How Wearable Tech Promotes Office Health

Man checking his fitbit

While wearable devices like the Apple Watch and Fitbit are not new, there’s a trend sweeping the workplace to count steps and try to be healthier with day-to-day routines. According to Gartner, wearable devices are expected to sell 30 million more units this year than in 2017. Here are a few of the features that can help you stay fit while you work.

 

Heart Rate Tracking

Do you find that checking your pulse manually leads to inaccurate results? Wearables are great for office settings, as most tend to track your heart rate best when you are seated or when you are walking. You will be able to see if you have an average heart rate and how you react to stress. According to tech blog Tom’s Guide, most major wearable devices were within one or two beats per minute of your actual heartbeat.

 

Tracking Workplace Stress

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), approximately 40 percent of people surveyed experienced persistent stress or excessive anxiety in their daily lives. Wearables can detect some of the triggers of stress by tracking times of the day where employees feel the most stressed. Some employees are concerned, however, about their managers ability to track emotions and information like this due to the fears of these statistics being used against them.

 

Sleep Tracking

While it may not help you directly while at work, knowing the quality and number of sleep hours you’re getting can help you improve your productivity and prevent you from catching a cold. According to the Hult International Business School, people getting less than seven hours of sleep are three times more likely to develop a cold. You can even get a breakdown to see how “deep” of a sleep you get each night. You can then set reminders to figure out optimal times to wake up and go to bed.

 

Ensuring Safety in the Workplace

For jobs where heavy lifting is required, employers are able to determine how an employee is lifting an item, and whether the way they are lifting them may cause an injury. This may allow employers to alert employees before a workplace injury happens. This can also allow employers an opportunity to set up training based on the data collected.

 

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