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Out of curiosity: Why tracking your sleep?

M

Mr.Blacky

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Jul 31, 2016
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I often read here, that many people are using their Apple Watch to track their sleep. But for what? What can you do with this data? Would be nice, if you could share your reasoning for sleep tracking, so that I can understand it better and maybe start using it myself. :)
 
To check their sleeping pattern, I'd imagine. And try to change it if they're not happy with it.
 
TheSkywalker77 said:
To check their sleeping pattern, I'd imagine. And try to change it if they're not happy with it.
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Really, that would work? I mean, I wouldn't know how to change my sleep pattern, since after I fell asleep, I am basically "helpless".
 
Mr.Blacky said:
Really, that would work? I mean, I wouldn't know how to change my sleep pattern, since after I fell asleep, I am basically "helpless".
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Falling asleep earlier, using screens less before and after sleep, etc. Just tweaking certain things until you get results you're happy with.
 
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This is my first Apple Watch and there is enough on my plate with all the fitness tracking and heart tracking. I don't want to open a can of worms and find out that despite limiting my caffeine intake and working out twice a day, I am sleeping like crap. What then? Once you know you're not sleeping well, what do you do?

I'm not that tired during the day and I fall asleep pretty fast and effortlessly, so sleep tracking is not something I'm interested in at this time.
 
If your sleep is poor then try changing things like bed time, diet, exercise, less caffeine ect. Logging will help determine if it's all helping.
 
Sleep tracking is completely unnecessary for me. [#1], I don’t feel like wearing my watch to bed, nor to have I ever worn a watch to bed. [#2], My sleep is consistent. The only way I would ever feel the need to have sleep tracking, is if I was inconsistent, or to see various intervals of times when I’m awake and causes behind it.
 
I have been using AutoSleep for one month. I had not previously wanted to do it because charging at night simplifies daily use—and I have had the watch die multiple times which never happened before I started sleep tracking.

However, I am going to stick with sleep tracking because it is causing me to improve my sleep.

I like to stay up late and get up early, but sometimes this trims my actual sleep far too much.
Seeing data, feeling the result and using reminders to start thinking about wrapping up the day is improving my life.

I’m not surprised at all Apple is working on their own app.

That said, the charging thing is a major problem. It takes way too long to charge past 50%. And I don’t like interrupting my daily activity tracking to do it.
 
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After my stroke I was told that it's vital that I get enough sleep. Tracking it (I use AutoSleep) is an easy way for me to make sure I continue to pay attention to whether or not I'm getting enough.

I thought it would drive me crazy to wear my watch to bed (my husband wears a conventional watch to bed, and I've always thought he's crazy to do so), but I'm used to it now. Another nice perk is that I can set my alarm on my watch, and wake up from the vibration without waking up my husband.

I just pop the watch on the charger while showering and eating breakfast, and it's good to go until the next morning. It charges amazingly fast.
 
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- rob - said:
I have been using AutoSleep for one month. I had not previously wanted to do it because charging at night simplifies daily use—and I have had the watch die multiple times which never happened before I started sleep tracking.

However, I am going to stick with sleep tracking because it is causing me to improve my sleep.

I like to stay up late and get up early, but sometimes this trims my actual sleep far too much.
Seeing data, feeling the result and using reminders to start thinking about wrapping up the day is improving my life.

I’m not surprised at all Apple is working on their own app.

That said, the charging thing is a major problem. It takes way too long to charge past 50%. And I don’t like interrupting my daily activity tracking to do it.
Click to expand...

That's pretty much why I started tracking sleep as well. I can see the data over time, know what I'm doing right, what I need to tweak. With SleepWatch, you can see data that impacts your quality of sleep such as, temperature, bio needs, sleeping with pet, partner, exercise, or stress. The key to tracking anything with the watch is to review it over time and or be mindful of doing your best to get into good sleep habits or whatever you're tracking. I can say since tracking sleep, I have definitely improved my sleep habits. Something I could have done without the Apple Watch for sure, but by using it, I am mindful of it. Just like exercise.

When I upgraded to S4 from my S2, I kept it so one is always charged when I wake up. the other goes on the charger. Considering what Apple gives offers for trade, it had much more value to me to have a 2nd watch. Now I realize not everyone agrees with this approach or is in this position, but even with my S2, I was tracking sleep. I charged it while I was in the shower & getting ready for work. Wore it all day and about 2-3 hours before bed, I put it on the charger. That worked well for me because in that time I was pretty much sitting in a recliner anyway.
 
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Mr.Blacky said:
I often read here, that many people are using their Apple Watch to track their sleep. But for what? What can you do with this data? Would be nice, if you could share your reasoning for sleep tracking, so that I can understand it better and maybe start using it myself. :)
Click to expand...

