According to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity is the fourth-leading risk factor for premature deaths worldwide, contributing to an estimated global death toll of 3.2 million people a year.
There has been a relatively recent increase in the popularity of wearable activity trackers, with the goal of helping to bring about increase in activity levels. But, activity trackers don’t help much. Incorporating, incentive strategy in sticking to a healthier lifestyle, would need to be in place for a longer period of time to generate any noticeable improvements in health benefits and to avoid any undermining effect from their removal
Available evidence indicate that financial incentives help promote short-term change, but there is a dearth of evidence on longer-term programs and outcomes. Targeted incentives for specific risk groups have shown more success. With creative design, targeted use and evaluation, financial incentives for weight loss and healthy behaviour may be a useful addition to the health policy toolkit. Money can motivate people, at least in the short term. The question is whether the reward yields the behavior you seek or if it produces the opposite result.
Motivation to excel includes factors like,
- Taking up challenging work
- Recognition
- Accepting Responsibility and
- Tracking personal growth.
Motivated people don’t require external pressures or incentives because they are driven by what’s inside them and by the excitement and challenge of their work. What they do require is an environment in which they can grow, be intellectually stimulated and enjoy the appreciation of their peers and superiors.
Focus on making healthy choice, healthy decision, taking one step, lifting one pound, stretching one inch, and making one plan at a time. Just like all the successfully fit and healthy people do.
