Lifestyle & Hobbies

Are you aware that the pandemic has caused many people’s sleeping patterns to shift? According to the World Economic Forum, COVIDsomnia has shaken not just our lives but the way we sleep as well. Other than increased stress-sleeping, people have begun to have more vivid dreams.

If you’ve been suffering from a bout of COVID-related insomnia, we’ve listed a number of apps that can help you wind down during the night.These apps soothe you into a more relaxed state so you can sleep better.

 

• Calm

 

Available for free for both IOS and Android, Calm is user-friendly and has plenty of options for night-time listening. They have many options, such as calm music, nature sounds, and even audiobooks to help you meditate or ease into sleep.

If you want access to more features, such as more audiobooks voiced by your favorite celebs, you can subscribe to it for an affordable price.

 

• Headspace

 

Headspace is a prime app for meditative music and sleepcasts. They have plenty of adult bedtime stories and audio that can help you settle down. They even have sounds that can help you visualize a calming atmosphere and other sleep-inducing content.

The content is limited, but you can access the whole library through paid access. With around 40 themed meditation courses and other options for sleep, sleepcasts, and stories, you have a wide range of choices for relaxation sounds.

 

• Sleep Cycle

 

If you want to track your sleep cycles, something we suggest you should do, then Sleep Cycle is one of the best apps to download.

They don’t just do sleep tracking but give tips to fully optimize your sleeping time. The app also has a built-in alarm clock that gently nudges you out of sleep. 

Keep in mind, like all sleep trackers, this is not 100% accurate, but it won’t hurt to try. The best part about this app is that it is absolutely free! You don’t have to pay to access all its features.

 

• Sleepa

 

Sleepa is an Android-only app that works as a sound mixer for different natural sounds. It creates a personalized atmosphere for you to fall asleep to. 

They also have non-natural sounds like the noises of a bustling city or a train ride, which you can mix with other noises as well. You can mix up to 8 sounds, which is more than most apps can offer. 

You can set it to a timer while you nap, making it a useful app for those who need a no-frills app that can be customized.

 

• Free Calm Sleep

 

This is one of the best apps out there, with every category separated for easier access. They have a kid’s category, which contains lullabies and nature sounds as well as white noise. 

Of course, they also offer sleepcasts, adult bedtime stories, and even meditation stories. The app even has a timer with a gentle alarm that you can set.

And the best part is that you can also download your favorite audio and save them.

We all have sleeping troubles due to the stress the pandemic has brought us, and these apps are small solutions that we can provide during these difficult times.

However, if your sleep troubles can be caused by physical factors, such as night-time urination, you may need other fixes. According to the specialists at Urologist Singapore, things like that have many causes… such as excessive fluid intake at night or conditions such as diabetes, anxiety, and more. 

Whether your insomnia is caused by stress or other physical or mental issues, finding the solution you need will be easier when you get help for it. So, try to consult an expert if you really don’t know the causes of your issue.

 

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If the lockdown brought out your inner chef or baker, then we’ve got something great for you here. We have a list of channels that you should check out for ideas on the next recipes or dishes to make. 

These channels offer plenty of great food recipes, as well as tips and tricks that you can use in the kitchen. From gorgeous cake recipes to fictional meals turned into reality, these channels can help you improve your cooking skills greatly! 

So check them out. They offer plenty of cuisines from different places or the most gorgeous desserts you can craft.

 

• Cooking Tree

 

Cooking Tree is a Korean cooking channel that focuses on dessert. They make the prettiest cakes and pastries, as well as candies.

Cheesecakes, macarons, pies — you can learn how to make food that looks good and tastes good. Every once in a while, they upload a rare, non-sweet recipe such as their version of a Monte Cristo sandwich.

The best part is they’re minimalistic in their production, making them look polished and a delight to watch!

 

• Binging With Babish

 

If you’ve ever seen food in a TV show, an anime, a video game, or a movie, Babish defictionalizes these dishes so you can taste them in real life! For example, he’s made different kinds of Krabby Patties from Spongebob. 

He makes other great desserts such as the sweet rolls from Skyrim and more. What’s unique about Babish is that he does two recipes, one normal one you can do in your kitchen, and a “Babish version” that is usually a gourmet version.

He even shows you the trial and error of his recipes, because no one becomes great at cooking without experimentation.

However, we do have to warn you, some of the recipes can give you a heart attack due to the serving size, which he retains to become TV-accurate. Talk about dedication!

 

• Adam Ragusea

 

Adam Ragusea is an amazing cook whose videos don’t bombard you with obnoxious, unnecessary intros: he gets to the point immediately. He doesn’t harp on welcomes and greetings or comments, but introduces you immediately to how the meal is made.

He cooks things like delicious roast chicken dinners with peas, mashed potatoes and gravy, which is made finely with minimal ingredients.

Some of his videos are educational and teach different aspects of food, cooking, and diets. He’s even well-versed in the history of food. He actually has a 12 minute video educating people on the safety of MSG!

This makes him one of the go-to’s for educational cooking and fun facts.

 

• Nino’s Home

 

Nino’s Home has the same homey aesthetic as Cooking Tree. The difference is that he cooks with his pet cat and makes sharp, biting humor while explaining recipes (through captions, might I add).

He offers mouth-watering recipes such as mozzarella onion rings and Taiwanese pineapple cakes. Do remember to turn on captions so you can follow his instructions when watching.

He also has insights to his daily life, and spending time with his pet animals, giving his channel a cozy, warm atmosphere that makes you feel at home.

 

• David Seymour

 

Have you ever seen those minute-long recipes from Tasty, Bon Appetit, or Delish? Have you ever wanted to try them out but wondered if the outcome of the recipe is worth it?

Well, if you watch David Seymour, you’ll have a better handle on which recipes are exactly as presented, and which are polished to make them look good.

He also compares different recipes of the exact same food from other channels and recipe blogs and tests which one is best. We advise going through his Viral Tiktok Recipes to see if those Tiktok recipes that you see going around hold water.

The transparency and realism that he brings to those viral recipes and testing if they’re as advertised or presented makes him deserving of a spot in this list.

Anyway, that’s our list of YouTube channels worth checking out for food and baking experiments. We hope you’ll check out these channels and even try out the recipes that they offer.  

However, as a friendly reminder, don’t make the mistake of overeating just because of these! For instance, if you’re doing the dessert ones, try not to eat all of the dessert yourself or you’ll quickly find yourself gaining unwanted weight. 

According to the experts at Gastroenterologist Singapore, a solution they recommend to patients is to get used to sharing meals with others. If you do that, you won’t have to feel obliged to eat everything you make!

 

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