Apple has finally added the Apple Watch feature that users have been begging for – and it’s ideal if you feel guilty about not closing your Activity rings
Apple has finally updated the Apple Watch with a feature that health-conscious users have been clamoring for.
As part of the WatchOS 11 update announced at WWDC, Apple Watch users can finally schedule rest days.
This feature allows users to pause their activity rings for a day, week, month or longer without losing their hard-earned streak.
Apple fans have praised the change, saying it will give them more flexibility to take a break without feeling guilty for not closing their Activity rings.
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The Apple Watch finally gets the ability to pause Activity Rings to give users a chance to rest without breaking their streak
Apple fans have welcomed the changes, calling them their favorite part of Apple’s announcements at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC)
The Apple Watch Activity rings aim to motivate people to move and exercise more by providing a game-like challenge.
Users set goals for how many calories they want to burn, how much exercise they want to do, and how long they want to stand each day.
By achieving all your goals, you can ‘close your loops’ and contribute to a series of successful days.
Studies have shown that this kind of ‘gamification’ can help promote healthy exercise, improve mental health and combat sedentary lifestyles.
But the same game-like features that keep people moving can also create an unhealthy pressure to continue an ongoing streak.
Because even missing an afternoon walk due to illness, travel, or exhaustion can break a months-long streak, some users report feeling guilty or frustrated when they need to rest.
Activity rings fill during the day while the wearer stands, walks, and exercises, but some users report feeling guilty if they can’t reach their goals
But with the upcoming WatchOS 11 update, users can now finally schedule rest days when they need them without losing their stripes.
In a statement, Apple said: βWhether users are planning a rest day during their workout, have an injury or simply need a day off, they now have the option to pause their rings for a day, week, month or longer. ‘
While consistent training is important for losing weight or developing strength, rest days are just as important for your long-term health.
Rest days not only help you prevent injuries caused by overtraining, but also give the muscles time to recover and get stronger.
Taking a day of rest can be important for your long-term health. Studies have shown that getting enough rest during the week can improve long-term performance and prevent injuries (stock image)
Consistently overtraining when your body needs rest can lead to fatigue and stress, making your workouts less efficient overall.
This means that giving people the option to schedule rest as part of their training could be a big help for those who want to stay healthy for longer.
And on social media, Apple fans are enthusiastically welcoming the long-awaited change.
One commenter wrote on
The user added that “the most frustrating thing was having to reset a long streak when I had COVID.”
Apple Watch users say it’s ‘frustrating’ to have to reset their streaks due to illness. Adding the option for rest days can help avoid that pressure
One user even said that for someone with an eating disorder, the need to maintain a streak can make him or her feel guilty about resting
Thanks to this update, health-conscious Apple users can finally take rest days when they need them without losing their stripes
Another user added: ‘I think my favorite Apple update is the ability to pause the Apple Watch rings.’
As someone who struggles with an eating disorder, they add, “I feel like my watch sometimes triggers a little and makes me feel guilty when I’m resting.”
While another commenter wrote: ‘You can finally pause your ringtones on Apple Watch, like if you’re taking a rest day or are sick or something.’
To make things more flexible, users can also customize their ring goals for each day.
That means if you work hard during the week but take it easy on Sunday, you can now adjust your exercise and training goals to fit your schedule.
According to Apple, this is so that the rings “provide the right amount of motivation at the right times.”
WatchOS 11 allows users to customize their Ring goals per day, meaning they can schedule more exercise when they have time and give themselves days to rest that fit their schedule
This change comes along with a number of other new features being released as part of WatchOS 11.
While the Apple Watch already tracks a range of metrics as you exercise, Training Load takes this to the next level by interpreting this data to measure your effort level and tension.
Popular cardio workouts will use a new algorithm to automatically generate an estimated exertion rating based on data such as the user’s height and weight, as well as GPS and heart rate.
By creating an average training load for the past 28 days, users should be able to see whether they are speeding up or slowing down their training and help avoid overload.
The update also includes a new Vitals app that allows you to quickly view all the data collected by your watch.
Users can view their statistics at a glance, such as heart rate, breathing rate, pulse temperature and sleep duration.
A beta version of WatchOS 11 will release in July, ahead of a full rollout this fall.