Why do people track calories? Because they are curious or want to fix something.

Why do people track heart rate? Because they are curious or want to fix something.

Why do people, overall, want to track something? Because it's easier to implement changes if you have control over the situation.

But, if you sleep like a baby, if you're not curious or need help with sleep, then you wouldn't see the benefits of it regardless of what people say.
 
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Sleep tracking has been life changing for me (just like other aspects of my Watch). The data I collected via SleepWatch helped my primary care physician and my sleep doctor and my sleep dentist (yes, really) diagnose my issues. Now I monitor my sleep so that I can observe and track patterns and make changes to enhance the quality of my sleep (and therefore, the quality of my health). I am so grateful for my Watch!
 
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Mr.Blacky said:
I often read here, that many people are using their Apple Watch to track their sleep. But for what? What can you do with this data? Would be nice, if you could share your reasoning for sleep tracking, so that I can understand it better and maybe start using it myself. :)
Click to expand...
Ive done sleep tracking and while its interesting, I stopped using it and with my watch in bed. I guess there’s people that like wearing watches when they are sleeping but that’s not me.
 
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Larvas said:
Why do people track calories? Because they are curious or want to fix something.

Why do people track heart rate? Because they are curious or want to fix something.

Why do people, overall, want to track something? Because it's easier to implement changes if you have control over the situation.

But, if you sleep like a baby, if you're not curious or need help with sleep, then you wouldn't see the benefits of it regardless of what people say.
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I'm not sure if I can control my sleep. After I fell asleep, I am basically a silent codriver with no real influence on the journey at all.
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artfossil said:
Sleep tracking has been life changing for me (just like other aspects of my Watch). The data I collected via SleepWatch helped my primary care physician and my sleep doctor and my sleep dentist (yes, really) diagnose my issues. Now I monitor my sleep so that I can observe and track patterns and make changes to enhance the quality of my sleep (and therefore, the quality of my health). I am so grateful for my Watch!
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Okay, but what patterns did your sleep tracking show and what did you change, based on that specific data?
 
1rottenapple said:
Ive done sleep tracking and while its interesting, I stopped using it and with my watch in bed. I guess there’s people that like wearing watches when they are sleeping but that’s not me.
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This is what it is for most people. They find the data interesting but then take no action with that data.

Its like the noise monitoring. Reddit is full of people posting "Hey, I guess my piss hitting the side of the pan is super loud, LOL" pictures but then do nothing with it or because they cant. I turned off noise monitoring because I dont deliberatly go to loud places and if I am there is nothing I can do about the plane flying over head.
 
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Mr.Blacky said:
I'm not sure if I can control my sleep. After I fell asleep, I am basically a silent codriver with no real influence on the journey at all...
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You could make the same statement if using sleep tracking hardware: https://www.esquire.com/lifestyle/health/g26326534/best-sleep-trackers/

Or if you have a professional sleep study done in a clinic. Likewise in this case you are a "silent codriver with no real influence on the journey": https://www.healthline.com/health/polysomnography

It turns out you can have some influence on your sleep pattern, and a sleep study or even an Apple Watch can detect some types of problems.
 
staggerlee41 said:
...When I upgraded to S4 from my S2, I kept it so one is always charged when I wake up. the other goes on the charger...
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How does this work - are both synced with the same info to your iPhone?

I ask because I'll be getting my S3 back from my brother, who didn't end up using it. I use my S4 daily. Does the info tracked on one of them automatically get transferred to the other??
 
annk said:
How does this work - are both synced with the same info to your iPhone?

I ask because I'll be getting my S3 back from my brother, who didn't end up using it. I use my S4 daily. Does the info tracked on one of them automatically get transferred to the other??
Click to expand...

Yes, you have two watches synched with one phone. Have them set to auto switch and it's as easy as taking one off, putting the other on. The data isn't instantaneously there on the watch, it takes just a bit-but it comes over.
 
I wear my S4 to bed, but it's not to directly track my sleep. It's to track my HR overnight.

My resting HR was substantially elevated last night (54 bpm) because I ran 21 miles yesterday afternoon (and probably because I stayed up late watching the World Series). (Go Astros!) It should be 50-51 bpm tonight and 48 bpm tomorrow night. If it stays elevated all week, it means I'm not recovering well (or I'm about to get sick).

Seeing that allows me to prioritize getting more sleep or to cut back on my training for a day or two.
 
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staggerlee41 said:
Yes, you have two watches synched with one phone. Have them set to auto switch and it's as easy as taking one off, putting the other on. The data isn't instantaneously there on the watch, it takes just a bit-but it comes over.
Click to expand...

Well that's useful to know, thank you! If I have one I wear to bed, I can even keep a more comfortable band on it.
 
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