INTHEBLACK Mental Health 2021 - Magazine - Page 29
Above: The Fitbit
Inspire HR 2 fitness
band offers a heart
rate monitor and
water resistance up
to 50 metres.
Above: Sensoria Smart
Socks can help improve
your running form by
measuring cadence, impact
forces and foot landing.
Above: Take a ride on
dozens of virtual
routes around world
with Zwift.
CLICK HERE
TO LISTEN
to this story as
an audiocast
which allows you to cycle or run on dozens of
virtual routes around the world. You can, for
example, use your road bike indoors by
replacing the back wheel with a device that
connects to the Zwift app.
APPS AND VIDEOS
As well releasing the new Apple Watch 6
this year, the tech giant launched Apple
Fitness+. This subscription-based app
offers a large range of fitness workouts
and programs, integrating with your iPhone
and Apple Watch.
Fitbit Premium is a similar subscription
service for Fitbit fitness bands and watches,
and there is no shortage of fitness apps for
iOS and Android phones.
Looking for a weight-training, yoga, high
intensity interval training (HIIT) or other type
of exercise program? Need help with nutrition
and healthy recipes? With a bit of trial and
error, you’ll find apps that suit you.
Left: Withings’ Body
Cardio smart scales
measure body fat and
bone density.
The more comprehensive apps, such as actor
Chris Hemsworth’s Centr, typically require a
monthly fee, but you’ll also find plenty, such
as FitOn, that offer free versions. Alternatively,
you’ll find hundreds of free workout videos
on YouTube.
Wellness is not just about physical fitness.
Apps such as Headspace can help you discover
the benefits of meditation.
Organisations like the Black Dog Institute,
Reachout.com and Lifeline offer online tools,
apps and podcasts to help overcome
addiction, depression and mental illness.
CORPORATE PROGRAMS
Corporate wellness programs have become
popular among organisations to help improve
employees’ health and minimise issues such
as absenteeism.
The shift to remote working and stresses
related to the pandemic have made these
programs more important than ever – and
Above: Wellable integrates
with popular activity
tracking apps, using their
data for corporate wellness
challenges.
changed what businesses need from
such programs.
On-site services and facilities such as gyms
may not be as useful in the future as they once
were. Fortunately, there is no shortage of
corporate wellness apps, such as Wellable and
LifeWorks, that can help employees wherever
they are located.
The Black Dog Institute and other
organisations offer corporate mental health
programs as well.
Microsoft Office 365 business licences
include a MyAnalytics tool for employees, so
they can track their work patterns, including
how well they are disconnecting from work
during their downtime.
No app or device can replace seeing a
healthcare professional when you are not
travelling well.
However, if technology can help improve
our health even a little, that can only be a good
thing for both employers and employees.
intheblack.com October 2021 29