Leveraging Technology to Transform Well-Being, One ME/mo at a Time
By Susan Howard, MS, NBC-HWC
obVus Solutions, a Corporate Roundtable Member
Collaboration, unconditional kindness and curiosity are transformative in meaningful behavioral
change. With a new appreciation of our health due to the global pandemic, we seize the
opportunity to enhance our well-being as healthcare professionals and the relationship with our
patients by one supportive “me moment” (ME/mo) at a time.
Addressing compassion fatigue and burnout are imperative as we care for others. Today, nearly half
of physicians report feeling heightened anxiety, shock, isolation and even powerlessness. And while
doctors are experts in health, we still find it a challenge to follow health advice as summarized by the
lead researcher of a recent Harvard study, “for patients, healthy lifestyle choices and health are
important, but not easy to come by … both take work, and even health professionals find it
difficult.”
Technology Supports Positive Habit Formation, Engages Wellness Community
Evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic approaches of American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM)
integrate processes to prevent, treat and reverse disease with nutrition, sleep, exercise, stress
management and social connection. Incorporating the use of wearables supports better outcomes –
both for physician health as well as for the patients they care for. Moreover, research shows that
building life habits is sustainable when people create changes in small increments over time. Epigenetics point to daily lifestyle habits and environmental factors that add up over time to
influence outcomes. It is the small daily changes we make, or do not make, that greatly impact
our health.
Digital technology is changing how we work and live. Real actionable data gleaned from wearables
offers doctors, their patients and health coaches, who work with both, first-hand accountability and
insight. For the health coach, wearable technology provides insight into patient’s lives beyond the
patient visit. Tech closes the communication gap and builds rapport and trust between the patient
and their coach. The patient experiences heightened motivation by the connection and access to
their data. These micro-moments of human connectivity, between health professional and patient,
are an “active” ingredient of the successful lifestyle medicine process.
On the most simple level, well-tech is a catalyst to prompt an act of self-care that activates
autonomy in building an individual’s self efficacy.
ME/mo Solution
Unhealthy habits, such as long extended screen time are hard to change, yet ironically, technology
can be an effective tool to support positive change in scheduling mindfulness breaks. Wearable
devices act as a “virtual coach,” empowering users to live healthier lives to gain insight, reinforce
success, alter habits and promote sustained behavior changes, leading to long-term health.
Engaging technology to support curiosity of behavior gives users the autonomy to be more mindful,
eat more healthfully, manage stress and addictive behavior, and incorporate movement throughout
the day.
*Coach tip: Simple self-care actions that keep me in the present moment, which I call “ME/mos” - or
me over the moment - nourishes my positive perspective of my well-being and changes the narrative
around self-care. ME/mos highlight physical, emotional, social, intellectual/creative, spiritual,
occupational, financial, and environmental well-being throughout the day. Pairing ME/mos with
biofeedback, like heart rate reduction when I take a breathing ME/mo, provides instant feedback on
the positive impact of that moment.
What’s your ME/mo?
Learn More
obVus Solutions (it’s obvious) is a well-tech company that develops award-winning products to coach
and condition healthy habits. The company is committed to empowering individuals to mind their
health outcomes one ME/mo (behavior) at a time. Its patented product, minder®
, is a two-time
award-winning smart wearable device that offers real-time insight and builds healthy habits. The
obVus minder® Laptop Tower Stand is ergonomically designed and turns a laptop into a sit/stand
desk, named “Best Healthy Home Product” by Health Magazine in 2021. The minder wireless,
portable keyboard supports mindful ergonomics while on the go. The obVus Solutions’ MinderPRO
program is a network of national-board certified health coaches that create customized plans to help
clients “Minders” activate well-being and meet wellness goals.
A webinar series highlighting wellness and the role of technology for healthcare professionals
hosted by obVus Solutions certified Health Coaches is available at https://academy.obvus.me.