A device taught me how to calm down in stressful situations - here's what it was like to use

And in the age of wearable technology that monitors everything from steps to heart rate, it makes sense that devices that measure stress are popping up as well.

Stress-monitoring devices can be helpful at quantifying your stress throughout the day. But wearing them around all the time and getting near-constant feedback via beeps or buzzes can sometimes result in more stress, not less. So, when I heard about a little un-wearable device for stress called the Pip, I was intrigued.

Unlike a wearable tracker, the Pip doesn't monitor your stress levels throughout the day. Instead, you devote a few minutes once or twice a day to sit down, pull out your Pip, and practice getting in control of your stress.

Here's what it was like to use.