Managing all of your upcoming plans can be a challenge in the run-up to Thanksgiving. Even once you’ve got all the family members gathered, keeping things running smoothly is a difficult task to manage! So why not let technology take on some of the stress?

Staying connected with social media

Communication doesn’t just have to be shared amongst people at home. We all managed to have a better face-to-face chat with the grandparents on holiday in Hawaii. Using calling services offered by applications like Facebook or WhatsApp is one option, but you could also use more work-orientated software like Skype or Zoom, or even see what services your device provider offers. Apple’s Group FaceTime is one of the user-friendly options you may have access to. Instant messaging won’t stop though, as family members start taking out their own devices.

Grab a few smartphone shots of that turkey to upload on social media, and squash yourself into an Instagram or Snapchat photo with the kids.

Keeping social media out of Thanksgiving

If you’d rather scale back on digital communication, there’s always the option to turn off the Wi-Fi and turn on your phone’s do not disturb function so that you won’t receive any unwanted notifications. The method to do this may be a little different on each device, but almost every product will have this option available in the settings menu.

Family photo montage

Thanksgiving is an ideal opportunity to set up a smart frame. Smart frames like the Echo Show offer a range of functions, but one feature well suited to Thanksgiving is the virtual
gallery. By selecting a range of photos you’ve uploaded to the device you can set the Echo Show to slowly cycle through them, working as a virtual picture frame presenting family
memories.

Virtual assistant games and quizzes

It’s also a good time for the family to put your virtual assistants to the test. Try setting up Alexa or Siri with a playlist and letting everyone choose a few different songs, requesting them with the voice recognition software. There are also games to be played with Alexa, including 20 questions guessing games, memory matching games, song quizzes, true or false questions and even a choose your own adventure game where you can make decisions that change your path. If you want something easier you can always ask Alexa to tell you a joke!

Time for Turkey

Another key function of Alexa or Siri on Thanksgiving might be to act as a timer for your turkey. Tech can help you with every step of the cooking, from smart shopping list apps to smart thermometers to update you on what heat the dish is cooking at. Storing the turkey can also be easier using smart fridges, equipped with enhanced cooling and freezing capabilities. Of course, you will have access to plenty of cook along recipes on your virtual assistant, or just on your smart device’s apps. Whether you use those recipes to make something with no stress or want to try bringing the family together to follow a recipe from Alexa is up to you. If everything else doesn’t go to plan, you can always use your smart device to find the quickest delivery for turkey and skip cooking completely.

Whatever you decide to do thisThanksgiving, smart home products can certainly lighten the mental load if you choose to use them.

Happy Holidays!