From the moment we wake up and check our messages to the apps and fitness trackers we use throughout the day, technology is more integrated into our lives than ever before. In fact, we’re so heavily reliant on tech that research suggests 96 per cent of us have access to the internet, 95 percent use a smartphone, and nearly one in four Australians own a fitness tracker or wearable health tracker.
Luckily, as our love of tech has grown, so have the benefits of devices we use; now they support our health and wellbeing in ways we sometimes don’t even recognise. Most phones have features that support wellbeing such as automatic ‘night’ settings with blue light reduction features, some apps have functions that remind us to stand up or take a break, and everyday items like water bottles can use UV technology to self-clean.
On top of that, dedicated health technology is now sophisticated enough to monitor our blood pressure, heart rate and movement, among other things. And that’s not all, says exercise scientist and nutritionist Brooke Turner.
“Technology can be a wonderful tool to establish healthy habits, reach your health, fitness and wellbeing goals, and provide structure [for your health goals],” she says. “Many devices provide the ability to bring awareness to other areas of health such as sleep, mindset and nutrition to positively impact mental and physical health.”
From reaching a set number of steps each day, drinking enough water, prioritising sleep or ticking off the daily workout, here’s how technology can help you stay healthier, fitter and full of energy.
Encourage Your Next Workout With a Fitness Tracker
Between a busy work schedule, time spent commuting and our social life, it can be challenging (not to mention expensive) to make it to the local gym. So look for a fitness tracker that helps with your workouts. The Fitbit Inspire 3 Fitness Tracker is one such device. When connected to your phone’s GPS, it measures pace and overall distance during jogs, hikes or bike rides and generates a map of your efforts post-workout. It also continuously tracks heart rate, offers stress-management techniques, and a daily sleep score.
Use Tech to Help You Destress
With an increasing amount of research confirming that chronic levels of stress can lead to illness, seeking a way to destress is becoming more important. One way to do just that is by using clever tech designed to combat raised stress levels from the daily grind. For example, the Morphee Relaxation & Sleep Aid operates without a screen in a non-digital manner. This small but mighty device offers 200 different guided meditation sessions in eight themes, including body scans, breathing and visualisation, to help you switch off, relax and fall asleep.
SEE ALSO: Feeling Stressed? Try These Calming Art Therapy Ideas
Know Your Body Better With Smart Weight Scales
Gone are the days of rusty bathroom scales which only gave you the one indication of your body’s wellbeing: your weight. Nowadays, we know that’s not necessarily the best indicator of being a healthy body type.
Smart scales are a great example of tech designed to help us to understand and know our body better with in-depth information and data. The Withings Body Plus Scales, for instance, don’t just measure weight – they can also detect fat mass, muscle mass, water and bone mass. The results are available in the accompanying Withings Health Mate app (it’s also compatible with Fitbit, Google Fit and MyFitnessPal) and give a more comprehensive picture of your overall health status.
Get a More Restful Sleep With a Smartwatch
Almost one in two Australians struggle with their sleep, so there’s no better time to focus on having a more restful night. Not only do many smartwatches such as the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 monitor your sleep (as well as your heart rate throughout the day), but they can also provide a detailed analysis of your slumber activity, including sleep stages, awake time and sleep duration. The Galaxy even offers in-depth sleep coaching: after tracking your sleep results for a week, this clever smartwatch will curate a personalised four-week sleep coaching plan.
SEE ALSO: Buying Guide Smart Watches
Stay Healthy and Hydrated With a Germ-Killing Water Bottle
It’s recommended that men drink around 10 cups of water a day and women eight (or nine if breastfeeding or pregnant). But how to find the perfect reusable water bottle? The LARQ PureVis water bottle comes pretty close: it’s the world’s first self-cleaning water bottle. By using built-in UV-C light and a plant-based filter, the clever tech in this bottle can eliminate 99.99 percent of odours, bacteria and bio-contaminants from your water to ensure you’re germ-free.
Breathe Healthier With an Air Purifier
Dust, mould, smoke, household chemicals and other pollutants can affect the air quality inside your home, leading to a range of impacts on your health, especially if you or the people who live with you already suffer from asthma or respiratory illnesses. The Trusens Z3000 air purifier uses HEPA filtration and an activated carbon filter to help eliminate nasties and improve the quality of air in your home.
Increase Focus and Concentration With Noise-Cancelling Headphones
Traffic, machinery, loud colleagues… we’re often exposed to unwanted sounds that can be distracting and annoying. A pair of noise-cancelling headphones can help block out any unwanted interruptions, and redirect your hearing senses to content that’s more soothing. The Sony WHCH720N headphones are particularly good for when you're out and about: with its ambient mode, you can block out the majority of the external noise, while still being aware of what is happening in your general surroundings. Team them with apps such as Endel, which use neuroscience to create soundscapes that help you study, sleep and focus.
SEE ALSO: What Are the Best Noise-Cancelling Headphones?
Soothe Tired Muscles With a Massager
Sitting at a desk all day can lead to tense and sore neck muscles. And while a good bath can help, a home massage machine can reduce tightness and help you relax. The HoMedics cordless neck massager is designed for the neck and shoulder area. With three speeds and a soothing heat setting, it sits in place with no need to be held – great for arthritic or tired hands (or reluctant partners!). As well as boasting a rechargeable battery, it’s also portable and has no trailing wires to get tangled up in, making it ideal to use on the go, such as right after an exercise session or while travelling.
