Ever compare yourself to others on Strava? Feel yourself pushed to do more to hit a "streak" or online badge? This episode's for you.

Sport psychology professor Dr. Hayley Russell dives into the upsides and pitfalls of fitness‑tracking apps like Strava.

She explores how self‑tracking can boost motivation, community, and self‑awareness — but can also fuel comparison, pressure, and body‑image concerns.

What can you do to make the most of your online fitness tracking?

• Balance function over appearance: Use data to celebrate what your body can do, not how it looks.
• Set intentional goals: Focus on consistency and health‑supporting habits rather than perfection or daily “streaks.”
• Curate your feed: Mute or unfollow accounts that trigger negative social comparison; follow supportive communities instead.
• Take digital breaks when needed: Recognize signs of obsessive tracking and give yourself permission to step away without guilt.
• Leverage community features: Join or create niche groups (e.g., postpartum athletes, larger‑body runners) to find relatable peers and reduce isolation.
• Protect privacy: Adjust route‑sharing settings to hide start/end points and consider the safety implications of public activity logs.

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