Are we stronger than we think? The Fitbit Positive Psychology study
The idea behind Fitbit Positive Psychology is to demonstrate the positive effects of active psychology. Here is the study conducted in collaboration with Professor Ilona Boniwell.
Fitbit Positive Psychology and Professor Ilona Boniwell: the data
Fitbit has decided to start a collaboration with the professor Ilona Boniwell to learn more about positive psychology and its benefits. Interesting data emerged, supported by the results of a survey conducted by an independent body, Course5 Intelligence, of consumers in 12 countries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Below is the full report of Fitbit Positive Psychology.
What do I think about when we say the word strong? An image of a weightlifter, an Olympic athlete, or someone who can take a lot of effort? Strong, according to the dictionary definition, indicates a person who can easily withstand severe strain, who can withstand material and moral hardships. However, the perception of the word is evolving as more and more people focus on inner strength and self-care. Fitbit believes that a holistic approach to healthwhich focuses on physical and mental well-being, can make us feel stronger in times of great uncertainty.
In a recent survey conducted by Courses5 Intelligence on behalf of Fitbit in August 2021 on a sample of more than 13,000 people in France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and the United United, one in ten Italians interviewed believes that the traditional concept, or at least from the dictionary, of “strength” refers to physical strength; 37% of the sample recognized that the definition of true “strength” is a combination of physical and mental characteristics. Furthermore the 51% define strength as the ability to cope with stress and life challenges.
How can you rely on your inner strength to improve your daily life?
Force therefore appears to be a subjective and personal concept. Most of the time we are able to mention someone we perceive as “strong”. However, we don’t necessarily think of ourselves as strong based on our personal definition. This tendency to neglect our individual strength also emerges in the survey. 69% of respondents did not indicate themselves when asked to name the strongest person they know. The most named are a parent (22%), a friend (11%) or their spouse (9%). Recognizing the people in your life as strong individuals is a great place to start. However, developing personal strength and putting it into practice can help change your mindset.
Professor Ilona Boniwell expert in positive psychology e positive leadership teacher at Ecole Centrale Paris and HEC Business Schoolhe claims:
“If something doesn’t feel right, people automatically look for what’s wrong, what they’re not doing right. I encourage everyone to approach differently, to think about what’s working for them and the situations in which they feel stronger. Focusing on this can positively influence any changes you want to make. Changing mentality and strengthening self-esteem will help to develop resilience, which will help to better cope with the stressors and challenges of daily life ”.
But how can you develop the mental strength needed to feel ready to get through every day? Sleep is the main factor: 64% of Italians interviewed say that a good night’s rest helps them feel stronger. In second place we find physical exercise (45%). In third place the 32% of people indicated a mental need to set goals.
Fitbit Positive Psychology: the importance of self-care
Joanne Savage, Fitbit’s EMEA Marketing Director at Google states that:
“’Self-care’ is not just a trendy word, but a continuous practice and, like strength, it does not mean the same for everyone. Mental strength is increasingly recognized as an important part of our overall health, but it takes time to build. Fitbit can help you develop a regular self-care practice with over 300 relaxation and meditation sessions on Fitbit Premium, including Calm content, the # 1 sleep and meditation app, and exclusive Mindful programs. Method by Deepak Chopra, physician and pioneer of integrative medicine and founder of the Chopra and Chopra Global Foundation, developed to help you improve your emotional well-being “
A lot more people have started wondering how they feel, but how we talk to ourselves? Self-talk largely depends on one’s personality. In the survey, the results show that men are more likely to engage in a more positive inner dialogue (37%), known as ‘positive self-talk’, compared to 30% of women. In addition to gender differences, there were also differences between generations: when it comes to talking about mental resilience, 60% of Italians between 18 and 24 feel more comfortable discussing their mental and physical strength with friends, family or colleaguescompared to 45% of those over 55.
“Recognizing how important it is to talk and share your state with others is a strength,” says Professor Boniwell. “Taking time to focus on the positive aspects of your daily experiences is a starting point for recognizing your strength. Before going to bed each night, it can be helpful to think back over the day and remember three good things that happened, that went well, that you liked, or things you are grateful for. This technique is more important than you might think, because appreciation can help you realize what you have achieved and strengthen your self-esteem ”.