For almost four years, with watchOS 7 and later, it has been possible to perform a Measuring our nightly rest with the Apple Watch. And this in a native way, since for even more years there have been applications like “AutoSleep” that measure sleep and that in my case I started to use.
The fact is that, far from what I thought at first, the truth is that sleeping with the Apple Watch has been beneficial for me for a better rest. It is not miraculous, logically. There are still nights when, like any human being, I sleep a little less well. The clock is not enough either. However, it has been a vital element to improve my rest. Well, yes, it was.
What the Apple Watch measures while we sleep
It is advisable to start with the most basic and, if you have never thought about it, you will be interested to know. The Apple Watch, thanks to its sensors, is able to perform measurements of our constants during the night in the same way as during the day, but in this case in a detailed and sleep-friendly manner.
Just because, Apple Watch knows when we sleep and understands this context. This is done mainly through the heart rate measurement that we have in all Watch models. However, depending on the model we have, perform all these measurements:
- Beats per minute (on all Apple Watches).
- Blood oxygen level (Apple Watch Series 6 and later, except “SE”).
- Body temperature (Apple Watch Series 8 and later, except “SE”).
- Breaths per minute (on all Apple Watches).
Based on these analyses, the device is able to analyze our sleep phases and how we ended up in each of them. With the native application we get a summary every morning and then, entering the “Health” application on the iPhone, we can find it in more detail, being able to see the evolution in days, weeks, months and even years.
First hurdle: sleeping with a foreign object on your wrist
The first big problem I encountered during my first nights with the Apple Watch is one that I’m sure many encounter: having to sleep with the watch on. Being used to sleeping without bracelets, rings or anything similar, having that strange thing
Image generated with DALL-E 3 and Photoshop
However, as with most things in life, you get used to it quickly and in a few days you forget. At least in my case. True, sometimes a twist of the wrist or arm scares me when I see a green light above my eyes. It is nothing more than the light of the watch sensor measuring the constants. You also get used to it and it is only “scary” in this initial phase when you still have your eyes half-open.
The key to everything, at least in my case, is adjust the strap as best as possible. To do this, I recommend using a bracelet that fits snugly to the wrist, but without putting excessive pressure on it. I use the “old-fashioned” sports one and adjust it by putting it with one hole less than usual, to be able to continue to measure the constants well, but I don’t tighten it too much either.
Yes, I will say that. in summer it’s more boring. We tend to sweat more and we can wake up in the morning with itching and even a rash resulting from the sweat accumulated between the watch and the skin. The same thing can happen during the day, but in this case we are not aware of it. Therefore, during these times I recommend a breathable strap more.
Apple Watch charging schedule needs to be readjusted
Many people charge their Apple Watch at night. I was at that club myself, but when I decided to sleep with him, I had to pick him up at another time of day. Here everyone must find their own schedule to make it more convenient for you.
In my personal case, I chose to charge it before going to bed. I have an Apple Watch Series 8 that charges quite quickly and since it charges daily, it never reaches 0%, so a few minutes are enough. So I enjoy my relaxing time at night, charging the watch while I shower and then resting by reading a book or watching a series. As soon as I go to bed, I put it on and it works all night and the next day.
That’s exactly it. “instant shower” which I think is applicable to most people. The Apple Watch is water resistant, but it’s not necessary for showering (unless you want to prevent a possible fall with its fall detector). No matter what time you shower, those minutes of bathing, dressing, and grooming can be enough.
My sleep improved, although it was accompanied by willpower.
In the Apple Watch sleep mode configuration we find great incentives to establish a minimum number of hours of sleep per day, as well as other additions such as a reminder of the minutes before going to bed or the restriction of notifications from those moments.
View of iPhone and Apple Watch with sleep mode enabled, which restricts screen light and device access
The idea behind these Apple Watch settings is raise awareness of falling asleep “correctly”. Experts recommend a series of fixed schedules, as well as a series of prior routines. With the watch, just as we can motivate ourselves to exercise to close the rings, we can achieve the equivalent of going to bed on time and trying to have as few stimuli as possible in the moments before.
However, as I had already warned in a previous point, Apple Watch alone doesn’t improve sleep, even if it helps. This is where our willpower comes into full play. We must be conscious and realistic. It is all well and good to think about sleeping 8 hours a day and that involves going to bed early. But it must be accomplished.
Don’t Cheat at Solitaire. Set a Realistic Schedule
I admit that at first I was guilty of excessive self-confidence and optimism. I wanted to wake up at 5:30 every day and sleep at least eight hours a day. This meant going to bed at 9:30 p.m., so by that time I had to have already finished all my work, had already finalized my leisure projects, had also finished the routines at home, had cooked dinner and had dinner.
In fact, I didn’t last long doing that. Because my personal situation pushed me to take a night’s rest seriously, I consulted a specialistsomething I recommend to everyone because in the end, they are the ones who can help us the most. In the end, the best thing for my mental and physical health was to sleep seven hours and assuming I didn’t need to get up very early, I came up with the perfect setup: go to bed at 11:30 pm and wake up at 6:30 am
You don’t have to be obsessed with always conforming
In this way I succeeded mastering time without it becoming a descent for me. It is a realistic goal that I am achieving and that I see in a very positive way in the morning. Because yes, there are days when I still wake up sleepy like all the neighbors’ children, but in the long run, I feel much more energetic during the day.
Now, I don’t think it’s advisable to take these goals literally. We’re human and at the end of the day, no matter how routine we have, there are times when it’s impossible for us to stick to them. A vacation, a day with a different work schedule, an impromptu dinner with friends or simply the fact that we feel like going to bed later are good excuses to skip them.
Sporadically skipping your sleep goals is natural and, in part, even positive
What I mean by this is that we can and should take our rest seriously, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we deprive ourselves of the sauce of life. Who hasn’t stayed up late to continue watching that series they’re addicted to? I won’t say you have to do it every day, but in the end, it’s also a matter of mental health to do it from time to time. And sometimes you can even “cheat” by setting the alarm an hour later and thus still respect the sleep goal (provided that it doesn’t mean being late for work or similar).
Which app to use to measure sleep on Apple Watch
Only two rivals (in my opinion): Apple’s native functionality and “AutoSleep”
As a good Apple product evangelist and concerned about the health of my friends, I have told many people the truth about the Apple Watch’s sleep measurement. Almost everyone asks the same question: which app is best for this? My answer is always a truth with a lie: “AutoSleep.”
Of all the sleep monitoring apps, “AutoSleep” is the most comprehensive. It uses the same sensors as the native Apple app, although shows it in a much more comprehensive way with charts, tips and more interesting settings. Not in vain, I already mentioned in the introduction that I was using it even before Apple added its native app.
Now the lie in this answer comes from the fact that in reality There is no need to have an app like “AutoSleep”. I don’t say it so much because it’s paid, since it costs 7 dollars in a single payment and I consider that it pays for itself. I say this because in the end the native application, even if it is not so beautiful visually, can be enough for the majority who do not want complications. After all, it measures the same thing and is just as practical for tracking our sleep.
As I always like to say, the best tool is the one that suits you best. Neither the most complete nor the most expensive. Sometimes, simple is enough and I strongly believe that what we have in the “Health” app is sufficient.. So much so that, even though I still have ‘AutoSleep’ available, I haven’t used it in years. If you ever dare to try this one, I think you won’t regret it.
In Applesfera | How to enable or disable sleep mode on iPhone
In Applesfera | How to take an electrocardiogram with your Apple Watch
Table of Contents
