🧰 Smart tools. Useful tips. Weekly.

Hola friend 👋,

I’m Josep. Each week, I hunt down practical tools and productivity hacks to help digital doers like you do more with less effort.

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This week: let's talk about mental and physical wellness.

Lately, I've been focusing more on my own well-being. Juggling work, family, and personal projects can take a toll, and it's easy to forget to take care of yourself. The "always-on" creator life can be draining, and finding time to disconnect feels more important than ever.

I'm lucky to have access to some incredible apps that have genuinely helped me find a better balance, and I wanted to share them with you in case they can help you too. These aren't just hyped apps; they're tools that can make a real difference.

Plus: a new way of meeting people online, a powerful hack to automate tasks on your Apple devices, and a candid look at the emotional side of being a creator.

Apple Fitness+

Fitness app

Finding time for the gym when you're juggling kids and work can feel impossible. That's where Apple Fitness+ has been a total game-changer for me. It’s my go-to gym that fits right into my chaotic schedule.

It offers a massive library of studio-quality workouts, from HIIT and strength training to yoga and pilates, all led by energetic trainers. I use it several times a week, squeezing in a session during my girls' naptime or early in the morning from my backyard. The integration with the Apple Watch seems fantastic, I wish I had one, showing your heart rate and activity rings on screen to keep you motivated.

Over the past year, it’s done wonders for both my physical and mental health. It’s more than just a workout app; it’s a reliable and fun way to get that much-needed mental boost without the commute or gym fees.

Highly recommended for anyone with an Apple device looking for a flexible and motivating way to stay active!

🛠️ Alternative to: Peloton Digital, Fitbit Premium, Nike Training Club

👉 Visit: apple.com/apple-fitness-plus

💰 From $9.99 a month

Headspace

Meditation & more

We all know we should probably meditate more, but who’s really got the time and energy for that?

Headspace is designed for people like me who struggle to quiet the noise. It makes mindfulness accessible and doable (yes, even when your brain feels like it has a million tabs open).

The app offers guided meditations, calming sleep stories, and short exercises to help you de-stress and refocus. Its friendly approach makes the whole practice feel less intimidating. Whether you have 5 minutes or 20, there’s a session to fit your schedule.

I have to be honest, I haven’t used it at all in 2025, and I know I should. So I’m writing this for me just as much as for you. I’m not great at sitting still with my own thoughts. But I’ve used the app in the past and know from experience how much I’d benefit from just 15 minutes a week. Baby steps, right?

Headspace is for anyone who wants to start a mindfulness practice but doesn’t know where to begin.

🛠️ Alternative to: Calm, Insight Timer, Balance

👉 Visit: headspace.com

💰 From $69.99 a year | Free plan available

OpenUp

Online therapy

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed and needed someone to talk to, finding the right therapist can feel like a job in itself. OpenUp makes it incredibly easy for employers to provide their employees with access to mental health support.

It’s a platform that connects you with certified psychologists for 1-on-1 video sessions, group mindfulness classes, self-guided courses and more. At Tooltester, Robert has kindly given us access to this, and it’s a fantastic resource. I personally love how easy it is to browse through therapists and filter by language or specialty to find someone who fits your needs.

Everything is confidential, of course, and the process feels modern and stigma-free. It’s a brilliant way to invest in your mental wellness, whether you're dealing with stress, anxiety, or just need a space to think out loud with a professional.

🛠️ Alternative to: BetterHelp, Talkspace, HeadSpace (former Ginger)

👉 Visit: openup.com

💰 Price depends on the service | No free plan available

⚡This Week’s Productivity Hack

If you own an Apple device, you have a powerhouse automation tool sitting right in your pocket (or laptop): Shortcuts. It’s one of those native apps that most people ignore, but it can save you a surprising amount of time on daily tasks.

The idea is simple: you create “shortcuts” that perform a series of actions across different apps with a single tap or voice command. You can build your own from scratch using a simple drag-and-drop editor, or browse the huge gallery of pre-made workflows and tweak them to fit your needs.

Here’s how I use it:

Resize Images in Seconds: I have a shortcut that automatically resizes any image to a specific width and saves it, perfect for blog posts.
Add Watermarks Instantly: Another one lets me add a watermark to my images before sharing them online.
Quick Format Changes: I can convert a document to a PDF or a photo from HEIC to JPG in just two clicks.

It’s incredibly versatile. You can create a shortcut to start your favorite workout playlist and turn on "Do Not Disturb" or whatever you can think of. Give it a try!

✨ Totally Off-Topic… But Brilliant

Focusmate

Sometimes the hardest part of work is just… starting. That’s where Focusmate comes in. It pairs you with a real person for a 25- or 50-minute virtual coworking session. I suppose it’s like having a quiet accountability partner who helps you show up and stay on track.

I haven’t personally tried it yet, but it sounds pretty cool – and honestly, I’m intrigued and will open an account. The idea of sharing a quiet, focused work session with someone halfway across the world? Kind of exciting. And since there’s a free plan, what’s there to lose?

If you’ve ever struggled with procrastination or just need a nudge to get going, this might be worth a shot.

🔁 Alternative to: Body Doubling, pomodoro apps & productivity groups

👉 Visit: focusmate.com

💰 From $6.99 a month | Free plan available

🍿 Plot Twist of the Week

Being a content creator is rewarding, but it can also be heartbreaking at times. Since we're talking about feelings this week, allow me to share something that’s been on my mind.

At work, we pour a lot of effort into creating valuable free resources, like our ebooks and video tutorials, to build trust with our audience (thanks for yours, by the way!). But it’s tough when you receive mean-spirited comments that offer no constructive criticism. It’s something I still find difficult to deal with.

But what I find even more triggering are the users who take advantage. We spend hours creating a detailed ebook, and without fail, you see people sign up, download it, and unsubscribe within a minute. It feels like someone walking into your home, grabbing what they want, and leaving without a word.

It’s a small thing, but it’s a reminder that not everyone values the effort that goes into creating something. It’s just one of the silent battles that many creators face.

That’s it for this week. Thanks for reading! Next time, I’ll dive into the world of ecommerce with apps to create an online shop fast, sell digital products and subscriptions, and even research niches.

Cheers,

Josep

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