Apple's 'Close Your Rings' Employee Challenge Back On

[MacRumors]

Apple in February typically hosts a company wide fitness challenge for employees at its corporate and retail offices around the world, tasking employees with closing all three of their Apple Watch Activity rings every day of the month.

The challenge normally takes place in February to coincide with Heart Month, but this year it was delayed amid the ongoing public health crisis that had people remaining in their homes for the early months of the year.

According to an Apple employee that spoke to MacRumors, Apple is reinstating the challenge this week, with the event expected to end on August 16. Employees who finish the challenge will be rewarded with a t-shirt that says "2020" in a logo with Apple Watch Activity-style rings.

Employees who complete the challenge each day will earn a "gold" ranking and will receive a gold pin along with their t-shirt, and there are also silver and bronze rewards accompanied by silver and bronze pins.

There have been no changes to the Activity Challenge, and it remains the same as before the delay. Apple has hosted similar challenges in 2018 and 2019, providing exclusive watch bands to employees.

Article Link: Apple's 'Close Your Rings' Employee Challenge Back On

 

[Blackstick]

Depending on your goals, with gyms closed down in a lot of places, and it being 90ºF outside or even warmer by noon in lots of states, this could be a very tough challenge

 

[Drogba11]

This is groundbreaking stuff /s

 

[tribeaumes]

Why do the rest of us care about an internal employee fitness challenge?

 

[mms13]

Can't you just set your goals to the bare minimum to make this ridiculously easy?

 

[Powermax]

Can't you just set your goals to the bare minimum to make this ridiculously easy?

You can adjust the calorie goal, but stand (12 hours) and exercise (30 mins) cannot be changed.

 

[Adam089]

Strava achievments are more motivating. This is just lame.

 

[zakool21]

You can adjust the calorie goal, but stand (12 hours) and exercise (30 mins) cannot be changed.

And, to boot, Apple watch is very poor at detecting long periods of non-moving standing, so even if you work part of the day at a standing desk like I do, you still need to walk around for a minute every hour in order for that hour to count toward your standing time.

 

[aviddk]

Depending on your goals, with gyms closed down in a lot of places, and it being 90ºF outside or even warmer by noon in lots of states, this could be a very tough challenge

Check out indoor bike riding with Zwift, Rouvy, Trainer Road or similar apps. They are fun, interesting and amazing fitness builders all in the air conditioned comfort of your residence or naturally conditioned comfort of one's basement.

 

[Expos of 1969]

What a pointless article. Suitable for an internal Apple newsletter, not for a site with this distribution.

 

[0x4d]

They had a similar one last summer that ran from early July to August I believe. I don't quite remember what the prize was but that I never got it despite working out at AP fitness nearly every day lol

Can't you just set your goals to the bare minimum to make this ridiculously easy?

Last year, they had a 3 tier system where depending on how many steps/calories you burned per day you would be put in that tier. You couldn't just adjust the goals.

 

[zilchfox]

Can't you just set your goals to the bare minimum to make this ridiculously easy?

All you'd end up accomplishing is getting a free T-shirt, and cheating yourself out of a healthy exercise lifestyle.

 

[CarlJ]

Why do the rest of us care about an internal employee fitness challenge?

You are the one visiting a site whose stated goal is to provide every bit of information or rumor they can find that relates to Apple. Why take the time to complain about an article that fits the site’s stated goals but doesn’t appeal to you, rather than just simply skipping to the next article?
[automerge]1595274349[/automerge]

What a pointless article. Suitable for an internal Apple newsletter, not for a site with this distribution.

Translation: “I don’t personally find this article interesting, so no one should be able to read it.”

 

[Apple_Robert]

This kind of news is important to Apple Watch band collectors hoping to get their hands on a band. Outside of that passionate group, this is very trivial.

 

[ondert]

No employee edition watch band this year?

 

[Mactagonist]

Why do the rest of us care about an internal employee fitness challenge?

many of us like buying the limited edition bands from this challenge. This year we can’t. Useful info.

 

[sideshowuniqueuser]

Tim wants his underlings to close their rings?!

 

[Cycling Asia]

You can adjust the calorie goal, but stand (12 hours) and exercise (30 mins) cannot be changed.

The stand ring has nothing to do with standing. It is detected based of 30 to 60 seconds of continual movement. So they really should call it the "move your arm while you continue to sit at your desk". I've even had "stand" hours detected while I've been sleeping.

 

[jonnysods]

This is a fun way to bring a global team together a little!

 

[Brien]

Dibs on the exclusive band!

 

[CarlJ]

Dibs on the exclusive band!

It sounds like maybe it’s going to be super crazily exclusive this year. Good luck!

 

[mikedis]

If anyone is coming to this thread looking for more insight into the Close Your Rings challenge, I've posted a detailed history of the challenge here, including pictures.

A Detailed Look at Apple's Wellness Challenges

I've tried to compile the most details on this challenge as I could. Hopefully it's helpful to someone else.

Thanks for looking!