LIFESTYLE
8 Tech Tools & Apps for the Busy Veterinary Professional typography
By Cari Wise
With the busy life of a veterinary professional, any help we can get to streamline tasks or make them more enjoyable in our daily lives—personal or professional—is always a plus. The following are eight terrific tech tools and apps that are worth trying out to help you move through your busy days with a little more ease!
the Philips SmartSleep Wakeup Light pictured beside its packaging box

Philips SmartSleep Wakeup Light

There’s nothing worse than being jolted out of a deep sleep by the intrusive sound of a classic alarm. If you prefer to wake up peacefully, the SmartSleep Wakeup Light by Philips does the trick. It lights up slowly, simulating sunrise and stimulating the body to wake naturally without noise. It is especially helpful during the time of year when natural daylight hours are short and the desire to hibernate under the covers is high. Afraid that light alone won’t wake you up? Rest assured; it also has built-in audible alarms that you can set simultaneously for backup.

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Braintoss App

Ever remember something and want to make a note, or have a brilliant idea at the most inopportune time? If the answer is yes, then Braintoss will be a life-saver! With the touch of a button, this clever app allows you to record a voice memo that gets transcribed and sent to your email of choice. Never again “lose” those important thoughts to the chaos of the day.

Audible & Kindle Unlimited
cropped view of hands placing a Kindle into a personal bag
Having access to unlimited books in digital and audio format allows you to stay engaged and entertained without packing around extra weight. Audio books (Audible) are a great option during road trips, especially when fatigue starts to set in. Digital books (Kindle) are excellent for travel, unexpected downtime or your nighttime wind-down routine. Both apps allow downloads for offline use, which is spectacular when you want to unplug or be off-grid.
4.
Countdown App
vector graphic of a red block with a black calendar and clock icon

Whether you’re counting down the days to your next vacation or pacing your work toward a personal goal, the Countdown app keeps your timeline front and center. It also comes with built-in countdowns for holidays, or you can add your own, such as a birthday or anniversary, to be sure not to miss an important date. The app will even send you notifications one day or one week before an event.

enlarged view of an Oura Ring
5.
Oura Ring

This wearable device gathers a myriad of useful information, continually collecting data on over 20 biometrics that directly impact your wellbeing, day and night. Track your sleep, heartrate, daily steps, stress level and more. A simple morning sync with the mobile app shows you not only how long you’ve slept, but also how often you woke and the quality of your breathing. The longer you use Oura, the better the data gets.

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GoodNotes App

With unlimited “notebooks,” a variety of pen and highlighter options (and colors), and the ability to import pdfs and make notes right on them, this app is versatile and highly useful. Need to sign a document electronically? Import it into Goodnotes, sign it with your Apple pencil, and then export it as a pdf. Want an easy way to take notes on those CE proceedings? Import them here. Interested in capturing your thoughts and pictures from a special event or vacation all in one place? Create a dedicated notebook to collect it all. You can even have it printed when you’re finished.

an Ember Mug pictured on its charging disk
Ember Mug Most of us don’t get the luxury of sitting down and enjoying a full cup of coffee while it’s still hot. The Ember Mug has a built-in heating element and corresponding app that allows you to set the ideal temperature for your beverage of choice. The battery lasts about an hour and is recharged when placed on a charging disk. Bonus tip: If you want to use your mug on the go without a mess, the travel lids for small Yeti cups fit perfectly on the Ember mug!
8.
Calm App
vector illustration of a female wearing yellow clothes and matching headphones while holding her hands in Anjali Mudra
If you’ve ever wanted to try meditation, the Calm app is a good place to start! The app includes a variety of guided meditations from different providers, as well as music, Sleep Stories and calming sounds to help you get a better night’s rest. It also has the option for reminder notifications if you have trouble staying on track. And, if social sharing is your thing, you can share your streaks or inspiring messages to your favorite platform easily.
headshot of Dr. Cari Wise
Dr. Cari Wise is a Veterinarian with a master’s degree in Higher Education and certification in Life Coaching. She is Founder of Joyful DVM LLC, the Vet Life Academy program, VetMed; JOY CLUB; and The Joyful DVM Podcast. She helps veterinary professionals and teams decrease anxiety and stress, create balance, and expand personal wellbeing no matter what happens at work or in the world.