Summer is over, the holidays are upon us, and many of us are still working from home, so the temptation is real to just let it all go. Don’t give in! Especially since September is Self-Improvement month. Use this month to learn a new language, save some money, be more organized. Or, if you want to do good for both body and mind, why not focus on your wellness AND your tech health?

• Update your passwords. Nothing makes a hacker’s day like breaking your password and then learning it’s the same one for your bank, your credit cards, and your social media. Get a password manager like Password Genie and update all your passwords using a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols—and make them varied and unguessable.
• Take a breath. Even 5 minutes of meditation, sitting quietly and breathing deeply, can lower your blood pressure, boost brain function, elevate your mood, and reduce stress. Make a point to meditate a little every day.
• Protect yourself. Anti-virus software is one of the best weapons against cyber attacks, but it’s useless if you don’t keep it current. When you get an alert to “Click for updates,” go ahead and do it—rather than hitting “Remind me later.” Better yet, use an anti-virus like SecureIT which automatically updates itself.
• Stand up and stretch out. Sitting is one of the most damaging things you can do to your body, but you can undo a lot just by standing up! Set a timer on your phone to get up every hour and go for a quick walk or do a few stretches. Open up tight hip flexors and neck and back muscles with a few key moves: https://www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a25136942/muscles-to-stretch-if-you-sit-all-day/
• Back up your files. Maintain file integrity—and don’t lose forever your precious photos and documents—by backing up files regularly. Consider cloud-based solutions like FileHopper Plus for daily backups as well as an external hard drive for more sensitive documents.
• Hydrate. Often, we get sucked into our work and forget to drink enough water. Staying hydrated will help with concentration, keep you full between meals, and help transport nutrients that keep you feeling energized all day.

It’s nearly impossible to get through the day without touching our technology, but if we make the effort to keep our tech safe AND put it down for a few minutes a day, we’ll all be safer and healthier for it. How’s that for self-improvement?