12 easy, techy ways to make the holiday smoother

The holiday season is a time of joy and excitement, but it can also be a stressful and hectic time of year. With so much to do and so little time, any tips and tricks that can make life a little easier are always welcome. One such helpful tip is that if you turn an Amazon shipping bag inside out, there’s a strip you can pull to reseal it for returns. This can come in handy when a holiday gift arrives and it’s nothing like the picture online.

But that’s not all – there are plenty of other little hacks and shortcuts that can help make the holiday season a little more manageable. For example, did you know that Gmail’s package tracking now includes real-time updates? Simply toggle on Package tracking in the settings to stay up to date on your deliveries. And if you’re shopping online and need to quickly hide your open browser windows, there are keyboard shortcuts you can use on both PC and Mac to do just that.

If you’re looking to save some money on a new Amazon device, consider sending your old tech to Amazon through its Trade-in Program. You can get a gift card for the value of your old device, and if you trade in Amazon gear like a Kindle or Fire TV Stick, you’ll even get a 20% discount on a new device. And if you’re shopping on Etsy and want to make sure you’re getting something handmade, you can do a reverse image search to check if the item is genuine or mass-produced.

When it comes to taking photos, make sure your pictures turn out clear by tapping the area on your screen you want to focus on. And if you’re tired of arguing over the music playlist on Christmas morning, create a collaborative playlist with your family on Spotify or Apple Music to keep everyone happy. And if you want to keep your steamy romance novels private, create a passcode for your Kindle to keep prying eyes away.

Whether you’re traveling for the holidays or just trying to stay organized at home, there are plenty of tips and tricks to make your life easier. From Uber’s new features for airport trips to syncing your phone to a rental car and tracking your luggage with your airline’s app, there are plenty of ways to streamline your holiday experience. So don’t stress – with a little bit of tech savvy and some helpful hacks, you can make this holiday season the best one yet.