Your health is important. Here are a series of technologies that could make your life better. By Donovan Alexander
Yes, technology gets a bad rap, and we understand why. Applications, devices, and your everyday smart products seem to be designed to distract you from your day or if you are feeling philosophical, your reality. Just think about how much time you spend on your smartphone each day.
Yet, just like any other thing when used too much it can be bad, while at the same time when used correctly it can improve your life.
Technology can be a potent tool and a helpful way for you to not just gain insight into ways to improve health, but it can be used to facilitate your personal improvement goals.
As mentioned by Rick Smolan, “Every time there’s a new tool, whether it’s Internet or cell phones or anything else, all these things can be used for good or evil. Technology is neutral; it depends on how it’s used.”
In a world that is ever increasingly being shaped by the technology that we use every day, maybe it is time to bite the bullet and use that same technology to improve your health and well being.
Use your phone to coach you through meditation
Anyone who has ever jumped into the world of meditation will tell you that getting started is not that easy, but after pushing through, learning to meditate can produce a host of benefits like reducing stress, controlling anxiety, and even promoting emotional health.
Tools like Insight Timer help you practice mindfulness and walks you through the process of meditation so that you get so good at it you eventually do not even need to use your phone for the experience.
Use technology to kickstart your fitness regime
Though it may seem like a growing fad on social media, as mentioned before and as highlighted in countless studies, working out or simply staying active is a crucial component of living a long and healthy life. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these, over 650 million were obese. Obesity can lead to a host of long-term complications that can even bring about an early death.
Aside from downloading a few motivating apps, there are a lot of great tools out there that help you get in shape. Smart tools like Mirror bring a personal trainer directly into your living room for the ultimate aerobic experience while wearables like Fitbits, or the popular Apple Watch take monitoring your fitness to another level.
Measuring your steps and heart rate all come standard in the modern wearable world. Tools like the Peloton Treadmill, or even Soul Electronics Pro Bio headphones can help improve your running for better running workouts.
Technology can help you eat better
Another crucial component to staying healthy is putting the right stuff in your body. In fact, a recent study showcased how 1 in 5 deaths are associated with a poor diet. And, there is technology out there that can help you do that. Tools like MyFitnessPal allow you to take photos of the food packaging you eat every day to monitor your nutritional value.
Smart scales can even monitor your body weight and body composition. And, if you need something a little more persuasive. The Pavlok wristband very literally shocks you into making better food choices.
Technology can help you sleep better
The sleep revolution is among us. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute sleep plays a major role in your physical health. In fact, sleep not only helps refresh your brain every day, but it is also involved in processes like the healing and repairing of your heart’s blood vessels.
The good news is that there is a host of technology out there to not only help you track your sleep but help improve your overall sleeping experience. There are light-blocking glasses designed to block blue spectrum light, which suppresses the melatonin production we need to sleep. Smart Nora is a great tool if you have trouble snoring every night.
You have other tools like the white noise machine, SAD light, sleep trackers and monitors on your smartphone and simple smart earplugs that can help keep you from counting sheep the next time you are struggling to sleep.
Technology can keep your mind sharp
Yes, you work out your body but what about working out your mind? According to Harvard Health working out your brain can prevent a host of health issues down the road like memory loss, dementia, etc. Making an effort to learn every day could be an excellent way for you to build on your cognitive skills.
Gamified educational apps on your phone are an excellent way to train your brain each day, and the beauty of it is that 5 minutes a day is enough to keep your mind strong.
