Wellness for the Workplace: Part 2
Make Better Personal Health Decisions Using Data!
Every workplace is teeming with data. Let’s take the hospitality industry as an example, which is overflowing with daily data needed to make better decisions; Revenue, number of customers, payroll costs, inventory levels, cash flow, actual performance vs. target, and the list goes on. However, how many of us utilize readily accessible data about ourselves to make proper health and wellness decisions daily? I could do some research and find the answer, but I would predict it is fairly low.
Access to data related to our health is abundant with the onset of advanced medical testing and personal health devices such as FitBits, Apple Watches, or my favorite sleep tracker; Biostrap. As mentioned in Part 1 of this wellness series, data and the analytics it can power, allows us to make better decisions to improve personal wellness, energy levels, and overall job performance. It will also increase health span and lifespan, which are the real “targets” for many of us.
Growing up, most of us learned to get an annual physical, which is a good basic data starter kit for those of you following this simple guideline. This annual ritual normally provides a comfort level that you are reasonably healthy (or require a few changes). Cholesterol, resting blood sugar, triglycerides, and a host of other readings we cannot even pronounce like your milligrams per decilitre of Bilirubin are all quickly analyzed by your physician and off you go for another 12 months. While this is excellent information, could you actually make decisions about your hotel, restaurant, spa, or other operations with a once-a-year set of data? So why do it with your personal health and wellness decision-making?
Daily data from my Biostrap back in May
By obtaining specific daily data to understand how well you slept and how your body recovered, you can start to learn more about yourself and in turn, make outstanding choices. Data also allows you to start asking questions:
“Why did I sleep so poorly or so well last night?”
“Why is my heart rate out of the normal range?”
“Did I eat something different the night before or maybe have too much alcohol, which impacted my body’s recovery?”
Through use of data and questioning that data in near real time, similar to our daily business lives, we are able to start making small changes that will improve our overall health and well being.
Additionally, we need to review trending data and what results the best-in-class are achieving vs. our performance to strive to be better. Below are a few examples of trend data and overall baseline performance vs. large pools of other individuals.
My overall performance vs. other users and Resting Heart Rate (HR) trend for last 12 months
From the spider graph, I understand the need to work on my overall Heart Rate Variability (HRV), which is impacted through increased high intensity, elevated heart rate aerobic exercise. Also, you can see my Resting Heart Rate (HR) trend spiked in the fourth quarter of last year. This was due to a small medical procedure I decided to undergo for a nagging injury. However, it was able to provide me invaluable insight, that when I do not exercise for several months, my HR and other vitals start to trend negatively. This was a good reminder for me to make a continuous effort to maintain my fitness routines, in order to preserve long term health and wellness benefits.
I also recommend several additional, easily obtainable data points for making better wellness decisions, which will increase your odds for a longer health span and lifespan. These include:
Food Intolerance blood test
Body fat testing (DEXA Scan)
Stress test (treadmill) for your heart
Home glucose and ketone readings (my current brand: KetoMojo)
Home blood pressure readings (my current brand: Omron)
Personal heart rate monitor while exercising (my current brand: Polar)
DNA testing (note: still not statisically sound testing method but fun to read)
All of these data points will continue to provide wisdom into how you can improve your overall performance. For example, I had a food intolerance test done to help me focus on avoiding specific foods, which create inflammation in the body. Inflammation (which btw, also result from continuous stress levels) can trigger numerous long term illnesses. In order to improve my chances, I try to avoid those in red below:
Milk, bread, beer, cake, peanuts, ice cream and pistachios are a no-no for me. Luckily I have no idea what a cockle is, so no change for me there. Egg whites and oranges were a total surprise!
DNA testing done through CicleDNA in Hong Kong, which highlighted several key issues for me, was well worth the investment. I was able to obtain specific knowledge about my individual body requirements including:
The type of exercise that is best for my DNA type
Vitamins I am unable to absorb properly, thus requiring higher doses
The type of dietary intake required for my DNA type, which aligned appropriately with my ancestry data from the test. (and yes, I am a firm believer in the “eat like your ancestors” motto)
Areas where I have a propensity to have health issues in the future, if I do not manage these through good decisions today (e.g. Type 2 Diabetes or High Cholesterol)
Below is a snapshot of my DNA test data:
CircleDNA test results excerpt
The takeaway from all of this data is simple to interpret. Data based decisions in both your work life and personal life are important. Obtain the appropriate data needed to make sound, timely decisions and you will find that your ability to increase your healthspan and lifespan are well worth the investment. If you are wondering how I am qualified to write this article, all you have to do is peek at my data analysis DNA results below to see for yourself!
CircleDNA test results excerpt
Visit SleepMindHeart.com for further information about being your best self and opportunities for hiring an ACC certified coach.
Wishing you positive vibes on your sleep quality and a long, enduring healthspan!
