We’re all familiar with Amazon Alexa by now—whether you own one or not. But what can this device really do to improve your life at home? Here are some of the best features of the Alexa you should take advantage of today!

Control household devices

There is nothing worse than wanting to change the channel, but the remote is across the room. Or needing to turn up the heat, but the thermostat is downstairs. Don’t fret! With the correct technology, you can simply connect your TV, thermostat, lights, kitchen appliances, or garage door to Alexa, and she will complete these tasks when told. Check out this guide on how to connect a smart plug to Alexa!

Entertainment

If you have some time on your hands, Alexa has plenty of features to keep your interest. For example, Alexa offers many different games, such as Bingo, Jeopardy, or Simon Says, to play with your family and friends! If you are the only person home, Alexa can read free Audible books, or you can connect your Kindle and pick up where you left off!

Get cooking tips

Let’s face it, we all get bored of eating the same rotation of dinners each week. If you’re looking for a new recipe or have a question about cooking, Alexa can help! She can convert units of measurement, give you recipe ideas for dinners or cocktails, set multiple timers, and even keep track of your grocery list.

Stay healthy

If you have trouble keeping track of your healthy habits, Alexa has many features to guide you. She can answer questions about calorie counts, give you reminders to hit the gym, and sync to your Fitbit so you can monitor your progress. If you don’t have time for the gym or would rather stay home, try Alexa’s “7-Minute Workout” skill to stay active.

Play music

Don’t feel like buying an expensive speaker for your house, but your phone isn’t loud enough? Alexa can play music from Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify, Sirius XM, and many others. You can even control the volume of the music to your liking. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you link your music account to Alexa!

 Make phone calls

Time for your weekly phone call with mom? Simply ask Alexa to “call mom” and you’re good to go. Even better, if you and your family/friends have the Echo Dot Show, you can video call one another for a more personal conversation.

Learn new skills

If none of the features above caught your eye, there is so much more Alexa can do, should you decide to purchase one. For example, if you’re traveling internationally soon, you can download the Translation skill to your Amazon device and Alexa will help you learn the native language in no time. Just ask Alexa to list her skills, and decide which ones fit your life best.

Have more detailed questions about Alexa’s features? Check out the Amazon Alexa website to learn for more tips and tricks!