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When Your Robot Vacuum Does More Self-Care Than You Do

When Your Robot Vacuum Does More Self-Care Than You Do

Posted 6 months ago

Created At: 10 Jul 2025,

Updated At: 15 Jul 2025

Tired of "self-care" feeling like another chore? Discover how smart home tech like robot vacuums and automated beauty tools can free up your time and mental load, making true relaxation a reality.

When Your Robot Vacuum Does More Self-Care Than You Do

I had a proper wake-up call last Tuesday. I was rushing around trying to hoover before my mum came over (because obviously the house had to be spotless), simultaneously blow-drying my hair, and mentally calculating whether I had time to deal with the mysterious stain the dog had left on the kitchen tiles. That's when it hit me – when did "self-care" become another item on my never-ending to-do list?

If you're nodding along thinking "yep, that's my life," then welcome to the club nobody wanted to join. We're the generation that discovered face masks and meditation apps, only to realize we're too knackered to use either properly.

But here's the thing I've learned: the best self-care might actually be the kind that happens when you're not doing anything at all.

The Great Time Robbery

Let's talk about where our time actually goes, shall we? I tracked mine for a week (yes, I'm that person now), and the results were genuinely depressing. Two and a half hours daily on household faff. Two and a half hours! That's before factoring in the 45 minutes I spend doing my hair each morning, or the Sunday afternoon lost to deep-cleaning the washing machine because it started smelling like a swamp.

No wonder we're all walking around feeling like we're constantly behind. We're trying to fit 30 hours of life into a 24-hour day, and something's got to give. Usually, it's the stuff we actually want to do – like reading that book that's been on the nightstand for six months, or having a bath that lasts longer than 10 minutes.

This is why I've become slightly obsessed with automation. Not because I'm lazy (well, maybe a bit), but because I finally realised that fighting technology instead of working with it is a mug's game.

My Home Became My Personal Assistant

I'll be honest – I used to think robot vacuums were for people with more money than sense. Then I house-sat for a friend who had one, and I became a convert overnight. Coming home to clean floors every single day without doing anything? It felt like magic.

So when the Shark PowerDetect went on sale (47% off during Prime Day, if you're interested), I took the plunge. Best decision I've made in ages. This thing doesn't just hoover – it empties itself for two months, sorts out its own water, and even washes its own mop. I genuinely forget it exists most of the time, which is exactly the point.

But the real game-changer was realising this principle applies to loads of household nonsense. Those Calgon tablets (54% off right now) seemed pointless until my washing machine started producing clothes that smelled worse than when they went in. One tablet monthly, and problem solved. It's like having a tiny maintenance person living in my utility room.

And don't get me started on the Vax spot cleaner (50% off). Remember that mysterious dog stain I mentioned? Used to mean an entire evening of scrubbing and swearing. Now it's a five-minute job that actually works. Life's too short for carpet drama.

clean water tank for Vax Spotwash Home Pet Carpet Cleaner CDSW-MPXA

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When Your Wife's Beauty Tech Actually Makes Sense

I'll be honest – I used to roll my eyes at my wife's beauty gadgets. Seemed like expensive solutions to problems I didn't understand. Then I started paying attention to how much time and money she was spending on salon appointments, and suddenly her "investments" made a lot more sense.

The Braun IPL thing (51% off) was her big purchase last year, and I have to admit, I was skeptical about the cost. But watching her go from monthly salon visits and constant appointment scheduling to just 10 minutes every few weeks while we're watching Netflix? Even I can see that's a win. No more rushing around trying to fit beauty appointments into an already packed schedule, and she's genuinely happier with the results.

Hair's been another eye-opener. I bought her the Dyson Airwrap (17% off) after watching her struggle with ancient straighteners every morning, adding stress to an already chaotic routine. The new one connects to her phone and creates a routine specifically for her hair type. Sounds fancy, but really it just means she gets consistent results without the guesswork and frustration. Our mornings are definitely calmer now.

The Mental Load Thing

Here's what nobody tells you about automation: it's not just about saving time. It's about saving brain space. Every little system that runs itself is one less thing bouncing around in your head at 3 AM.

You know that feeling when you're trying to relax but your brain's running through tomorrow's to-do list? "Need to hoover, book hair appointment, check if washing machine needs cleaning, deal with that stain..." When those things sort themselves out, your brain actually gets to switch off properly.

I never realised how much mental energy I was spending on household management until I wasn't doing it anymore. Suddenly I had headspace for things like actually reading books instead of just buying them, or having conversations that weren't about domestic logistics.

The Money Thing (Let's Be Real)

Look, none of this stuff is cheap upfront. I'm not going to pretend otherwise. But when I actually did the maths, it made sense pretty quickly.

Laser hair removal costs my wife about £200 per session at the salon, and she needs multiple sessions. The IPL device cost less than three appointments and works for years. The robot vacuum replaced our weekly cleaner and gives us back hours every week. Even the spot cleaner paid for itself by saving our sofa from a professional clean.

Plus, there's the cost of our own time. If I value my evening at £20 (and trust me, after a long day, I do), then anything that gives us back two hours pays for itself pretty quickly.

Building Your Lazy Person's Paradise

The trick is starting with whatever's driving you most mental right now. For me, it was coming home to dog hair tumbleweeds and spending every evening cleaning. For you, it might be different.

Maybe it's:

Your automated self-care stack might include:
Intelligent cleaning systems that maintain your environment
Beauty devices that deliver professional results at home
Appliance maintenance tools that prevent problems before they start
Smart scheduling systems that optimize everything seamlessly

You don't need to automate everything at once. I started with the vacuum, then gradually added other bits as they went on sale or as my old stuff packed up.

— Automated Cleaning

The Thing About Self-Care

Here's what we've learned: real self-care isn't face masks and expensive candles (though my wife still loves those too). It's creating a life where you both have actual time and energy for the things that matter to you.

When I'm not spending Sunday afternoon cleaning, we can spend it doing things we actually enjoy together. When my wife's beauty routine runs itself, she can sleep an extra 20 minutes and isn't rushing around stressed every morning. When our house maintains itself, we can have people over without a week of preparation panic between us.

This Prime Day, loads of these automation tools are seriously discounted. I'm not saying you need to buy everything (your bank account probably wouldn't thank you), but if you're both drowning in domestic faff and wondering where your life went, maybe it's time to let technology lend a hand.

Your future selves – the ones reading books in a clean house while she's got great hair and smooth legs – will thank you for it.