I used to believe that stress was just part of being successful. That if you wanted to “make it,” you had to accept burnout, poor sleep, and Sunday night dread as normal. For nearly five years, I stayed in a job that slowly drained every part of me—my energy, my creativity, my sense of self….
Smart home energy monitoring wasn’t something I ever thought I’d care about—until I saw our electric bill hit $340 one summer. At first, I blamed the heatwave, our aging AC, maybe the kids leaving lights on. But when my friend suggested we try a small device called WattEye, everything changed. It didn’t just track usage….
Maya sat at the kitchen table, her fingers tracing the rim of her coffee mug. Morning light filtered through the thin kitchen curtains, casting delicate patterns on the worn tabletop. It was early, too early for anyone else in the house to be awake, and she cherished these moments of solitude. As usual, the day’s…