Q: Should I use an activity tracker?
A: Yes, if you want to! But with one important asterisk. Studies show that activity trackers (like Fitbit, Apple Watch, Garmin, etc.) help people to be more active. In fact, recent research found that people who wore an activity tracker walked up to 40 more minutes a day. Plus, they also can help with other healthy habits like sleep, stress management, and more.
But while they may motivate many people to track their activity, for others (especially those dealing with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder), they may trigger an unhealthy fixation.
Bottom line: if you enjoy using an activity tracker and it helps you monitor how you’re doing, use one! If it doesn’t … then don’t.
Do you track anything using an app? (Sleep, steps, workouts, etc.) Comment below.