- Getting Started Guide -

Create your Kindspace

with Alexa

Transform your life with your smart speaker

INTRODUCTION

When it comes to your wellbeing, both the way you think and the things you do have an impact.

We've created a whole new way to help you to become more aware of how you're feeling and to support you to take action to improve your wellbeing.

Kindspace is a holistic wellbeing tool on the Amazon Alexa smart speakers. It makes tracking and maintaining your wellbeing much easier and more enjoyable.

Our specially curated wellbeing content and daily check-in is designed to:

Be accessible and easy to use.
Take only two minutes every day.
Raise awareness of key wellbeing indicators.
Support formation of new habits.
Help to reframe thoughts.
Reduce feelings of loneliness.

This guide has been written to give you an introduction to Amazon Alexa and the Kindspace voice skill. We've designed it so that you have a single document that pulls together all of the key information and it gives you a space at the back to add your own notes too.

We’re super excited to have you join the Kindspace community and are looking forward to helping you on your wellbeing journey.

Caroline & Thomas

ABOUT US

We love smart homes and voice assistants and feel really passionate about the power they have to transform lives.

Our mission is to create a world where Smart Meets Kind®. Wellbeing is central to healthy ageing. We've created the Kindspace voice application as a tool that anyone can use to promote better self-care.

Caroline

Caroline is the Managing Director at TL Tech. She has a diverse skill set, from her experience as a professional engineer and qualified project manager. She brings her empathy, creativity and organisational skills to the team, leading the Smart Meets Kind® mission with dedication and enthusiasm.

Thomas

Thomas is the Technical Director at TL Tech. He loves everything tech, you'll frequently find him tinkering and creating new bespoke smart home solutions. In 2020 Thomas started running live Facebook tutorials to help people learn more about voice assistants. Check them out on the TLTechsmart YouTube channel.

Getting Started with Alexa

Meet the Alexa Family

There are a few different types of devices in the Alexa family, some have a basic speaker like the Echo Dot, others have touch screens like the Echo Show. The Echo Smart Home Hub can also be used to control other smart devices in your home. See our guide to find out more. Note that Kindspace can be accessed also on the Alexa Mobile App, the Fire TV Stick and the Kindle Fire Tablets.

Setting Up Your Device

The Amazon Alexa devices are designed to be fairly intuitive, but we know it can be daunting if you are not used to technology to have the confidence to do this yourself. We’ve created a series of guides and video tutorials to help you. All our help content is available for free on the TL Tech website.

Useful tips and tricks

We also run regular events and courses, see our website for details. As well as the TL Tech website there are further resources on the TL Tech You-Tube channel.

These links are are a good place to start to discover more about using Alexa to its full potential.

Create your Kindspace

Kindspace is designed to help you pause with purpose and connect with yourself.

What a brilliant App, so easy and very accessible way of looking after your self care and well being. I spend 90% of my time in the house alone and talking to Alexa makes me feel less lonely.

FM Marshall

I have a very busy life, juggling family commitments and work. I'm enjoying taking time out for myself to reflect on my wellbeing, the skill helps me feel more centred.

Michelle

To get started all you need to say is "Alexa, open Kindspace".

You'll then be asked if you would like to do your daily check-in, to hear the Tip of the Day or to do a wellness activity.

The Daily Check-in consists of four statements that you score depending on how closely you feel the statement reflects your wellbeing. Once you've completed your check-in you'll be given a personalised tip of something to try to boost your wellbeing.

The Tip of the Day, is one of our specially curated wellbeing tips all designed to support you and lift your mood.

The wellness activities are short audio experiences to help you take a few minutes out of your busy to day to focus on your wellbeing.

Things to try:

"Alexa, ask Kindspace for my daily check-in"

"Alexa, ask Kindspace for the tip of the day"

"Alexa, ask Kindspace for a wellness activity"

You might find it difficult to remember to do your daily check-in so we recommend setting a reminder or automating a routine at the same time every day. Click this link to a short video showing you how to set this up on your device.

Cheat Sheet

Easy reference sheet providing commands that can be used within Kindspace.

