You already know that an Apple Watch can track your sleep, but there are other reasons you might want to wear it overnight. I’ve slept with my watch on every single night for the past six years, and while it took my husband a while to get used to it, he’s joined the club and neither of us could ever imagine going back!
1. Silent Alarms Are Lifechanging, Literally
Waking up to a loud noise can be effective, but terrible for our mood and even our health. That’s why lots of people are trading in their blaring alarm clocks for gently vibrating watches—and you should too! It only takes seconds to set up a vibrating alarm on your Apple Watch.
I recommend taking it one step further and creating a unique silent alarm schedule for every day of the week so that you never need to worry about remembering to do it before you go to bed. You can easily have days with no alarm at all and make one-time changes for the following morning if your schedule changes.
2. Benefits of Vibrating Alarms
Not only are vibrating alarms an obvious solution for those with hearing impairment, all humans can benefit from a gentler wake up. Studies show that, “waking abruptly can increase morning blood pressure by 74%” Plus, it can increase your stress levels and start your day off on the wrong (and groggier) foot.
3. Smarter Apple Watch Alarms
Another problem with regular alarms that Apple Watch can fix is that they go off at a specific time without considering your natural body clock. Third-party apps such as the Sleepwave: Alarm & Tracker (free) can analyze the sleep data that your watch has collected and wake you up at an optimal time within a time frame you set so that you don’t sleep in.
4. Understanding Your Overall Health
Another benefit of wearing your watch while you sleep is the opportunity to gather even more data about your body. The new Vitals app helps users see the bigger picture. It uses information about your sleep, your body temperature, how quickly you recover from workouts, and so much more to help you understand if you are healthy.
The Vitals app can sometimes even warn you if you are getting sick before you see symptoms! Just remember, an Apple Watch cannot replace a medical professional and cannot be solely relied on.
Do you wear your Apple Watch at night? Why do you do it? Email OntheWatch@iphonelife.com and let me know!
