Four Incredible Ways Your Smartphone Can Help Your Health #Healthy2021 #bewell #healthgoals

Thanks to the ongoing COVID pandemic, many of us are experiencing two phenomena simultaneously: (1) decreased overall fitness and health and (2) extra time spent on our smartphones and other devices. As The Weekend Gourmet correspondent shows today, it's easy to use that extra screen time in a positive manner to help promote our health while we're spending more time at home due to the pandemic. This #Healthy2021 article may contain affiliate links.

 

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Are you spending more time on your smartphone now that you have fewer tasks during the day? If so, does it help you pass the hours? If you're spending more time on your smartphone, there’s a good chance you’re worried about the amount of screen time you're using. After all, every study seems to indicate too much screen time is bad for your health and has zero benefits. Therefore, using your phone to regulate your well being -- both physically and mentally -- may seem counterintuitive. However, there are plenty of benefits smartphones offer that can outweigh potential negative outcomes. Sadly, not many people know about these benefits due to the intense focus on reducing the use of mobile devices. Yes, too much screen time is unhealthy. However, smartphone use is like anything: it has benefits when you use it reasonably. The key is determining which actions are helpful and which are harmful.

Regular Exercise

Spending extra time at home during the COVID pandemic has had a negative impact on some Americans. For example: before COVID, one-quarter of American men and women were getting the recommended weekly amount of exercise. During the pandemic, 32% of people sampled in a survey said they work out less now than they did before the virus hit last Spring. If you fall into this category, you need to find a way to get your blood pumping for the sake of your mind and body. That can be challenging when you can’t go outside as much, or if your local gym is closed. Your smartphone could be the answer to your dilemma! There are many workout-from-home apps that tailor fitness sessions to your home environment. For example: low-impact home exercise workouts are a great option you can perform anywhere in your house. All you need is a little bit of free space. Considering how much exercise helps the body...and the brain...it’s well worth using your smartphone to continue your exercise routine from home during the COVID pandemic.

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Medical ID

COVID has definitely put the fragility of life into perspective. Previously, you may have felt indestructible. Even if you didn’t, you probably weren’t as fearful for your physical wellbeing as you are now. COVID has shown that a single interaction can lead to contracting a very powerful illness that has resulted in wide-reaching side effects for millions of people. That means having a safety net in place for the worst case situation is paramount. Step forward to your iPhone! An iPhone 4 or better can turn into what's known as Medical ID. Essentially, you note everything from your medical conditions, allergies, and blood type to your emergency contacts. This vital data is then accessible to doctors and nurses, who can tap and hold the emergency button on your iPhone home screen to read all of your vital health information. You need an iPhone to take this action. As of March 2019, there were 193 million iPhones in the U.S., so there’s a healthy chance that you can utilize the Medical ID function.

Hearing Loss

Hearing loss -- no matter how small -- can be problematic. In normal times, hearing loss can make you feel lonely and isolated when you can’t do simple tasks like follow a group conversation with friends. However, during a pandemic -- when restrictions reduce the number of interactions you have -- emotions will intensify. Thankfully, hearing aids are able to help by magnifying the sounds your ears struggle to pick up. Even better, Bluetooth hearing aids connect to your handset to offer greater control and accountability. For instance, you have access to the volume buttons on your smartphone, meaning you don’t need to adjust the hearing aids themselves. You can also turn the volume up on your hearing aids without increasing the sound from your TV or portable speaker. As a result, the whole family can spend extended amounts of time together in peace. Lastly, running diagnostics on your smartphone enables you to easily maintain your hearing aids.

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Relaxation

Chilling out has never been more important than at this very moment. With all the bad news on TV and perhaps the feeling of impending doom getting closer, it’s crucial to wind down when you can. Your stress levels will bubble over if you don’t find a way to relieve the tension. Listening to music, watching videos, or scrolling through social media all have the potential to reduce your cortisol levels -- and these options are mainly available via smartphone apps.

Bottom line: you don’t have to worry excessively about your screen time spent doing constructive tasks -- since research highlights that people who use digital devices have better social and emotional skills. Of course, you should be mindful not to go too overboard with screen time, because everything is unhealthy in overly large doses.

Does your health need a boost? With a smartphone, you can do any of the above health-boosting tasks easily and consistently!