Fitbit looks to help you get a better night’s sleep
Fitbit has introduced a new feature to its app today that aims to help users improve their sleep habits. Sleep schedule, as its called, adds bedtime and wake-up targets to establish consistency and help you get more sleep.
Adults are recommended to get seven to nine hours of sleep per night. Insufficient sleep has significant consequences for long-term health. Studies show that consistently failing to get enough sleep contributes to increased rates of chronic diseases as well as mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. A recent poll conducted by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that one out of three adults don’t get enough sleep.
Setting a sleep schedule can help you achieve a healthy sleep cycle. If you have five or more sleep logs, the Fitbit app will set your wake-up time target based on the time you typically wake-up each day. Your bedtime target will default to the time you should go to sleep in order to meet your sleep goal. You can also tweek these numbers manually if you wish.
To meet your sleep goal, simply go to bed or wake up within 30 minutes of your target. If you meet your target, a star will appear in the sleep schedule graph. If you set both a bedtime target and a wake-up time target but only meet one, you won’t see a star. You can also track your sleep consistency over time to determine if you’re meeting your goals or if you need to adjust your sleep schedule.
“What’s great about the new Fitbit Sleep Schedule feature is that it looks at your sleep data from your Fitbit device you’re wearing day and night, analyzes it for patterns and creates a personalized schedule just for you,” said Tim Roberts, Executive Vice President, Interactive at Fitbit.
“This is a great example of how we’re providing guidance using Fitbit data to help millions of people develop healthier habits and routines, and is just the first in a series of new sleep features that we’re working on to help our users improve their health through data and coaching.”
Most Fitbit trackers automatically track sleep. This includes data on how long you’ve slept, the efficiency of that sleep, how frequently you woke up and how many times you were restless. Fitbit says the new sleep features were developed in collaboration with sleep experts from the University of Arizona, Stanford University and Johns Hopkins University.
Essential reading: Choosing the right Fitbit tracker
The new features are available from today via an app update and are compatible with all Fitbit devices capable of tracking sleep. This includes the Fitbit Blaze, Alta, Charge HR, Surge, Charge, Flex and One.
The video below provides an overview on how to use the new sleep tracking features.
Like this article? Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and never miss out!
