As someone who loves gadgets and always looks for ways to improve my life, I’ve used wearable tech for everything from counting steps to tracking sleep. But recently, I started wondering: Could wearables help with something deeper, like mental health? In a world where stress, anxiety, and burnout seem to be constant companions, the idea of tech that supports mental well-being intrigued me.
So, I decided to try a few pieces of wearable technology specifically designed to track and improve mental health. Over a month, I tested gadgets that promised to reduce stress, improve mindfulness, and provide insights into my emotional state. What I discovered was eye-opening, sometimes surprising, and occasionally a little frustrating. Here’s my honest experience and what I learned along the way.
The Why: Stress, Anxiety, and a Desire for Balance
Like many people, I juggle a lot—work, relationships, personal goals—and that balancing act often leaves me feeling stressed and anxious. Some days, my brain feels like a web browser with 50 tabs open. Meditation and mindfulness apps helped, but I wondered if wearable tech could give me an edge in managing my mental health.
Could a gadget really help me stay calm, recognize stress before it spiraled, and build healthier habits? There was only one way to find out.
The Wearables I Tried
I selected three pieces of wearable tech that focused on different aspects of mental health:
- The Fitbit Sense – A smartwatch with stress management features.
- The Muse 2 – A headband that guides and tracks meditation.
- The Apollo Neuro – A wearable that uses vibrations to reduce stress.
Each device promised to offer insights or tools to help me manage stress, improve mindfulness, and feel more balanced.
Gadget 1: Fitbit Sense – Stress Tracking and Management
The Fitbit Sense is a smartwatch that not only tracks physical health but also monitors your stress levels using an Electrodermal Activity (EDA) sensor. This sensor detects tiny changes in sweat production, which can indicate stress.
My Experience
I wore the Fitbit Sense every day, tracking my stress levels and checking my “Stress Management Score” each morning. The watch prompted me to do quick, guided breathing exercises when it detected higher stress levels.
What I Liked:
- Awareness: Seeing my stress levels quantified made me more aware of how my body responded to different situations.
- Breathing Exercises: The guided breathing sessions helped me pause and reset during stressful moments.
- Daily Score: The Stress Management Score helped me recognize patterns, like how poor sleep or back-to-back meetings increased my stress.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Vague Data: Sometimes the stress scores felt too generic. I wanted more specific insights into why I was stressed.
- Limited Interventions: Aside from breathing exercises, the watch didn’t offer many tools to actively reduce stress.
Verdict:
The Fitbit Sense is great for raising awareness of your stress levels, but it’s not a complete solution for managing mental health. It’s a good starting point if you want to understand how stress affects your body.
Gadget 2: Muse 2 – Meditation with Real-Time Feedback
The Muse 2 is a headband that uses sensors to track brain activity, heart rate, breath, and movement during meditation. It gives real-time feedback to help you stay focused and improve your practice.
My Experience
I used the Muse 2 for 10-minute meditation sessions each morning. As I meditated, the headband gave me audio feedback—calm sounds when my mind was settled and stormy sounds when it wandered. After each session, I received a report showing how long I stayed focused.
What I Liked:
- Real-Time Feedback: The instant feedback helped me recognize when my mind drifted and gently guided me back.
- Improvement Tracking: Seeing my progress over time motivated me to keep meditating.
- Different Modes: The headband offered meditation sessions focusing on the mind, heart, breath, and body, which kept things interesting.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Comfort: The headband felt a bit tight and uncomfortable during longer sessions.
- Pressure to Perform: Knowing I was being “graded” on my meditation sometimes made me more anxious.
Verdict:
The Muse 2 is a powerful tool for building a consistent meditation practice. If you’re new to meditation or struggle with staying focused, this gadget can be incredibly helpful.
Gadget 3: Apollo Neuro – Stress Reduction Through Vibration
The Apollo Neuro is a wearable device that clips to your wrist or ankle and uses gentle vibrations to help reduce stress and improve focus. The idea is that these vibrations send calming signals to your nervous system.
My Experience
I wore the Apollo Neuro during work, while relaxing, and before bed. The device has different modes, like “Calm,” “Focus,” and “Sleep,” each with its own vibration pattern. I used the “Calm” mode during stressful work sessions and the “Sleep” mode to wind down at night.
What I Liked:
- Immediate Relaxation: The vibrations genuinely helped me feel calmer within minutes. It was like a mini massage for my nervous system.
- Discreet: The device is small and easy to wear under clothes.
- Versatile: I could use it anytime—working, commuting, or falling asleep.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Price: At around $200, it’s not exactly budget-friendly.
- Battery Life: The device needed frequent recharging, which was a bit annoying.
Verdict:
The Apollo Neuro is effective at reducing stress and promoting relaxation. If you struggle with anxiety or need help winding down, it’s worth considering—if you can stomach the price.
My Takeaways: Can Wearable Tech Improve Mental Health?
After a month of experimenting with these gadgets, here’s what I learned:
- Awareness Is the First Step:
Just knowing when you’re stressed or anxious can help you manage it better. The Fitbit Sense was great for this. - Mindfulness Tools Work:
The Muse 2 helped me build a more consistent meditation practice, which reduced my overall stress levels. - Calming Interventions Help in Real Time:
The Apollo Neuro’s vibrations were surprisingly effective at calming me down quickly, making it a useful tool for high-stress moments.
Final Verdict: Are Wearables Worth It for Mental Health?
Yes, but with caveats. Wearable tech can raise awareness, provide tools, and help you build healthier habits. However, they’re not magic fixes. Combining these gadgets with real-life strategies like exercise, therapy, and good sleep is key to seeing lasting benefits.
If you’re curious about using tech to support your mental health, starting with a budget-friendly option like a smartwatch or meditation aid can be a great first step.
