diff --git a/src/functions/helpers.js b/src/functions/helpers.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6cb009b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functions/helpers.js
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+//wrapper func for setstate that returns a promise
+export function setStateAsync(that, newState) {
+  return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      that.setState(newState, () => {
+          resolve();
+      });
+  });
+};
+
+//wrapper for timeout that returns a promise
+export function timeout(ms) {
+  return new Promise(resolve => {
+    const timeoutID = setTimeout(() => {
+      clearTimeout(timeoutID);
+      resolve();
+    }, ms)
+  });
+};
+
+export function pad(num, places = 2){
+  return String(num).padStart(places, '0');
+};