How Smartwatch Sleep Tracking Can Actually Harm Your Sleep Quality
By
Joshua Hawkins
Summary
This article explores the phenomenon of "orthosomnia" — a condition where people become so obsessed with tracking their sleep data via smartwatches and wearables that it actually worsens their sleep quality. It explains how sleep tracking scores can create anxiety and pressure, leading to behaviors that disrupt natural sleep patterns. The article cites experts and research showing that focusing too much on sleep metrics can be counterproductive, and offers advice on how to use sleep trackers in a healthier, more balanced way.
Source
Key quotes
· 3 pulledThe irony is that the very device meant to help you sleep better might be the thing keeping you up at night.
When you become obsessed with achieving a perfect sleep score, you're actually creating stress around sleep, which is the opposite of what you need.
Orthosomnia is a real phenomenon — it's the unhealthy fixation on perfecting your sleep data, often at the expense of actual rest.
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