One of the directions is a relationship with Alexa. We have a project funded in part by the Banks Property group to work with people who are isolated in some way. Alexa will be a part of that.
Meanwhile, here are some ideas that you can try and explore how Alexa can work for you.
12+ powerful Alexa commands you could start using at home
(no subscriptions required)
Alexa is already great, but a few smart tweaks and hidden features can make it even better.
Here’s how.
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Virtual assistants will soon be as commonplace as smartphones — in many parts of the world, they already are. Most smartphones have a built-in assistant powered by artificial intelligence (AI), whether it’s Siri in iPhones or Google Assistant (now Gemini) in Android phones.
Inside our homes, though, Amazon Alexa has become the most popular virtual assistant in the US and around the world, as a widely adopted virtual assistant. Users from various countries outside the US keep Echo devices in their homes with Alexa set to different languages.
I’ve been using Alexa for a few years, and here are some ways that the assistant has changed the way I manage my smart home and use my Echo devices.
1. Become a lighting assistant
Each time I enter my bedroom’s en-suite bathroom, an Echo Dot greets me by turning on the lights and saying, “Hello, gorgeous.” The Echo Dot’s occupancy sensor detects when someone is near and runs the routine of switching on the lights and saying the phrase.
I have a smart wall light switch with a built-in motion sensor that turns on at night each time the headlights of a car are spotted on the window opposite it. Aside from getting creeped out when my bathroom lights randomly turned on at four in the morning, it was getting annoying, so I delegated the task to Alexa.
2. Streamline your nightly routines
You’ve probably heard of the “Alexa, good night” routine for turning off your smart lights. However, there are many ways to use this approach and create multiple routines for each bedroom or area in your home.
For our main living area, I have a lights-out routine that switches off the living room, kitchen, office, and outdoor lights. This task is completed using smart lights and smart plugs.
Our kids’ room has its own routine. When we say, “Alexa, it’s bedtime,” their sound machine turns on (powered by a smart plug), their bedside lamp switches off, and their smart light strip turns on to 2% brightness, operating as a night light.
When I’m ready for bed, another Alexa command switches off my smart lights, turns on the smart plug on my fan, and sets my smart air purifier into sleep mode.
3. Find my phone
I often seem to lose my phone when my Apple Watch is dead, but a quick word to Alexa easily solves that. I can just say, “Alexa, find my phone,” and the voice assistant initiates a phone call to ring it.
4. Make Alexa your landline
Alexa works for my family much like a landline used to work in my home growing up.
Whenever I’m out and can’t reach my husband if he’s busy with the kids, I can call one of my Echo devices or make an announcement to get in touch with them.
5. Prompt your kids to the next task
In the mornings, my kids have an alarm and morning routine that’s set through Alexa on their Echo Show, which helps wake them before school. Weekday mornings are busy in my house, as I’m packing lunches and snacks while my little ones are getting dressed, so Alexa nudges them to the next task.
A few minutes after their alarm goes off, Alexa switches their lights to daylight white in 100% brightness and tells my kids, “Let’s get ready for school.” Some time later, it says, “Okay, it’s time to go downstairs.” This prompt helps my kids stay on task so they’re ready to go, and with their beds made, at the right time.
Alexa can track your Amazon orders from an Echo device by simply asking, “Alexa, where are my packages?” The virtual assistant then informs you about the current status of your orders in the shipping process and when you can expect them to arrive at your door.
7. Let others know when you’re busy
I have several smart lights and a smart air purifier in my home office, and I’ve set up routines to let others know when I’m on a call, busy, or when I have to focus on tasks:
- If I say, “Alexa, I’m making a video,” the smart lights turn green to become my video background.
- Saying, “Alexa, I’m on a call,” makes the lights switch to red so anyone who passes by knows not to interrupt me.
- When I need to focus, I say, “Alexa, it’s work time,” and my lights turn a soft white and the smart air purifier switches on, which is pretty helpful for combating pet dander, as I share the home office with our dog.
8. Multiple timers at once
The Echo Show 21 is my kitchen companion, thanks to its large display that doubles as a Fire TV, strong speakers, and built-in Alexa.
I use the device to ask Alexa for recipes and set multiple timers for different things simultaneously. If I’m baking and cooking at the same time, it’s easy to ask Alexa to keep a cupcake timer, a chili timer, and more. The voice assistant then tracks the multiple timers by name and lets you know which one is ready.
9. Make your choices more fun
Many of us use Alexa for fun stuff, such as hearing a joke, learning a fact, or getting definitions. However, you can also ask Alexa to make light hearted decisions for you.
