When your attention is hijacked by the urge to check your data or worry about a potential health problem, Hardis recommends that you stop and “reflect on what you see, hear, smell, and feel at your feet. We encourage you to pay attention to things. This habit helps train your brain to stay grounded in the present, rather than slipping into anxiety-oriented worry.
(Does perfect training really exist??)
Is there another effective strategy? Prioritize rest. “Power up your brain with quality sleep,” says Goldell. Rather than relying on wearables to track your rest, he suggests a simple rule: “If you need an alarm clock, you’re probably not getting enough sleep.”
Goldell adds, “Be mindful of your daily schedule and plan for breaks to catch your breath, both literally and figuratively.” Close your eyes and breathe for 5 minutes without using technology. “Rest and recovery are active processes” and an essential part of life, he says.
While wearable technology has many benefits, Miskevics says finding a balance between technology and mindfulness can help you harness the power of wearables without sacrificing your mental health. “Data is great, it’s necessary, and it’s helpful,” she says. “But we also don’t want to become so data-driven that we forget that we’re human.”
