I don't know about you, but working from home has left me with some extra time each day that I used to spend commuting. How I spend that extra time varies. What I have noticed is how easily I can continue working, now that my "office" is so close. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I don't think it's healthy to make that the norm.
I have been surprised though, at how often I now get out and ride my bike... and not only that, I'm surprised at how much I'm enjoying it, and how much I look forward to it. I'm not much of an early morning person, but at this time of year, around 5.00pm is perfect weather for a ride.
Given that we're at home a lot more at the moment, but exercise is one of the valid reasons to actually leave your home, we thought it might be a good idea to update you on some of the tech that is out there to help you with your exercise. Whether it's to help you reach a goal, or to simply make exercise more enjoyable, there are some cool gadgets available. As the weather gets cooler and going out becomes less appealing, there's still plenty you can do indoors with your extra time.
Studies are showing that the obesity rate in Australia is going the wrong way with over two thirds of Australians over the age of 18 being overweight or obese. We were under two thirds around 5 years ago... and a bit over 50% in the mid-nineties.
One thing that is proven time and time again is that looking after yourself not only improves your quality of life and life expectancy but also improves your efficiency at work. If you're saying you're too busy at work and can't afford the time to exercise, research shows you can't afford not to.
When we are at the office, Sentrian staff are encouraged to get up and leave their desk regularly. Staff will often walk around the block, and some even have regular meetings this way. Several staff were recently involved in a trail run around Ewen Maddock Dam, and before COVID-19 restrictions were in place, we had planned on spending an evening playing tennis. We even have a program in place whereby Sentrian will assist in payment for gym memberships and activity tracking devices. We truly believe that healthy people are happy people, and happy people are much better at looking after your IT environment.
A quick workout
If you're just starting out and know it'll take some time to get into a routine, the Johnson & Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout App is for you. A simple "do anywhere" 7 minute workout, and best of all, the app is free. The second-best thing is you can increase the length and adjust the intensity to suit. Definitely worth a look.
Activity tracking
The list of activity tracking apps is huge, and a lot of them are quality. One of the most well regarded is Map My Fitness. This has the ability to track a ton of different kinds of activities including housework. Having that kind of visibility can really help you reach your fitness goals.
Devices
One name that's been synonymous with fitness bands and activity tracking is Fitbit... and with good reason. They have a great range to suit most budgets and offer a quality product. In the start of 2020, it's the Fitbit Versa 2 getting the most buzz. It will track your activity automatically, stores a good amount of music, provides on-screen workouts, and even has a good selection of styles to choose from.
If you just want to dip your toe in the water, the Xiaomi Band 4 is excellent value and worth considering.
Earbuds
If you're like me, some exercise can get very boring, very quick. However, throw some music on and you're more likely to keep going longer, and with more intensity. For this reason, a decent set of earbuds are key. If you agree, you need to look at the Jabra Elite Active 65t. They're not cheap, but my goodness do they sound great and fit perfectly. Jabra also showed off the 75t buds at CES this year, and from all reports, look and sound amazing.
If you're looking for something that still sounds great, but not such a hefty price-tag, some of the SkullCandy range is worth a look. Especially these: Skullcandy Indy True Wireless
Too Much?
We all know there are some amazing techie toys out there, and while it's likely a while before we see these in everyone's home, it is cool just to know they exist. Here is a quick speed round of some of the more extravagant kit available.
A Fitness Mirror -Watch yourself and your virtual trainer at the same time.
Intelligent Yoga Mat - Built-in pressure sensors to offer real-time posture corrections and step-by-step instructions.
Live Outdoor Reality Rower - Row, row, row your boat... without ever leaving your home.
CES-2020 - The Consumer Electronics Show also had some exciting innovations we will no doubt hear more about soon!
Feel free to leave a comment and let us know about any fitness tech you use!
