How Can Wearable Technology Improve Your Workday?

Wearable technology is the next big thing in personal fitness. Gadgets such as the FitBit® and Jawbone® are all over TV and the internet. You may be wondering what all the buzz is about—what is wearable technology and how does it work? And most importantly—how can it help you to improve your fitness? Here’s what you need to know to take part in this new fitness revolution.

Wearable Technology: What Is It?

Fitness trackers work much like enhanced pedometers. Most are in the form of a bracelet or watch that you wear all day—even when you sleep, if you wish. A tracker in the bracelet collects information about your movement throughout the day. It may either display information on its own, or sync with an app you can download to your computer or smartphone. The app provides insight about your ongoing activity and/or sleep patterns. Some wearables will even allow you to track other things, such as what you’ve eaten during the day. It all depends on the type of device you’ve purchased and what features it includes.

Health Advantages

The bottom line is that wearables give you an easy, convenient way to keep track of important health factors—all you need to do is wear the bracelet, recharge it regularly (like you would your cell phone) and sync it with the app. This can help you in the following ways:

  • Be more active. Sure, hitting the gym or going for a run can help you to be physically fit. But what about all those extra steps you take each day walking to your car or the copy machine? Those count, too. And with a fitness tracker, you can track ALL your daily steps—and challenge yourself to take more. Also, most wearables feature alerts to remind you to get up and move when you’ve been sitting too long. This can be a great way to fit more fitness into your day—which can be as easy as a few extra walks around the building during your breaks.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. Ever wonder why you try to eat healthy and exercise, but keep gaining weight? A wearable can help you figure it out. You’ll need to set up a personal profile that includes your height, weight and age. Your wearable can then estimate the amount of calories you burn each day through all your activity, beyond just what you do at the gym. And if your calories out are less than your calories in through what you eat, you can gain a better understanding of your calorie balance. This way, you’ll know if you need to cut down your daily calorie intake or increase your daily calorie burn.
  • Monitor your heart rate. Some wearables, such as heart monitors, will keep track of your active and resting pulse. This can make it easy to check your heart rate, an important indicator of high blood pressure and heart disease. If you’re currently in treatment, you’ll be able to provide feedback to your doctor. And if you’re at risk, you’ll know it may be time to go visit one. Either way, a wearable can be an advantage in your good health.
  • Sleep better. If you wish, you can even wear your fitness tracker at night, to monitor your sleeping patterns. You’ll get information about how well you’re sleeping and tips for how to improve your sleep, if you need to.

Finding the Best Gadget for You

Many wearables are available in the marketplace for a wide range of prices. You may wish to choose one that offers basic functions—or you may be looking for something more robust. To learn more, you can check Google, or visit “techie” sites, such as www.pcmag.com  or www.mashable.com, for consumer reviews.

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If you’re looking for your next job, check out Snelling Georgia Group. We’re an expert staffing agency that works with candidates for job placement in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. To learn more, you can visit our job search page, or contact one of our experienced recruiters.

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