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, with 95.7 per cent of Australians now using a smartphone to go online and 39.4 per cent owning a smart wrist device.

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 and some apps have functions that remind us to stand up or take a break.

On top of that, fitness tracker health technology is now sophisticated enough to monitor our heart rate and energy expenditure, 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 prioritising sleep or ticking off the daily workout to increasing the air quality in your home, here’s how technology can help you stay healthier, fitter and full of energy. 

A woman looking at a fitness tracker on her wrist while walking on a treadmill in a gym setting.

Encourage Your Next Workout With a Fitness Tracker 

Between a busy work schedule, time spent commuting and a social life, it can be challenging to make time to look after yourself or get to the gym. So look for a fitness tracker that will enhance your workout by monitoring your performance, tracking metrics like heart rate and calories burned, and providing real-time insights to optimise your results. Trackers like the Fitbit Charge 6, Samsung Galaxy Fit3 and Garmin Vivosmart 5 offer a range of exercise modes and built-in GPS to track your activities with precision. Plus, with features like a real-time heart rate monitor, sleep quality tracking and energy expenditure insights, they can support your overall wellness.

A beside table with a vase and the Morphee Relaxation & Sleep Aid in front of a woman in bed asleep.

Get a Fuller Picture of Your Health With a Smart Watch or Smart Ring

Ever wonder why some days you feel on top of the world and others you can barely get started? Smart wearables like the Google Pixel Watch 4, Samsung Galaxy Watch8, Garmin vivoactive 5 and Ultrahuman Ring AIR are designed to help you find out so you can feel your best, more often. By tracking everything from sleep stages and stress levels to heart rate variability, blood oxygen and daily energy reserves, they build a holistic picture of your health and turn it into personalised, actionable insights. Some even include dedicated women's health features, covering menstrual cycles, ovulation and fertility.

‍SEE ALSO: Tech Devices for Work and Play

A person holds a glowing purple LED light therapy face mask against their face with eyes closed, against a neutral grey background.‍

Support Your Skin’s Health With a Light Therapy Mask

Your skin is your body's largest organ, and just like the rest of you, it genuinely benefits from a little targeted care. LED light therapy has long been used by dermatologists and skin health professionals to support the skin’s natural repair and rejuvenation processes – and now the Nanoleaf LED Light Therapy Face Mask brings that same science home. Using targeted wavelengths of LED and near infrared light, it works with your skin’s natural biology to help activate healing from within, improving tone, texture and overall appearance over time.

Wake Up Feeling Better With a Sleep Analyser

We all know that a good night's sleep makes a world of difference, but it’s not always easy to know what's standing in the way of truly restorative rest. That's where the Withings Sleep Analyser can help. Just slide it under your mattress to quietly do its thing overnight. It captures lab-level metrics and feeds them into the Withings app, giving you a personalised sleep score and clear insights into how well you're actually sleeping. Plus, it can even detect signs of sleep apnoea and generate shareable health reports you can bring to your doctor.

SEE ALSO: Your Guide to Smart and Small Home Appliances

A man wearing noise-cancelling headphones, focused on his laptop in a busy office with colleagues collaborating around him.

Increase Focus and Stress Less 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 interruptions and redirect your hearing senses to content that’s more soothing. The Sony WH-1000XM6 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. 

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 Winix Australia Compact 4 Stage Air Purifier uses HEPA filtration and an activated carbon filter to help eliminate nasties and improve the quality of air in your home. 

SEE ALSO: 8 Tech Tools to Make Life Easier

An assortment of smart tech for health, shown on various brightly coloured backgrounds. Products include things like smartwatches and headphones.

What to Try 

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This article was originally published in August 2023 and has been updated.