Do Wearables accurately track Sleep?

We’re well past January now and based on the volume of my Inbox, many of you made new year’s resolutions to do something about your sleep.

About 50% of the people who contact me about sleep mention their trackers / wearables  – Apple watches, Oura rings, Fitbits – and say how awful they’re sleeping based on them.

I’ve even heard, “I’m not getting ANY deep sleep!”

Even when I tell them that’s impossible, they’re convinced it’s true.

Patrick gets LOTS of Deep Sleep!

A workshop I attended several years ago said they weren’t but I thought – hey they’re improving all the time. Maybe that first training was wrong or just needs to be updated.

So late last year I went to a professional workshop specifically on whether or not wearables are accurate to measure sleep (sleep specialists really get into this stuff).

This training did say something slightly different . . .

Wearables are actually harming people.

WHOA!

Harming people?

Yep. People go into anxiety spirals thinking they’ll die an early death, or have early dementia, or some type of cancer because they’re not getting enough sleep based on their wearables.

People start to mess with their activity during the day, their nighttime routines, and when they’re going to bed based on inaccurate data.

They say they can’t drive that day or go to an event or enjoy a glass of wine because their wearable said they didn’t get enough sleep the night before.

It turns out that your perception of sleep is still far more accurate than any wearable. Sleep researchers do all kinds of tests to figure this out.

 Wear your wearable during the day to track whatever you like.

But take your wearable off at night and sleep easy or easier!

If you take your wearable off for 2 weeks or so and still think your sleep is awful, then drop me an email, give me a call, or schedule a free consultation through the online calendar and we’ll get you sleeping better.

Before you go, remember to get your Free Hypnosis to reduce Fear and Anxiety!

Peace and Health,

Dr. Liz