Perhaps nothing is more satisfying than resolving stress, whether driven by workplace anxieties, troublesome travel, navigating pitfalls in our personal lives or a combination of all. And, it seems the need to resolve stress is needed now more than ever. This amid new Gallup findings that stress, sadness and worry have all inched higher worldwide—pushing Gallup’s Negative Experience Index to yet another new high.
The good news is that there are numerous technologies determined to help us alleviate the angst in our lives. Here are a few savvy ways to stem daily stress and, in doing so, enrich your daily career, social and home life.
Cove Headset from Cove (https://www.feelcove.com)
There’s no time like the present to invest in tomorrow, which means taking control of your health today. The Cove headset and companion IOS app are a great way to track your health and improve your body’s regeneration through sleep and relaxation. Cove is a wearable technology that uses gentle vibrations to mimic human touch, providing feelings of calm so the body and mind function at the highest and most efficient level. It activates our “seventh sense” of interoception (the perception of sensations from inside the body) that enables us to detect our body’s internal needs and regulate them accordingly. Being in tune with your body helps improve your efficiency during the day, as well as relaxation and renewal at night. The result being better sleep, less stress and the ability to be more resilient and adaptable in life, including a better ability to handle emotions. Backed by scientific studies and research from Brown University and Harvard Medical School, Cove allows its users to become mentally stronger after each session. Cove comes equipped with a best-in-class PPG heart rate sensor and a 3D accelerometer. Weighing only 20 grams, Cove sits comfortably behind your ears and uses dual-mode Bluetooth 4.2 to pair wirelessly with your phone. You can even complete four sessions without having to recharge your Cove. The device has an 85 mAh capacity and can be fully charged in 60-80 mins.
minder ‘Smart’ Wearable Accessories (www.obVus.me)
Here’s a holistic way to help someone feel better in a variety of ways courtesy of smart wearable tech. minder’s patented, award-winning app + accessories transform the Apple Watch into a “smart” wearable. minder uses real-time visual biofeedback to coach and condition healthy habits like good posture, mindful breathing and purposeful breaks using a “gamified” environment and sensory cues. Designed to work on multiple touch points, minder makes healthy habits fun and produces outcomes clinically proven to reduce stress, increase strength, improve blood pressure and reduce chronic back pain. minder reminds users when and HOW to breathe, incorporating breathing options such as “Box Breathing” and “Diaphragmatic Breathing” along with a variety of soothing nature and ambient sounds. minder conditions posture through 360-degree, real-time biofeedback, visual prompts, audio chimes and soft tapping vibrations and allows users to schedule reminders – called ME/Mos (“Me Moments”) – to encourage mindful breaks. ME/Mos can be anything from a meditation break to drinking a glass of water to a full workout, and are centered around mindfulness, nutrition, movement, and healthful sleep habits, empowering users to take control of daily stress factors. Benefits of minder include improved mood, focus, sleep and core strength as well as reduced pain. The web site offers a free book titled “Why Posture Matters.”
Pulse by Fierce Workplace Wellness App (https://fierceinc.com/pulse_by_fierce)
Our career lives are certainly suffering in kind. On the heels of its artificial intelligence (AI), Metaverse and interactive 3D virtual employee training and simulation deployments, global leadership development and training company Fierce, Inc. is again changing the way people communicate with each other and address workplace stress. This time via the visionary company’s new “Pulse” app poised to refine—and redefine—workplace culture, while also notably boosting bottom lines. Pulse strives to build a mentally fit workforce and shore up financial fitness in kind. Early data from the Pulse app, which is now available for early registration ahead of its official September launch, has demonstrated multiple staggering results, including a14% decrease in anxiety, 10% decrease in stress, 8% decrease in burnout and an 11% increase in resilience. Pulse uses Stress and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) to objectively measure stress. It categorizes stress and ties it to specific times and events, which allows the user to decipher and identify their true causes. The benefits of the Pulse app are copious. It enables users to pinpoint and eliminate stress through patented technology, breakthrough research and interactive content and coaching; links self-awareness, identifying people’s toughest challenge and moving to action ; provides a quicker determination of issues and moves toward resolution; eliminates open-ended coaching that is hard to tie to results; determines organizational issues/themes for broader virtual or live L&D/wellness engagements; connects users directly to wellness and employee assistance programs and to relevant and applicable OnDemand L&D content; develops and increases resilience that drives economic impacts on the organization, supporting a thriving culture; supports EAS Compliance; and delivers results in as little as two weeks and one coaching session.
Therapeutic ‘The Desk Light’ from Allay (https://allaylamp.com)
Get non-medicated relief from headache pain and anxiety, sleep better and feel less stressed with The Desk Light from Allay. Every day light creates very large electrical signals in the eye, with a direct path to the brain. This influences everything from your mood to how you sleep. Developed by Harvard Medical School professor and neuroscientist Rami Burstein, a world leader in the science of migraine and headache pain, the innovative Allay lamp works by emitting a precise band of natural green light, which generates far smaller electrical signals to the eye and brain. The result is a calmer mind, which helps improve sleep and reduce pain—even during headaches and migraines. Experience the benefits of Allay’s patented green light technology in a focused area. Allay’s The Desk Light is great for lighting up your workspace or focusing on a book before bed. Allay’s patented glow naturally soothes the brain; reducing stress, anxiety, and headaches. Its cutting-edge technology features simple touch controls and includes a built-in wireless charger for your phone. The Allay team is focused on one simple mission: to help people with light sensitivity emerge from the darkness and get back to doing what they love. While many can benefit from this innovative product, it’s especially helpful for pregnant women, nursing moms and others who are not able to use the stronger prescription migraine medications or when acceptable over-the-counter headache medications don’t work well enough.
truMedic truShiatsu PRO Foot Massager with Heat (https://TruMedic.com)
Here’s a great way to relax and unwind at the end of a busy day. The truMedic truShiatsu PRO Foot Massager with Heat is equipped with professional-quality massage technology to provide a relaxing, tailored massage on your own schedule. Forget about booking expensive massage appointments when he can enjoy this device in the comfort of his own home. This massager has three different time settings, three intensities and optional heat functionality allowing users to treat their feet to a professional-quality Shiatsu massage without leaving the house. The truShiatsu PRO targets specific acupressure points in your feet with its combination of rollers, heat and airbag compression. It targets specific reflexology points to provide complete stress and soreness-relief in every session. Plus, it’s ergonomically designed to complement the structure of the human foot for maximum relaxation. When not in use just store it away in a closet.
Author:
Merilee Kern, MBA
Forbes Business Council, Newsweek Expert Forum and Rolling Stone Culture Council Member Merilee Kern, MBA is an internationally-regarded brand strategist and analyst who reports on cultural shifts and trends as well as noteworthy industry change makers, movers, shakers and innovators across all categories, both B2C and B2B.
