Wearable health monitoring devices are the newest trend. By being a convenient and informative way to check your steps, heartbeat, and more, many people benefit greatly from wearing such a device. However, is it absolutely necessary to buy them? Which devices are better than the others? Here are some important things to consider when choosing wearable health monitoring devices for you and your loved ones.
Know Yourself
Before simply buying a device, you should set your own health goals and understand what you want out of the device. Start with deciding what could be better —Do you want to hit more steps per day? Or make sure your sleep quality is consistent? Do you want more motivation to stick to an already-existing exercise routine?
Understanding your own health goals is important in deciding which device you end up buying. This narrows down what exactly you want the device to measure, be it heart rate, steps, or quality of sleep, and gives you a rough estimate of how often you’ll end up using it. Instead of expecting the device to simply solve your health issues for you, but instead set clear goals that a device can support with data.
Finding the Right Device
After you’ve decided on what you want out of a wearable health device, you can narrow down the variety of options online. Check out various sites and marketplaces instead of just one, as this can allow you to compare prices, features, and user reviews.
After shortlisting your choices, check out the company or person behind the gadget or app. How trustworthy are they? Do they have a profile or contact address? How do they manage the data that you give them? It is best to choose someone who has a well-established profile or large online following so that you can rest assured that your device of choice is reliable.
A Need or a Want?
A study done in Singapore showed that health trackers alone, or even incentivized with rewards, cannot increase your activity levels. Out of the 800 people who participated in the study, almost half of them weren’t even wearing their trackers by the end of the assessment.
Simply buying a wearable health monitoring device cannot change your physical health overnight. These trackers can merely give you data about your health. Ultimately, it is up to you to change your own lifestyle and habits.
It is important that you already have exercise habits set in place so that the device is ultimately adapting to you, and not you adapting to the device. Before buying that tracker that you have your eye on, you should set up your own healthy lifestyle habits. You can consider signing up yourself and your loved ones for senior health programs or even make a routine out of accompanying your loved ones to senior-friendly attractions.
Wearable health monitoring devices can only do so much for you. Ultimately, it is up to you to take your health into your own hands. If you know yourself well and find the right device, then you’re all set to go!
