Latest news with #expert
CNET
14 hours ago
- Health
- CNET
The iPhone Hack I Haven't Been Able to Sleep Without in 5 Years
When asked about my hobbies, I always joke that one of my favorite pastimes is sleeping. But I'm not really joking. As someone who dealt with insomnia as a teenager and often has trouble falling asleep as an adult, I've spent most of my life focusing on how to get better sleep. Fortunately, my personal interest in sleep perfectly aligns with my work as a wellness writer. While technology has made health advice easy to find, it can be hard to trust. That hurts people without access to high-quality care and unbiased information, so it's my job to provide readers with trusted, tested and expert-backed advice for making more informed decisions about their health. I'm always on the lookout for new tips and tricks that are accessible and affordable and can make life easier for those on their wellness journey. When I recently considered what has made the most significant difference in my sleep quality, the first trick that came to mind was an iPhone hack I've been using for the past five years. I've reached the point where I can't sleep without it -- so I'm glad it's built into my iPhone and not a sleep device I have to buy separately. iPhone Background Sounds You can use the iPhone's Background Sounds feature to play ambient soundscapes when you want to rest or focus. These include ocean (my favorite), rain, stream, night, fire, balanced noise, bright noise and dark noise. It's basically a built-in white noise machine. You can enable Background Sounds to play all the time, even when other media is playing, and adjust the volume accordingly. You can also set up a feature that lets you easily turn it off by locking your iPhone. I've never tried this, though, as I only turn on Background Sounds at night for sleep. Background Sounds is the icon with the three music notes on the bottom right. Anna Gragert/CNET How to turn on Background Sounds To add Background Sounds to your iPhone's Control Center for easy access, make sure you have iOS 15 or later. You can also add it to iPadOS 15 or later. Swipe down from your screen's top-right corner. Tap the "+" symbol at the top left and then "Add a Control" at the bottom. Scroll down to the Hearing Accessibility section and click "Background Sounds." You can also search for it in the bar at the top. Click "Add a Control" to add another feature to the Control Center. Anna Gragert/CNET Once you add Background Sounds, it will be available in your Control Center. To access the sounds, simply hold down the Background Sounds icon with three music notes, select your sound and adjust the volume. The ocean sound is my longtime go-to, as I like its steady volume and repetitious waves. You can pick from sounds like dark noise, night and rain. Anna Gragert/CNET After opening Background Sounds in your Control Center, you can also click "Background Sounds Settings" at the bottom of the screen. Here, you can enable the sound to play all the time or when other media is playing on your iPhone. You can also have it so that Background Sounds turns off when your phone is locked. You can have your Background Sounds play all the time, even when watching or listening to other media. Anna Gragert/CNET Problems with Background Sounds While I love Background Sounds and have been using it every night for the last five years, I've noticed one issue. I used to have it set so that when my phone was in Sleep mode, only certain people were allowed to call me in case of an emergency. However, this feature didn't work. Even when I'd get a scam call in the middle of the night, my soundscape would stop playing and wake me up. Then, I'd have to wait for the caller to leave a voicemail or hang up before I could turn the soundscape back on, making it difficult to fall back asleep. I went through a stretch where scam calls disrupted my sleep almost every night. So, I set my iPhone to silence all calls during Sleep mode and told my emergency contacts to reach out to my partner instead -- he's up earlier anyway, so it works out. When Background Sounds comes in handy I use Background Sounds every night to drown out outside noises, but it has especially come in handy when I'm traveling and can't control the sounds around me as much. I've used the feature in every single hotel and friend's house I've stayed at in the past few years to drown out noisy neighbors, loud music, dogs barking, cars driving by, birds chirping and even a particularly buzzy streetlamp. I imagine it would also be great on a plane, train or boat (a full-on sensory experience for the Ocean sounds). The best part is that it's all right on my phone, which means I don't have to purchase a white noise machine or rely on a hotel or host to have one. It's essentially like having a mini white noise machine in your pocket at all times -- because who knows when or where you'll want to transport yourself to a cozy fireside or babbling brook to catch some extra Zs?
