Why Using Data Helps Assess Your Workload And Stress Levels

To be able to manage something, first, you must measure it and assess its impact on your life. The same is true for your workload and stress levels. However, while there may be little you can do to change what you must face during your shift, you do have the power to mitigate how it impacts your health by adjusting your habits outside of work.

As a first responder, you're no stranger to the adrenaline rush of a high-stakes situation or the exhaustion and fatigue that may follow a long shift. But what if there was a way to better understand how these demands affect your body and mind? That’s why using wearable technology like the Biostrap Kairos can be an essential piece of the puzzle to help you better manage your sleep, recovery, and fatigue.

Assess your stress load

Picture this: you're responding to a call, heart racing, mind sharp, ready to tackle whatever comes your way. But once the dust settles and you're back home, how do you know whether your nervous system is still on high alert and in fight or flight? That's where the Biostrap Kairos wearable comes in. With its advanced sensors and real-time data tracking, this device gives you insights into your physiological biometrics and autonomic nervous system balance. In other words, you can now objectively quantify to what extent your body is in a sympathetic vs parasympathetic state and where your heart rate variability (HRV) sits compared to your baseline. 

Having data at your fingertips about your physiological resilience gives you a heads-up when stress is on the rise, allowing you to implement stress management techniques before things spiral out of control.

Assess your sleep quality

Then there's the critical issue of sleep – or the lack thereof. You’re very much aware of how shift work and irregular hours can throw your sleep patterns into disarray, leaving you feeling like a zombie on autopilot. It might seem like you don’t have control over your sleep, especially when popping a sleeping pill or boozing into the night isn’t the answer.

Having data reflecting your sleep quality can empower you to take charge of your sleep quality. By tracking sleep duration, stages, and efficiency, Kairos provides you with comprehensive insights into your sleep patterns. Armed with this information, you can make informed decisions to optimize your bedtime routine, ensuring you wake up feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Additionally, understanding your deep sleep metrics allows you to gauge the restorative nature of your sleep, offering deeper insights into your recovery and overall well-being.

Assess your autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system or ANS plays a crucial role in regulating your body's stress response, and an imbalance can leave you feeling frazzled and fried. Be sure to check out a few other articles we covered that will help you better understand your ANS and its two branches: fight or flight and rest and digest. Keeping your ANS balanced and healthy is one of the most important things you can do to get a grip on your physical and mental health. 

Fatigue, poor quality sleep, and a drop in physical and cognitive performance are all signs that your ANS has been out of balance for quite some time. However, a maladaptive deviation from your personal HRV or resting heart rate baseline, or a decrease in deep sleep are more subtle changes that can be challenging to pick up on without objective data.

Yet if you do, you may be able to intervene early and incorporate strategies and frameworks that help your body’s restorative functions. Whether it's through relaxation techniques, mindfulness practices, or simply taking a moment to breathe, your ANS responds to every small act you do, and with wearable data, you can assess the impact of your daily life and workload on your physiology.

Wearable data from devices like the Biostrap Kairos provides first responders like you with actionable insights into your physiological well-being. However, it's essential to remember that data is just information; it's a bunch of numbers and metrics unless you take action with that information and knowledge in hand. By using this data to make informed decisions about stress management, sleep optimization, and overall health, you can proactively address the challenges you may face on the job and lead healthier, more balanced lives.