Technology has wrought many changes in our lives and is set to continue on this trajectory. Two of the biggest areas of technological advancement that have direct and positive implications for our lives are finance and wellbeing. The two often go hand in hand – financial stability and security are crucial for wellbeing, and a healthy state of mind is essential to be able to manage finances properly. Because we’re often inundated by news of tech advances, it can often be tricky to understand how to best use them in our day-to-day lives; it feels as though as soon as we get used to one new gadget or app, another, better version comes along.
Yes, it may feel like a lot of work at first, but paying careful attention to the latest developments in tech can have a fantastic impact on our lives. It is also worth remembering that with each piece of software, hardware or application you get the hang of, the next will become easier to adapt to. You don’t have to try everything out there all at once; take your own time getting used to different solutions until you find the things that work best for you.
Shopping
One of the biggest changes in our lives caused by technology is seen in how, when and where we shop – we can now easily buy almost anything online instead of having to make the trip to the local supermarket or mall. Technology has made it quick, hassle-free and simple to purchase anything from groceries to furniture to vehicles, both locally and from international sellers. E-commerce tech just keeps on getting better with every day that passes, with big brand names even trialing cutting-edge technology like drone delivery systems.
Also read: Top 9 Money Saving Apps for Your Android Phones
Saving
Thanks to the invention of online banking, automating your savings has never been easier. You can set up a standing order or direct debit with your bank within minutes using their app, which can help you follow the number one rule of savings: pay yourself first. Schedule your savings to come out of your bank account as soon as you’re paid so that you won’t feel the temptation to use that money for anything else.
You can also easily search through all the different savings accounts offered by big-name banks, smaller independent building societies, online banks, and more. Since technology allows us greater control over where we bank and the ability to be choosy with the benefits we enjoy, banks have been under pressure to entice customers to their digital doors – this is a win for you, the consumer, giving you access to the very best banking benefits.
Budgeting
Budgeting often isn’t the easiest practice to get into the habit of – it can take years of practice and discipline for some people. Drafting your own budget can also be easier said than done unless you’re a whiz with Excel; this is where budgeting apps can make all the difference in getting budgeting right. There are so many budgeting apps and tools available you’re sure to find the right solution to help you get on track. The great thing about the many apps, Excel templates, and banking tools is that the structure and categorization have been made for you – all you need to do is input your income and outgoings and start keeping track of your expenses.
Investing
You’ll need to do more than pinch those pennies and keep your trusty savings account topped up to live a truly financially secure life. With the cost of living spiking around the world, there’s never been a better time to use the stock market to build your wealth – and technology is here to help. A brilliant tool for beginners is a trading simulator, which can help you understand the intricacies of how stock markets operate and how it feels to buy and sell there. Of course, this cannot replicate the rush of investing your own money, but it is a good way to test the waters.
You can also find some incredible tools that will help you keep track of and gauge the current value of different stocks and understand how different world events can impact them. Economic calendar, for instance, is invaluable to stock traders, helping them keep an eye on upcoming events that could impact their investments.
Also read: Top 10 Investing Apps for Investment
Mental Health
There’s been a lot said about how technology has negatively impacted our collective mental health. However, it is worth remembering that there are a huge number of tools available using tech that can help us manage our mental health in various ways. These include:
- Meditation and mindfulness apps
- Access to therapy online
- Social media blockers
- AI-led therapeutic techniques
Employment
Doing a job, we love is crucial for our mental health; anyone that has experienced working in a role that doesn’t suit their personality or aspirations will know how essential it can be to well-being. There are so many ways tech can help you work towards the career that will truly fulfill you – training opportunities, digital career directories, professional networking, social media sites and the ability to work from home. Working from home is probably one of the most powerful changes tech has made to our lives in employment – we are now no longer constrained by geography when looking for a role.
Healthcare
The ways in which the healthcare industry has been transformed by technology could fill a library’s worth of books – it can be hard to highlight just a few of the benefits tech has brought. Perhaps one of the most notable is the rise of laparoscopic surgery; unlike open surgery, laparoscopic surgery requires just one or two small cuts to access areas to be operated on, with cameras used to allow the surgeon to see what they are doing. There are also robotic advances in healthcare tech that allow surgeons to do microscopic precision work via guided robotic technology. The incredible results for us mean that recovery times from major surgeries are often significantly faster and less risky.
Fitness
Technology has allowed us to take charge of our physical fitness like no other innovation in history. There’s so much tech that can help us stay healthy and work out effectively, from the humble (or no-so-humble, depending on your budget) fitness smartwatch to VR workout coaches and fitness mirrors. All of these innovations could have an excellent impact on your workouts and can help motivate you to keep on track with your health and fitness goals. And that’s not even getting started on the massive range of apps that can be used to track nutrition, exercise times, plan meals, training programs, and so much more.
The Takeaway
Technology can be an incredible tool for good in our lives, helping us in almost every area imaginable – and some you may have never even considered! Being financially and mentally healthy are two of the most important goals to strive towards, and it’s often hard – if not impossible – to have one without the other. With so much at stake – our health, happiness, housing, careers, and more – can you really afford not to use the many tech-related tools at your fingertips? You’ll need to make sure that you use only the most dependable and reputable technology, as your personal information will be stored safely and securely.
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