I have an app on my Apple Watch that tells me when I'm stressed.
Of course, I don't need an app to tell me when I'm stressed.
The app measures a million data points, including my heart rate variability (HRV).
Sometimes I'm alerted I need to slow down or meditate when I'm chilling in my La-Z-Boy.
I feel relaxed, but my HRV spikes.
The other day, I figured out what caused my HRV spikes.
I'll be scrolling social media or scanning the news headlines when I receive an alert. I don't feel the spike but my Apple Watch detects a spike in my HRV.
Most of the time, a few deep breaths and the alert disappears.
Is this a case of too much information or is it good to know when your heart is being triggered?
We live in a world of too much information, most of it designed to trigger us.
It's working.
I scan through my inbox and it's full of "Last chance. 33% off expires tonight" or "5 signs you're headed for burnout".
Every story on the news is BREAKING NEWS.
Big Pacific storms used to be called a Pineapple Express.
Now they are Atmospheric Rivers.
No wonder my Welltory app is going crazy.
While my Apple Watch has become yet another source of alerts in my life, it's also revealed something valuable: our bodies often register stress before our minds do.
Those HRV spikes are like early warning systems cutting through my conscious denial.
So I'm trying something new - using these alerts as reminders to pause and ask myself what I'm really consuming.
Is this content serving me, or am I serving it?
Perhaps true relaxation isn't just about sitting in my La-Z-Boy, but about being mindful of what I allow into my attention space.
What about you - do you have any digital wellness practices that work well?
I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Ted
