Wearables might be failing in their quest to make us healthier by overlooking our key motivation, according to a new study.
A new study suggests that traditional health-focused messages aren’t enough to drive physical activity.
The study, published in the Journal of Sport and Health Science, concludes that many people perceive fitness gains as having weak subjective value. It found that individuals focusing on long-term fitness benefits often delay exercising, whereas those who target more immediate rewards experience greater motivation.
Examples of immediate, feel-good benefits include the dopamine hit from low-effort physical activity, enjoying a great playlist during a run, or the mental health boost from working out. These factors, according to the study, are far stronger motivators than simply “getting fit.”
Wearables have long grappled with the challenge of motivating users. Many people turn to step trackers or activity-monitoring wearables to adopt healthier lifestyles. Yet all too often, these devices end up abandoned in drawers after failing to sustain user engagement.
Consider consumer-grade wearables such as Fitbit, which introduced features like “active zone minutes,” or Amazfit’s PAI (Personal Activity Index) to encourage activity. These metrics, however, often fall short because they lack immediate pleasure or tangible benefits.
So, could wearables learn from this study? Is it possible for them to become more benefit-driven?
Rather than focusing solely on biometrics and performance markers, how could wearables incorporate mindfulness as a metric? How can they make us feel better about ourselves?
In a recent PULSE by Wareable piece, I criticized Whoop for how demotivating its metrics can become over time.
At its core, perhaps the real issue is this: wearables need to help us enjoy the journey more than fixate on the destination.
