Even before this pandemic, many people have been experiencing anxiety. Anxiety is the body’s way of responding to unusual situations. It is commonly associated with fear and stress. Having anxiety is normal. However, the pandemic caused more people to have increased levels of anxiety that may be harder to overcome. Thus, using a smartwatch to manage anxiety can help prevent more severe conditions.
Smartwatch to Manage Anxiety
There are built-in features, apps, and widgets that you can use when dealing with anxiety. Some of them are heart rate monitors, sleep trackers, breathing guides, and stress sensors. Here are ways on how to utilize them to control your anxiousness.
Heart Rate Monitor
When people are anxious, an increase in their heart rate can be seen. It can get worse when they have panic attacks. Monitoring your heart rate does not only help you with your anxiety but your overall health. A rapid heartbeat may not be suitable for the heart. It may lead to heart problems.
To measure your heart rate, you may want to have the best smartwatch for exercise. This will ensure the correctness of the data. Plus, it may prompt you to start working out. Exercising is also a way to relieve stress.
Sleep Tracker
Good sleep makes sure that you have balanced hormones in your body. Hormonal imbalance can cause anxiety. People who have trouble sleeping are more prone to being anxious. Sleep trackers are made possible on smartwatches through tri-axis accelerometers. It determines whether you are asleep or awake.
If you are worried about its accuracy, some studies show that sleep trackers and sleep clinic tests are similar. Still, it is not considered a medical device. An issue that may arise when tracking your sleep is the smartwatch battery life. It is not like your phones that you can use while charging. They are most likely to be out of battery when the night comes. Also, it may run out of battery in the middle of your sleep, which will affect the data.
Breathing Guides
A symptom of anxiety is shortness of breath. That is why the first thing they make the anxious person do is to breathe correctly. Breathing is not just inhaling and exhaling. There is a right way of doing it.
Breathing guides are available on apps and widgets in a smartwatch to manage anxiety. Some have it as a built-in feature. Doing this three times a day can improve your breathing. Nonetheless, use it when the situation calls for it.
Stress Sensor
Unlike the other features of the smartwatch that give you accurate data, stress sensors can only give you a glimpse of how stressful your day is. They use heart rate variability or HRV for this one. It is different from your heart rate.
While heart rate focuses on the number of heartbeats, HRV is more concerned with the time interval of each heartbeat. Hence, it can only give you an impression of your stress. A low HRV doesn’t always mean that you are stressed. Other medical conditions cause low HRV.
Digital Detox
Other causes of anxiety are external. You may or may not agree with it, but it is most familiar with the things you see on the internet these days. It can be regarding your work or social media. Social media detox is more challenging than you think. Especially now that smartphones are part of everyone’s daily life.
Some people work on their phones. However, you can minimize this by using a smartwatch. You can receive important notifications through them instead of looking at your phone repeatedly. In addition, you can filter the notifications that you receive, which may trigger you.
Mental health is one of the most talked-about topics these days. More than being physically fit, you also need to be emotionally stable. Putting yourself first is not a form of selfishness. It is just that you need to take care of yourself to take care of others. Having a smartwatch to manage anxiety is a great tool to avoid attacks. Living a healthy life in the middle of the pandemic should be everyone’s priority.