History: Review the last 5 daily check-in results and find out what areas that you need to focus on.

"Alexa, ask Kindspace for my history”

Tips Library: Database with over 500 entries about Sleep, Nutrition, Exercise, Mindfulness, Relationship, Personal Growth, Health, Financial, You-Time and Complementary Therapy.

"Alexa, ask Kindspace for a tip” or “Alexa, ask Kindspace for a financial tip”

Breathing Exercises: There are three packages, when you need an energy boost, when you feel overwhelmed, and when you need space or time out. Note only the first exercise in each package is free.

“Alexa, ask Kindspace for a breathing exercise"

Guided Affirmation: A new affirmation every day, with guided audio for you to say the affirmation out loud or write it in your journal.

"Alexa, ask Kindspace for a guided affirmation"

Journaling: A morning and an evening guided journaling session for reflective time. You can write or type as you listen along to the audio prompts.

"Alexa, ask Kindspace for journaling"

Poetry: A collection of poems about nature and our human experience that will leave you feeling uplifted.

"Alexa, ask Kindspace for poetry"

Short Stories: Bedtime stories to help you drift off to sleep.

"Alexa, ask Kindspace for a short story"

Supporting Your Wellbeing

Links to other useful support avenues

Mind

Check out Mind's website for tips and advice to help you cope with everyday things like money, work, university and more.

SAMH

SAMH have some great tools including their steps for Less Stress in 60 seconds. View their Self-help & Wellbeing pages here.

The Red Cross

Championing support for people experiencing loneliness, The Red Cross have some amazing resources for you here.

Action for Happiness

The 10 keys to happier living and monthly wellbeing calendars from Action for Happiness are well worth signing up to, check it out here.

Happiful

This magazine can be enjoyed in digital or paper format, with new uplifting articles and advice every month. Subscribe for the digital version for free here.

Thrive

Another magazine option is Thrive Magazine which comes out quarterly in digital and paper format and focuses on health and nutrition advice.

Looking for more advice

There is more advice on specific conditions on the NHS Inform website and the Clear Your Head website from the Scottish Government offers lots of tips too.

Need to Talk

You can call these free numbers:

Samaritans 116 123

Breathing Space 0800 83 85 87

FEEDBACK

We know with voice assistants, one size definitely doesn’t fit all. While we’ve tried to build in plenty of variety within Kindspace so you don’t get bored, we’d love to know what else you’d like to be able to do with the Kindspace skill. Let us know your suggestions and you can also see what we're working on and vote on your favourite ideas here.

Your input is what makes Kindspace so special. The tips library has been curated based on the tips that you share with us that work for you. Do you have a favourite wellbeing tip that you’d like to share? Let us know here and we’ll feature it in the skill!

The Kindspace Team

Share Your Views: Leaving us a review is another way that you can help people to discover Kindspace and benefit from the support within it.

WRITE AN AMAZON REVIEW ABOUT YOUR KINDSPACE EXPERIENCE

Join the Kindspace Facebook Group!

A great way to meet like-minded individuals and share tips about wellness and how to adopt digital solutions to create a nurturing and caring environment in your home.

Space for Notes

Use this space to note down any things that you want to remember or maybe something that you would like to ask us? You can get in touch via email to kindspace@tltechsmart.com

Getting Started

Space for notes

Kindspace

Space for notes

Your Wellbeing

Space for notes

"THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES BRING us the most empowering lessons"

Karen Salmansohn - Author of Happy Habits

- Getting Started Guide -

Create your Kindspace

with Alexa

Transform your life with your smart speaker

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION

ABOUT US

Caroline

Thomas

Getting Started with Alexa

Meet the Alex​a Family​

Setting Up Your Device

Useful tips and tricks

Create your Kindspace

Cheat Sheet

​Supporting Your Wellbeing

Mind

The Red Cross

Action for Happiness

Thrive

Looking for more advice

Need to Talk​

FEEDBACK

Space for Notes

"THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES BRING us the most empowering lessons"

Meet the Alexa Family

Supporting Your Wellbeing

Need to Talk