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.