More and more people are using fitness devices, wearables and apps to track their health and wellness stats. This technology can monitor your steps walked, calories burned, stairs climbed, hours slept and so much more, showing you the progress you’re making over days, weeks, months and even longer. These devices can make a big difference in helping you reach your goals, but there are a few things to keep in mind to help you stick with it and get the most out of your fitness tracker.
- Decide on your goals. Before you can start using a tracker to meet your goals, it’s important to know what you’re working toward. Are you trying to be more active during the day, lose a few pounds or train for a race? Your individual goals will help you decide which tracker is best for you.
- Choose the tracker that fits your needs. There are hundreds of different devices and apps available to choose from, so pick one that has the features and look you want to help keep you motivated. Do you want a simple step tracker app for your phone or a high-tech wristband with a heart rate monitor? Think about those goals you set ahead of time to help narrow down the field.
- Check in from time to time. One perk of trackers is that you can often see your progress in real-time on your phone or computer. This can help keep you motivated if you know you’re getting close to your daily or weekly goals and adjust your plans accordingly. While many devices have their own apps and websites, you can often also sync your tracker with other fitness websites you may use on a regular basis. But don’t let the numbers overwhelm you; the tracker will only work for you in the long run if you enjoy using it!
- Make it fun. As with all fitness habits, they generally only stick if you’re having fun. Recruit family members, friends or co-workers who also use devices to work together to reach your goals. You could set up a friendly competition or just motivate each other to get up and get moving.
Fitness trackers offer many benefits to help you reach your health and wellness goals. Making the most of your tracker and the information it offers can motivate you to stick with it long-term and achieve success.
For Health Advocate Members
If you’re a Health Advocate member with access to our Wellness Program, you can now sync your favorite fitness tracker with your wellness website to view your progress and participate in competitions, incentive programs and more. Your Wellness Coach can help you get started if you have any questions.
