Here’s how Zoe Marshall uses Alexa to stay on top of the holiday season
From providing holiday recipes to turning on the Christmas lights and entertaining the kids with festive farts, Alexa is the season’s most helpful Elf.
What does the festive season look like in your house? A beautifully lit tree with perfectly wrapped presents underneath? A constant hum of Christmas carols in the air while everyone smiles ear to ear? It sounds lovely but it’s not the reality for many of us. If you’re like me, you’ll be madly trying to tick off a long to-do list, buying gifts, searching for recipes for the perfect Christmas meal and trying to wrangle the fam to get to events on time.
The festive season often carries with it a whirlwind of emotions amid the celebrations. While there is a heap of joy and excitement, many of us can also get swept up into a state of stress and dread around the pressures. New research* has identified the top stress triggers for Aussies in the lead up to the holidays include:
The amount of money spent at Christmas (70%)
Finding the right gift (65%)
Finding time for all the shopping and prep that comes with Christmas (58%)
From present buying to budget tracking, recipe searching, food shopping, gift wrapping, decorating and remembering to move the elf on the shelf… it’s no wonder Aussies can feel a little bit stressed. So how can we get back to making Christmas the most wonderful time of the year? With a little help from our Christmas elf, Alexa, of course.
Here are some ways Alexa can help you stay organised, have a bit of festive fun, and even inspired – with some delicious Christmas recipes!
- “Alexa, Start Christmas“
To up your festive game and bring some Christmas family fun to your household, simply say “Alexa, start Christmas”. You can pick from a bunch of festive content – think stories, trivia, Christmas crackers, which Christmas character am I? and more. My son, Fox, loves having a laugh over Alexa’s festive farts… yes, festive farts, and I love a good sing-along with Alexa to my favourite classic Christmas tunes!
- Reminders
Do your kids love their Elf on the Shelf as much as mine but do you also forget to move the Elf each night on the regular? Setting nightly reminders to move the beloved “Elf on the Shelf” is a lifesaver. Simply say, “Alexa, remind me to move the Elf on the Shelf at 8pm.”
- Shopping List
With a simple voice command, adding last-minute essentials for Christmas cooking and entertaining to your shopping list is easy. Try saying “Alexa, add nutmeg to my shopping list.” No more handwritten lists as you head to the grocery store, and multiple people can add to the list – a huge benefit for my busy household! You can access the list from your Alexa app so you can maximise trips out – after all, time is precious. Better yet, you can add items directly to your cart to buy from Amazon.com.au and, if this option is available for your purchases, have them delivered directly to your door.
- Festive Ambience
Alexa can also help with your Christmas lights! All you need is a smart plug, then igniting the joy is as simple as saying, “Alexa, turn on the Christmas tree.” It’ll save you and your partner from fighting over who needs to crawl under the tree to turn it on. Better yet, combine it with “Alexa, play festive tunes” to create a fun and festive atmosphere.
- Recipes
Almost a third of Aussies (32%) say that cooking is their least favourite thing about the holidays – but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re like me and are always in need of inspiration for the perfect Christmas ham recipe then look no further than Alexa. Thousands of recipes and culinary guidance is just an ask away. Whether providing access to hands-free cooking instructions or searching for inspiration, Alexa can help make festive cooking hassle-free. Just say, “Alexa, show me a Christmas ham recipe.” You can also quickly ask Alexa to set multiple timers for different dishes, or ask for measurement conversions like: “Alexa, how many tablespoons are in a cup?”
- Calendar Management
By syncing family calendars with Alexa, the silly season schedule can be kept in check! Simply ask, “Alexa, what’s on my calendar today?” With multiple events, often on the same day, shared calendars ensure that everyone stays updated and you can remember which in-law’s or friend’s house you’ll be heading to next.
- Jingle Bells Alarm
To make Christmas morning a little more festive, try setting the children’s wake-up alarm to cheerful Jingle Bells. And if your kids are like mine and don’t need an alarm on Christmas morning (because let’s face it, what kid does?!), buy yourself a little extra shut eye by letting them know that the sound of Jingle Bells mean Santa has visited and it’s safe to emerge from their beds. Simply utter, “Alexa, wake me up at 7am to Jingle Bells.”
- Christmas Countdown
Most importantly, Alexa can help remind certain household members *cough, cough, partners, kids, friends* how many days are remaining until Christmas – ensuring they’ve left enough time to find the perfect gift (for you). Not only does it give you the day count, it also adds to excitement with fun recordings and festive features to try. In moments of need, just ask: “Alexa, how many days til’ Christmas?”
*About the research
The research was commissioned by Amazon and conducted by Lonergan Research in accordance with the ISO 20252 standard. Lonergan Research surveyed 1,010 Australians 18+. Surveys were distributed throughout Australia including both capital city and non-capital city areas. The survey was conducted online amongst members of a permission-based panel, between 23 and 27 November 2023. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
About the Author
Adrian Gunning Adrian lives in Melbourne Australia and has a huge passion for gaming, technology and pop culture. He recently finished his a Bachelor of Journalism and is currently focusing on games journalism. When not writing and playing video games, Adrian can be found in Comics 'R' Us debating the pros of the DC Universe and cons of the Marvel Universe.
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