In today’s digital age, fitness wearable trackers have become valuable companions in our journey towards optimal health and well-being. Understanding how to leverage your fitness wearable can transform your approach to wellness. In this article, we’ll unlock the power of your fitness tracker, and give you a few practical tips to get the most out of using it!
Visit the Dashboard Once a Month to Look at Your Health Data
I take a look at my basic stats like heart rate, steps, and sleep because it helps me assess if my habits for the past month were successful, or if I need to calibrate a little more. Some months are great but other months you realize you could have done a little better with your steps, number of workouts, or sleep. Visiting your dashboard once a month just helps you stay focused and know where to adjust to keep moving your needle towards healthier. The data that compiles from wearing a tracker is amazing, and can be very useful to reflect on each month.
Sleep Tracking
My Fitbit also tracks sleep, which is a really important stat to know for your health. According to the Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine, “sleep plays a critical role in immune function, metabolism, memory, learning, and other vital functions.” You can filter it to see at the daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly level. Here’s my sleep for the last week. I can observe in an instant I did not get enough sleep on Sunday, Monday, or Thursday nights! I will try to do better next week!
Stick with a Brand for Years
So many brands of trackers these days! Many have similar features though. In my opinion, it really doesn’t matter which one you go for. Apple watch, Garmin, Fitbit, etc. They all do about the same thing. Just depends on how much you want to spend and what exact metrics you care about having in it.
I recommend once you find one you like though, stick with it! The longer you stick with the same brand of tracker, the more data you get to compile over time in one dashboard. I have been using Fitbit trackers since about 2015 so I have almost a decade of data to reflect on. Here’s a cool stat I found today in my dashboard. In 2018, my resting heart rate average was 55 and in 2023, it was 58.
Both of those heart rates are low and efficient, but it got me curious about aging and heart rate! I found this blurb from the National Institute on Aging, “Aging can cause changes in the heart and blood vessels. For example, as you get older, your heart can’t beat as fast during physical activity or times of stress as it did when you were younger. However, the number of heartbeats per minute (heart rate) at rest does not change significantly with normal aging.”
I am not worried today as 58 is still a great heart rate but at least I know where I am. I wonder what it will be in 2028! If it continues to go up as I age, I will take that info to my doctor and perhaps seek more in depth testing for my heart, cholesterol, or blood vessels!
Tracking Your Workouts
Another favorite feature is the ability to log your workouts then see that data build over time. There are two ways to do that. The first is to start your tracker during a walk or run. It tracks many useful stats this way, including mileage, mile times, maps it, and heart rate throughout.
The second option is to go back and manually add it later. For example, each time you see a strength training or yoga entry below, I added that to the tracker after I was done. I love being able to filter and see my activity once a month! It really helps me stay focused and disciplined. It’s also a great chance to pay myself on the back when I accomplish my minimum 3 workouts per week goal I have for myself!
There are a couple different ways you can see the workouts per month. This first pic is a screenshot from the app on my phone and then the next picture is from the dashboard viewed on my laptop.
Stay Updated
Manufacturers frequently update software, adding new features and improving accuracy. Keep your device updated to take advantage of the latest enhancements and ensure it operates at peak performance.
Conclusion: A Tool for Life
Your fitness wearable tracker is more than just a device; it’s a catalyst for change, a motivator, and a cheerleader (or drill sergeant!) for your health journey. By setting goals, checking in regularly, integrating it into your lifestyle, reflecting on the data, and listening to your body, you can unlock its full potential.
Remember, the path to wellness is a marathon, not a sprint. Let your fitness wearable be a multipurpose tool in your toolbox! In embracing this technology with the right mindset and strategies, you’re not just tracking your progress; you’re taking ownership of your journey to a healthier, more active life.
Further Reading
How to Be More Comfortable at the Gym
Affiliate Disclosure
This post contains some affiliate links, which means that I make a small commission off items you purchase at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I know and use personally!
