Seven Reasons to get an Activity Tracker
Most of us have seen them everywhere, be it in the media or perhaps even your friends and family are wearing one. The over-40s are joining the bandwagon and purchasing wearables to monitor their lifestyles – why not join them?
No longer just for millennials and the tech-literate, the best fitness trackers have gone mainstream – and they’re becoming increasingly popular even with the more mature crowd. Don’t own an activity tracker yet? You’re in the minority.
So, if you’re looking to jump on the wellbeing wagon and track your steps, heart rate and even sleep patterns, consider the following reasons to make this your next buy.
1 An activity tracker is for everybody
Not just aimed at tech lovers, this nifty gadget will work for everybody. With its wide variety of styles and uses and at different price points, anyone can get one. Also, seeing family and friends wearing them, they’re not perceived as scary tech but able to benefit our lives.
2 Heart-rate tracking is ideal for keeping an eye on your health
Using a fitness tracker is a great way to keep an eye on your overall health, including heart rate. By setting it to tracking your stats continuously, recording sleep patterns and noticing trends or changes over time can provide a meaningful insight. Most activity trackers now have this function built in.
3 Become sleep-savvy with an activity tracker
One of the most popular features on a fitness tracker is sleep monitoring. Several devices available on the market are now not only able to calculate the number of hours you get, but also the quality of slumber. They are also able to distinguish between different sleep stages, such as light, deep and REM sleep.
4 Modify your bad habits
You can get personal insights into your overall health to understand what that means for you. For example, if your tracker alerts you to the fact you don’t exercise enough on a daily basis, you can alter your routine, by perhaps incorporating short walks post-dinner. This can help improve your wellbeing, instead of just worrying about your lack of exercise.
5 You’ll maximise your motivation
Setting your own personalised goals can encourage you to keep fit, especially when you meet your daily fitness goals, say a number of steps. Staying motivated can also increase the chances of success for your new exercise routine. The more you see the results of your new routine and that it is working, the likelier you are to continue with it.
6 Be part of a community
Working out with a friend or group makes it easier and improve your performance. And, sometimes virtual ones can be just as helpful as 3D ones, challenging you and cheering you on. Some activity trackers are able to link you up with other like-minded fans of working out and this may keep you interested and motivated longer.
7 Know your body better
By keeping watch on your heart rate, sleep and fitness levels, you will get to know what is normal for your body and what isn’t. Although the information gleaned may not be 100% medically accurate, you can use it as a gauge when to see the doctor. Also keeping an eye on your sleep quality, as another example, can aid you in making sure you get a better night’s sleep.