10. Act as a white noise machine
An Echo speaker can become a white noise machine, and Alexa can play various sounds, from thunderstorms to brown noise.
You can add the feature to your nightly routine or ask the voice assistant for it on the fly.
11. Make routines your go-to commands
Skip simple “turn on the bedside lamp” commands and instead make routines become your go-to Alexa prompts. You can create routines that are as simple or as intricate as you’d like. For example, create an out-the-door routine that switches off all your devices, except when you say, “Alexa, I’m headed out,” or an opposite one to greet you as you come home.
When I watch movies, I like to have the living room lights dimmed or off, and the Nanoleaf 4D mirroring my TV. Instead of having to take each action, I have routines set up that run the full process.
As a go-to cooking companion, Alexa can easily offer ingredient substitutions and measurement adaptations, allowing you to adjust your recipes to what you have at home as needed. For example, you can ask Alexa how many tablespoons are in ⅓ cup, or what you can use in place of butter in a cake.
13. Read a bedtime story
My kids love their bedtime story, especially made-up ones from their dad (Peter Pants is currently a big hit in my home). Thankfully, Alexa can also help.
An Echo device also lets you access Audible stories. You can ask Alexa for these short stories, narrated by charming characters that are sure to offer screen–free entertainment for your kids.
14. Use in case of emergency
Alexa can be more than a voice assistant — as I mentioned above, it can also act like a landline, and, with Alexa Emergency Assist, it can call for help when needed. One of my biggest concerns about not having a landline is how my kids will call 911 in the event of an emergency. I’ve taught my oldest kid to do it on my phone, and I’ve put papers with our phone numbers and address in a few spots around the house, but Alexa Emergency Assist alleviates this worry in the best way.
A $5.99 monthly membership gives my family seamless 24/7 access to emergency services through Alexa. This approach is perfect if my husband or I were to require help while watching our younger kids. They know that if an emergency occurs, simply saying “Alexa, call for help,” gets them in touch with an agent, who can dispatch first responders to their home. They don’t even have to give them the address or anything else — all of this information is saved in your profile when you set up the service.
The service gives me peace of mind that I wouldn’t even need to search for my phone if something were to happen; just using my voice is enough. The subscription also alerts your pre-selected emergency contacts when help is called, making the service a good fit for seniors who are at risk of falls and spend time alone at home.
You can also store medical information, including allergies and pre-existing conditions, as well as add gate codes and pet details. The subscription also enables your Echo devices to detect sounds, such as smoke alarms and breaking glass.
15. Handle your pet care
This approach makes it easy to ask Alexa to feed my dog as needed, or set up routines to feed him when the backyard lights come on, for example. I can also pair the smart feeder with other devices, so Alexa switches on the lights in his area and feeds him in the early morning.
16. Be an intercom
I moved from a starter home to a five-bedroom fixer-upper (more of a money pit, but that’s a story for another day), and I often joked with my husband that we’d need an intercom system when we moved in. Lo and behold, I now use Alexa and the various Echo devices at home as my intercom.
Alexa can make announcements to all devices, but it can also send messages and drop in on devices, so when I’m in the kitchen and my kids and husband are spread out between the office, bedrooms, and playroom, I say “Alexa, announce that dinner is ready,” and everyone gets the message. I make similar announcements for bedtime or when it’s time to head out the door, and they reach all my devices.
One place we may be headed next year is towards a Township at the Festival of Thrift. held in Billingham in recent years
Not Steve’s painting by numbers type of art, but a creative something on the theme of Township which would be of some considerable size and be representative of community working together thriftily. Not much to go on really for us!!
Then yesterday 4 ladies arrived by appointment (though Graham had forgotten. It’s an age thing). One was the “artist!, Sonia, one a Director of the Festival (the quiet one who took notes!) and two members of staff (think they were close protection officers).
Lots of banter, just to show them it is a Men’s Shed, and then Sonia got to work at her research stage. To engineers, that is the dream stage. She is visiting several projects over two days to capture the spirit of what happens in Stockton. She began a mind map on wallpaper, starting with Walter. For several minutes the paper was empty, till we realised Walter’s hearing aids were not on (that’s a convenient lie, by the way). Walter’s Work got admiring looks btw.
So we wait to see what begins to take shape next year and hope we not only get involved physically maybe, but also with ideas on how to practically realise the idea/concept that emerges from Sonia’s magic wand!!
More Sheds
in the Autumn, as part of Norton Men’s Shed’s wider community outreach, we posted on Norton Village Facebook page an offer to guide any prospective Shed on Teesside on how to move forward with their plan. More Men’s Sheds are needed in locations close to where people live. Men’s mental health and general wellbeing are crucial, particularly when they are lonely and socially isolated.
