your favorite genre (or color) and roll with the day with a little more ease.

2. GIVE YOUR THUMBS A REST
   Nothing new to discover here -- another study from the Journal of Marriage and Family found a link between using your mobile phone at home correlated with a bump up in stress. One word: boundaries! Start with an hour of disconnect and go up from there. I’ve gotten in the habit of switching into airplane mode at 10:30 at night, and waiting to reconnect to 9am the next day. Start small and build into the space that feels right to disconnect from your virtual reality.

3. USE THE ATM ONCE
   Struggling with finances? A weekly trip to the ATM to limit your spending is a great way to consolidate on how much dough you dole out. Bringing more tangibility to your money habits allows more transparency (and clarity) to your mind. 

These few steps are just a beginning -- but can be the start of something life-changing: new habits and a more personal relationship to the world of machines around us.

Experiment with these today and turn up the volume on your conscious experience