Posted on 5/5/2013

Written by Ashmi Pathela

This is an example of what I first look at when I wake up, every single day:


It’s a habit that puts me smack dab in the middle of the rising health self-tracking movement. Today, more and more people are using self-tracking technology to monitor their bodies – from the calories consumed at every meal to their heart rates throughout the day, and now even their sleep patterns. Where is the balance between using tech to better understand our bodies, and becoming obsessed with monitoring the finer details?

I’ve consistently used this sleep tracking app, Sleep Cycle ($0.99, iTunes Store), for about a year now – and it has given me more information than I could ever want about my sleep patterns. Every night, I place my phone next to my pillow, and the sensitive accelerometer monitors my movements during my sleep, tracking each sleep phase.

On the rare occasion that I wake to see I scored close to 100% on Sleep Quality, I feel proud of myself for sleeping well – just because my 99-cent app told me so. Sometimes, when my boyfriend texts me in the morning to ask how I slept, I lazily respond with a screenshot of the app – when all he’s really doing is making small talk. He doesn’t need to know that I was more restless around 4 a.m. or that I’ve spent 1.7 weeks total in bed over 42 nights.

SEE ALSO: How My Fitness Gadget Made Me More Fliartatious

Just a few years ago, people had to pay to see a sleep doctor to get the information that I now have at my fingertips. With this unparalleled access to information about ourselves comes a responsibility. We need to allow these devices to empower and educate us as they’re meant to, without letting ourselves become obsessed over each calorie consumed or each dip in our Sleep Quality, to the point where it becomes detrimental to our well-being. It’s important to own our devices, rather than let them own us by shaming us for our sleep or nutrition choices.

She's serene in her fitness regime

Sleep Cycle is one of many great apps out there for tracking your sleep patterns. Though it should never be used in lieu of going to the doctor to diagnose a sleep problem, it provides enough basic insights for helping individuals better understand their sleep. There are also tons of sleep monitors and gadgets (upwards of $100) that you may find more reliable.

 

Would you ever use a personal sleep tracking device? Why or why not? Tell us in the comments below.

Additional Information: 

How I Achieved Better Sleep With The Help Of Technology, Self-Tracking Your Health By Collecting The Numbers, Self-Tracking Technology For Older Adults.

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