The result is that we were signposted to two communities, one of which is in Portrack. Portrack Baptist Church had complementary community projects in mind, one for developing a secure, safe outside area for growing, nature study and social gathering, and the other (YES!) a Men’s Shed. We gave support to an application for funding towards the outside space and we are now working with the church to establish the Shed.
Dennis and Graham visited the premises and were astounded by the spaces, range of activities and the storage there. We’ve co-produced suggestions and it seems to be very feasible indeed. We will be inviting interested men to visit Norton Shed to “enjoy” a Shed atmosphere and make some benches for future use.
Today an anxious man was brought to see our Shed by a healthcare worker. It was an unexpected visit though we knew of the possibility a couple of months ago. Someone quite isolated. What was impressive was the way the 8 Shedders present worked together to personally show what a Shed is. A family. They shared how the Shed had helped them personally. It was a team effort over an hour or so. Thank you guys, greatly.
Tomorrow (Thursday) the Iron Shed opens in new premises in Loftus, which is part of Teesside. The Shed is a plant from Staithes Shed. We are essentially a plant from the Whitby area Sheds.
Shedder Ian Hartley does family history. That inspired a family history chart to be produced covering Sheds in the last decade from origins in Littlebeck a decade ago.
The Shed Family with hints of the future
Catalysts Awards 2025 – Steve Dansics is nominated
Why nominate? Steve’s experience of inclusion at the Shed means he is an ambassador for inclusion and participates in a committed way to Shed development. He is a leader. He understands what exclusion is and champions inclusion of any person with disability.
Trip to Westminster by Andrea Love of Macmillan Cancer Support NE
Yesterday I attended the UK Men’s Sheds Awards at the House of Commons, accompanying Graham Storer from Norton Men’s Shed in Stockton-on-Tees, who had been shortlisted for the Health and Wellbeing Award.
Over recent years, I have supported the Norton Shed in developing an inclusive environment for men living with cancer and in strengthening referral pathways through primary and secondary care. This work has enabled more men—who may not always prioritise their own wellbeing—to access timely support. The Shed’s 2024 Macmillan Support Grant has been instrumental in establishing this [Norton Shed] pilot.
While the Norton Shed did not receive the award, the event highlighted a range of innovative initiatives taking place nationally. Sheds are playing an important role in supporting mental health, bereavement, cancer survivorship and long-term conditions. I was particularly struck by examples of Sheds partnering with hospices, as well as those refurbishing bicycles for families experiencing financial hardship.
The keynote from Chris Fisher RPT, the Blind Woodturner, was especially inspiring, demonstrating the power of resilience and the importance of inclusive creative spaces.
I look forward to sharing insights from these projects with our [Macmillan] Professional Engagement and Communities teams to strengthen signposting and engagement with local Sheds.
For so many men, these Sheds are more than just workshops—they’re lifelines. I’m convinced we have a genuine opportunity to work even more closely and support this incredible movement 💚
Graham’s view of this year on the pilot project. “Sheds are not machines that process men impacted by life events, like a cancer diagnosis in this case. People are individuals and there is no “standard silver bullet” for restoring people’s mental wellbeing. Each person must discover a renewed sense of personal purpose. But there is no 10 week course for that. Norton Men’s Shed is not run by healthcare professionals but by those who are the “patients”. They help restore each other over time. There is usually an immediate uplift by just being with others – that is the receiving stage of belonging. Then people start to give – their interest in others and their support as they work with others “shoulder to shoulder”.
Simply by doing together, the Shed “effect” is magnified. Men start to “breathe mentally” again. Spouses and families get their men back.
The outcome for the Shed this past year is working closely in trust with large organisations like the NHS Social Prescriber Link Workers, Macmillan and some local charities. We all have skills and experience to contribute in helping men and indeed women. It is surely what happened in small communities 80 or 90 years ago when every locality had its local respected roles like doctor, district nurse, policeman, bank manager, church minister and undertaker. People known to each other and known to the community.
Now we are each a set of data stored in the cloud. Our health, our finances, our leisure, our work, our relationships, our services. Amazon has replaced shops. Not just them but the very shops that were there. Impersonal.
We find ourselves when we find others who are regular parts of our lives. Community has to be made by people in everyday life. Government, councils, the NHS and businesses cannot create community but they can all be contributors to the conditions needed to nurture community.
Thanks to those other organisations that we have reached out to, and those like Macmillan who have reached out to us during 2025. We look forward to continuing to work in creative ways with them and indeed others.