I recently purchased an Apple Watch because friends that owned one said they loved theirs for many reasons. The main reason I bought mine was because of the health features it offered. For example, the watch comes with a heart rate monitor, oximeter, and EKG monitor. The Apple Watch integrates with my iPhone and helps me ‘disconnect’ from my phone yet still not miss important phone calls or texts. I can still answer phone calls and texts without being glued to my phone all the time.
However, the biggest feature, and I dare say a literal life-changer, is the Apple Watch Activity Rings. Once I figured out how the activity rings worked they became a daily ‘game’. Over time the rings have helped me create new, healthy habits.
Here is how Apple explains the activity rings feature:
Three rings: Move, Exercise, Stand. One goal: Close them every day. It’s such a simple and fun way to live a healthier day that you’ll want to do it all the time.
I now live my life with rings and this is not a bad thing. I’ve consistently gone to the gym at least three times a week over the last month and a half. On the days when I am sluggish and don’t feel like doing much, I look at the green exercise ring, and because I am a competitive person I then decide to at minimum go on a thirty-minute walk.
The other motivating factor with an Apple Watch and the activity rings is the social aspect of being able to see and share your activity with friends. It is motivating seeing how your friends are doing and getting healthier every day. It is also motivating getting a notification that your buddy already did a workout and has completed 60% of his activity rings while you are half asleep debating if you are going to get up and go to the gym. At the end of the day, the Apple Watch provides various ways to keep you motivated to meet your health goals and needs. Activity sharing is a great way to add a human accountability aspect as well.
I highly recommend finding a way to stay healthy and motivated. Whether it is an Apple Watch or even a simple ‘walk’ date with a friend three times a week. We can all agree that staying healthy via physical activity has long-lasting benefits to our bodies and our minds.