Technology often gets a bad press, with stories about how we are all addicted to social media and our smartphones. Whilst there is of course some truth to this, it’s far from the whole story. These days, tech companies are trying to shake off this negative reputation, and show how their products can actually be used to improve our health instead. From fitness trackers to sleep aids and mindfulness apps, the possibilities for gaining positive benefits from our devices are increasing all the time. Here are some ideas for how you can use technology to improve your physical fitness, your quality of sleep, and your mental health.
Physical Fitness
This is one area in which it is very easy to see the advantages technology can bring. Fitness trackers such as the Fitbit and smartwatches like the Apple Watch can gather data on a huge range of health-related metrics. These include heart rate, step count, blood oxygen levels, the amount of exercise you do, the number of calories you burn, and much more. You can program in your own personal fitness goals and then use your device to ensure that you reach them.
For example, you can set reminders to get up regularly if you work at a desk all day, or to hit a certain number of steps every day. Keen athletes can also track their runs or bike rides so they always know when they’ve achieved a personal best. Plus, if you’re competitive, you can sync with your friends to see who has been the most active each week! For all the details take a look at an Apple Watch comparison to see what’s possible.
Mental Health
When it comes to our mental health, there are a wealth of mindfulness, breathing, and meditation apps available now to help us switch off, unwind, and relax. Many of them focus on specific issues that a lot of people suffer from, including depression, anxiety, lack of confidence, difficulties focusing, negative thinking, performance nerves, fear of flying, and much more. You can learn breathing exercises and different meditation techniques via your smartphone or keep a digital gratitude journal to help boost your mood.
Sleep
Sleep and technology might not seem like two concepts that fit together well, but nowadays that’s far from the case. Smartwatches can be used to track our sleep, helping us to better understand our sleep cycle and settle into a regular bedtime routine. For those who struggle to get to sleep, you can get a device that plays white noise, rain sounds, or soothing music to help you drift off with ease. Then in the morning, smart alarm clocks can wake us up at the most appropriate time of our sleep cycle to help ensure we feel more refreshed and ready for the day ahead. It’s also possible to get alarm clocks that simulate the light of sunrise to help wake you up more naturally, too. Plus, there’s always blue light glasses and other tech to help dampen the negative impacts of screen time on our sleep. Are you converted yet?
