photo credit: JD Hancock via photopin cc
If I were going to develop a mobile app, I would want to develop one that assists people in changing from being a couch potato into living an active life or, as I like to say, from doing nothing to doing something. This app would have to be able to ask probing questions like, “how have you been successful with being active in the past?” or, “is there a way to use your strengths to help you over the next week?” To me, this app will have to have a heart. Is that possible?
A recent study at Penn State examined the numerous mobile apps on the market and found that the top apps for health and fitness focus primarily on education and motivation; that is, feedback on exercise technique, performance, goal setting and environmental support tactics. Behavior change techniques or those interventions that assist in shifting attitude and self-efficacy are underrepresented. They go on to state that the consumer should be clear on their individual needs when looking for a health and fitness mobile app.
Here’s the thing about bringing physical activity into your life – it’s tricky. The temptation is to just do it – to jump right in and get going. While I do believe that is true, I also believe a foundation for change needs to be in place in order to realize long term success. The essence of change relates directly to one’s connection with their best experiences, core values and generative conditions, or those things in life that give someone a spark for living.
Physical activity is one of the hardest health behaviors to change. We go from thinking about it, to planning on it, to doing it, and to continue doing it. We need to learn how to deal with setbacks that get us out of the routine. The awareness required to be successful is something many people have no experience with. If an app can help in the illumination of behavior change, then I am all for it. Here are five elements that would be helpful in the creation of a mobile app in order to get people thinking about living a more active life:
- What has been your best experience with physical activity in the past?
- What do you value deeply in life?
- What things in your life are you passionate about?
- How do you see yourself living an active life?
- Why is getting active important to you?
These questions help set a foundation to connect us with a compelling reason to change; that is, to go through the uncomfortable but necessary steps of self- examination in order to realize success – step by step. Can a mobile app create a visually appealing yet functional platform that helps users to find their answers?
If a mobile app can help with this process, sign me up.