4 Websites That Saved My Sanity

It's 2 AM, you're still staring at your laptop screen, and tomorrow's presentation feels like climbing Sigiriya in flip-flops. Sound familiar? Before you reach for another cup of tea or scroll mindlessly through Facebook for the hundredth time, let me introduce you to four digital sanctuaries that cost nothing but your internet data, and trust me, they're worth every megabyte.

- BY HAFSA RIZVI

We Sri Lankans have mastered the art of finding peace in chaos, from meditating in packed buses to studying during neighbourhood cricket matches. But sometimes, we even need to escape digitally when the physical world gets too overwhelming. These four websites became my secret weapons during those late-night study sessions and overwhelming work-from-home days.

1. WindowSwap: The Digital Window to Everywhere But Here

Remember those childhood days when you'd press your face against the window during long car rides, watching the world pass by? WindowSwap brings back that exact feeling, minus the motion sickness and your mother telling you to sit properly.

This beautifully simple website lets you peek through strangers' windows around the world. One moment you're watching rain dance on cobblestones in Prague, the next you're observing morning joggers in Tokyo. There’s something deeply therapeutic about watching life unfold elsewhere; it’s like having a meditation app, but with real humans living their authentic lives.

I discovered WindowSwap during a particularly stressful assignment deadline. Instead of doom-scrolling through social media (which, let's be honest, only made my anxiety worse), I found myself watching snow fall outside someone's apartment in Norway. The gentle audio of distant traffic and muffled conversations became my study soundtrack. It was oddly comforting to know that while I was struggling with my project in Colombo, someone in Berlin was peacefully reading a book by their window.

The genius lies in its simplicity: no login, no algorithms trying to figure out what you want to see, just pure, unfiltered glimpses into other people’s ordinary moments. It’s virtual travel for those of us whose bank accounts can barely handle a trip to Galle, let alone Europe.

2. Zoomquilt: When Your Mind Needs to Take a Trip Without Moving