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
The art of seasonal scents: Choosing the right perfume for every season
Perfume is a deeply personal luxury, an invisible signature that lingers long after you leave the room. It has the power to uplift your mood, spark memories, and transform even the most ordinary days into sensory moments. From the delicate burst of florals in spring to the warm embrace of oud in winter, the right fragrance can capture the essence of a season with just one spritz. As seasons shift, so too does the way perfume interacts with your skin and environment. Summer's warmth can intensify lighter scents, making citrus and aquatic notes feel fresh and vibrant, while cooler months are perfect for rich, full-bodied compositions like amber, musk, and spice. Wearing perfume in harmony with the weather not only enhances its impact but also adds a touch of sophistication to your daily ritual. With the help an expert insight, you can explore the delicate balance between choosing fragrances that match the mood of each season, while also being kind to your skin and body. Whether you're layering your signature scent or discovering new seasonal favorites, let this guide inspire a more mindful and elegant way to wear fragrance; one that complements your style, the seasons, and your sense of wellbeing. Spring: A time for florals and fresh starts Spring welcomes lighter, breezier notes that mirror the rebirth of nature. Think peonies, lilies, green tea, or citrusy neroli. After the musky cocoon of winter, your body and nose crave something fresher. However, if you're prone to allergies, this season might come with a caveat. Dr Suresh Puri, Consultant Pulmonologist and Internal Medicine at JTS Medical Centre, Dubai, advises caution with fragrance choices, particularly for those with health sensitivities. 'Use scent-free products, try avoiding strong perfumes including smoky (Bakhur) fragrance,' he suggests. As some stronger scents may trigger respiratory reactions and create a stuffy indoor environment, especially if ventilation is poor. For spring, alcohol-free body mists or eau de toilette versions of your favorite fragrances; are suggested as they're usually less concentrated and less likely to overwhelm. Summer: Light, airy, and skin-safe The heat of summer calls for crisp, clean fragrances that won't become cloying in the sun. Popular choices include marine notes, citrus, and fruity blends like watermelon or grapefruit. But with increased sweating and sun exposure, fragrance application becomes tricky, especially for people with sensitive skin. Dr Teena Mathew, Specialist Dermatologist at JTS Medical Centre, Dubai, highlights the importance of skin health when using perfumes. 'For people with sensitive skin wishing to use fragrances, it is best to conduct a usage test. Apply it to a small inconspicuous area for two weeks. If there is no reaction, then it should be safe to use,' she explains. She also emphasises the need for proper skin hydration: 'It is important to keep the skin well moisturised since dry skin can precipitate irritation.' In other words, layering a good unscented moisturiser underneath your fragrance not only helps the scent last longer but also forms a barrier that protects the skin. So, for summers, it's best to opt for oil-based perfumes — they tend to be gentler on the skin and evaporate less quickly. Autumn: Warm, spicy, and grounding As temperatures drop and the air gets crisp, we begin to crave more warmth and that extends to our fragrance choices. Autumn is the season of vanilla, amber, sandalwood, and fig. These rich, spicy, and slightly sweet aromas mimic the cozy feeling of sweater weather. This is also a good time to explore niche or artisanal scents that evoke earthy tones and natural elements. But it's important to be mindful of where and how you apply these stronger perfumes. For individuals with sensitive skin or eczema, direct application on pulse points like the neck or behind the ears can trigger irritation. Dr Mathew suggests, 'Spraying fragrance on clothes instead of directly on the skin can help minimise contact with potential irritants.' Just be sure to test it on a small patch of fabric first to avoid staining. In cooler months, your skin tends to be drier. 'It is also important is to keep the skin well moisturised since dry skin can precipitate skin irritation,' she added. Winter: Bold, deep, and intimate Winter invites bold fragrances with depth; think oud, patchouli, leather, musk, and incense. These perfumes shine in colder temperatures and linger longer in the dry winter air. However, heavier scents can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially indoors or in confined spaces. Dr Puri warns against using smoky or overpowering scents. 'Have a well-ventilated home and workplace environment,' he advises, adding that scent-heavy spaces can negatively affect respiratory health. This is especially relevant during the holiday season when candles, incense, and perfumes are used simultaneously. A good rule of thumb is to balance your olfactory space, if you're lighting a strongly-scented candle, maybe skip the heavy perfume that day. Layering is key in winter. Start with a scented body wash, follow up with a matching lotion, and finish with a spritz of perfume to lock in the fragrance all day. Year-round wellness: Finding balance with fragrance No matter the season, your fragrance should enhance your day. With the rise of clean beauty and dermatologically tested perfumes, consumers now have access to options that are safer for both the skin and the lungs. If you have asthma, allergies, or sensitive skin, patch testing is essential. As Dr Mathew stresses, 'A two-week trial on a small skin area can help detect any delayed allergic reactions.' It may seem tedious, but it's worth it if it saves you from irritation or discomfort. Equally important is ventilation. 'Avoid strong perfumes and ensure your environment is well-ventilated,' says Dr Puri. This small habit can significantly improve indoor air quality and overall wellbeing, especially if you use fragrance daily. You might also consider scented hair mists, lightly fragranced deodorants, or diffuser oils in your personal space to maintain a subtle and pleasant scent. Scent with sensibility Lastly, wearing perfume isn't just about smelling good; it's about feeling good too. It's about understanding your body, your skin's needs, and the subtle ways your surroundings shape how a scent is received. A well-chosen fragrance can be a quiet act of self-care, a daily ritual that speaks to your mood, your story, and your sense of place. By tuning into the rhythm of the seasons and being mindful of your skin's sensitivity and others' comfort, you transform perfume from a fleeting indulgence into something more meaningful. You give it thought, intention, and grace. So, whether you're layering notes of jasmine on a spring morning or wrapping yourself in the velvet of oud on a winter's night, let your scent echo something deeper, your awareness, your wellbeing, and your respect for those around you. Because in a world full of noise, sometimes the softest things like a well-chosen fragrance can leave the strongest impression.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
KATE WILLS: My baby name consultant has suggested Ever, Jules Sidney and Scout River... what WILL my mother in law think?
I knew things were bad when I found myself hanging around in coffee shops just to listen to the names the barista was calling out. I hoped that one of them would spark inspiration. Every time they yelled a name across the room, I tried to imagine myself yelling it across a playground for the next decade. But nothing stuck. Despite numerous lists of names on my phone and 5am wake-ups where I mull over various monikers ideas in my mind, I'm six months' pregnant and struggling to find a name for our baby. Is it time to call in expert help?
CTV News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Air quality alerts issued in parts of Canada amid wildfires
Air quality alerts issued in parts of Canada amid wildfires Air quality expert Jed Kaplan on who is at risk as air quality alerts have been issued in parts of Canada due to ongoing wildfires.
NHK
4 days ago
- Business
- NHK
Expert sees little effect on rice prices from release of reserves
The agriculture ministry started distribution to retailers nationwide through fixed contracts. An expert says this may not be enough to bring down sky-high prices.
