Can technology improve your wellbeing? Holly White’s tips on making tech work for her

With so much discussion about how damaging technology can be on our health and our relationships, we caught up with journalist and blogger Holly White about how she makes social media, organisation apps, electronic readers and home tech, like Dyson’s purifier technology, work for her.

As a journalist and blogger, a lot of your time is spent with technology. Do you feel the impact of this?

I think technology has had a largely positive impact on my career. It’s a luxury that has allowed so many entrepreneurs to create careers that otherwise would not exist. I can work from anywhere and I feel very lucky to be able to embrace the convenience of it.

Is there any technology you use to streamline your work life?

I used to buy a beautiful diary every year and write all my events and appointments in, but it just wasn’t practical. I sometimes forgot to put things in and if I didn’t have it physically on me, I didn’t know what I was doing the following week. I made the switch to Apple’s iCal about 18 months ago and haven’t looked back. I still use notebooks and love writing, but not for diary organisation.

Do you think there is a place for technology in improving our lives?

I think technology can help in every area of our lives, so long as it makes your life easier, rather than more complicated. Social media has really brought the world closer and given so many people platforms that might not have existed in traditional media. I use technology in my work and downtime too. I invested in an electronic reader just before my honeymoon and found I flew through five books that otherwise would have taken me much longer. It’s great not to be lugging books around with me too.

What products have helped you focus on your own wellness and happiness?

Since moving into our new home when we got married, we adopted another cat, bringing the total to 3; Will, Tom and now Julie. We adore them and allow them to move in and out of the house via a catflap, but they’re very fluffy and I am quite conscious of hygiene in the house. The Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Link purifier fan heater is great as it shows you the quality of the air on the app in a way that the human eye could never see, and it also filters out pet dander, so I’m not constantly vacuuming after the cats.

The Dyson also picks up pet dander, needed after cuddles with Julie.

What difference does the Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Link purifier fan heater make in your home?

Our home is open-plan, with the kitchen opening onto the living room. I am doing a lot of cooking and food content lately and the Dyson removes any cooking smells from drifting into other living spaces, making it a much fresher environment, so it’s perfect for when I decide to do a yoga session at home. The app also syncs effortlessly and on very cold evenings I’ve used it to heat our home before I get home, which feels very luxurious and comforting.

Holly practising yoga at home.

Why is it important to you to have an air purifier in your home?

Now that we have our Dyson, it feels like a home essential. Knowing that it captures 99.95% of all potential allergens and pollutants in the filter is so reassuring. It’s also much more economical than using central heating that heats the whole house, I can switch it on in the room I’m using. It’s easily transportable too.

What do you consider are the benefits of using air purifying tech?

The benefits of using our Dyson at home are countless and I think if anyone is concerned about allergies, living with animals and purifying the air they breathe at home they should explore it. It gives a very concentrated heat and warms a room quickly while creating a clean, non-stuffy environment. It’s also beautifully designed and peaceful, and there are no loud blades that you associate with traditional fans.

Dyson’s newest invention the Dyson Pure Hot+Cool Link purifier fan heater is available from Dyson.ie and retails at €549.99.

PHOTOGRAPHY Johnny MacMillan