Sleep deeper, feel better
It’s worthwhile to understand how to use your Garmin watch to track your sleep if you want to get the best sleep possible. Many data points are tracked by these wrist-worn devices, and Garmin provides you with free actionable insights via the Garmin Connect app.
Although the company makes more than just running watches, Garmin is most recognized for their watches. A number of cutting-edge functions that assist in tracking your sleep are also available on the majority of the top Garmin watches.
Gaining more insight into your sleep patterns can improve both your general health and workout performance. Even when I utilized the Garmin Sleep Coach to enhance my sleeping patterns and received specific advice on how to do so, I was won over.
But for now, let’s look at how to use Garmin’s sleep-tracking capabilities and how you can really track your sleep with it.
THATS HOW GARMIN TRACKS SLEEP:
To measure sleep patterns as precisely as possible, Garmin uses algorithms, heart rate tracking, and several motion sensors. Your light, deep, and REM sleep stages are identified by the device based on movement and variations in heart rate variability.
Garmin is able to offer detailed details regarding the length and quality of your sleep thanks to this technology. Interestingly, unlike the Fitbit owned by Google, which locks specific numbers behind Fitbit Premium, all of these tips and insights are yours for free.
GARMIN SLEEP TRACKING SETUP GUIDE:
You’ll input your regular sleeping hours when you set up your Garmin watch. The watch tracks your sleep using this and its built-in sensors, but to obtain the most precise data, you’ll also need to download the Garmin Connect app to your smartphone.
Tap the three lines in the upper left corner of the app window on your phone. To modify your Wake Time or Bed Time, go to Settings > User Settings. By doing this, you can ensure that your watch won’t annoy you while you’re sleeping.
The watch should detect when you’re going to sleep and start tracking the quality of your sleep as soon as you put it on and go to sleep. Your sleep statistics should be visible on your watch when you wake up, and they can be seen in further detail on the Garmin Connect app.
In order for your Garmin gadget to correctly connect and sync your findings to the app, keep in mind that you must have Bluetooth turned on and your phone in airplane mode if you frequently switch it off.
WHICH APPS ARE ABLE TO TRACEN YOUR SLEEP:
You may get the comprehensive sleep statistics if your Garmin device has an optical heart rate sensor. This is applicable to many devices, such as the Garmin Fenix 7, the Garmin Instinct 2, the Forerunner 955, the Venu 2 Plus, and the Garmin Epix Gen 2.
The optical heart rate monitor uses its accelerometer to detect when you are asleep, what stage of sleep you are in, and when you wake up. It also uses heart rate and heart rate variability—the time between each heartbeat—to make these determinations.
Even if you have an older or less sophisticated Garmin watch, you can still track your sleep. The accelerometer on the watch is still functional on these devices, allowing sleep monitoring. It’s possible that the outcomes aren’t as precise as those obtained with optical heart rate monitors.
A GARMIN TELLING YOU WHAT IT SETS ABOUT YOUR SLEEP:
Here’s a deeper look at the sleep metrics that Garmin can measure and why it can be useful for improving your recovery after an exercise, helping you sleep better at night, and feeling more refreshed the following day.
Stages of sleep:
You will experience many stages of sleep every night, which are essential for obtaining a decent night’s sleep. There are four phases of sleep: light or deep sleep, REM sleep, and while you’re awake.
Every stage is associated with distinct alterations in physiological indicators, including heart rate variability, restlessness, and heart rate. Garmin suggests that deep sleep should account for 17–35% of overall sleep for the most restorative effects. However, what is the intended application of this?
Based on data collected overnight and throughout the day, Garmin recommends strategies to extend the amount of time you spend in the deep sleep stage and factors that could be preventing you from achieving deeper sleep if you’re lacking in deep sleep, which is where your body accomplishes the majority of its recuperation.
SLEEP SCORE:
Instead of allowing you to sift through the numerous insights each morning, Garmin provides a summary Sleep Score that will provide you an overview of the day’s events and combine multiple metrics into a single figure.
After a full night’s sleep, a number of factors determine your sleep score: how long you slept for, how stressed you were on average, how long you spent in each stage of sleep, how much time you spent awake, and how restless you were overall.
The sleep score scale is as follows, with a range of 1 to 100:
Under 60: Poor 60–79: Fair 80–89: Good
90–100: Outstanding
In addition to providing you with a sleep score, Garmin offers explanations for the appearance of your sleep score based on several elements including your previous day’s activities and training. It also provides advice on how to have a better night’s sleep in the future.
RATE OF RESPIRATION:
Even when you sleep, Garmin keeps track of how many breaths you take in a minute. By monitoring your breathing rate as you sleep, your gadget may more precisely identify different sleep stages and identify possible sleep disorders like sleep apnea.
It’s important to remember that a Garmin watch or tracker cannot diagnose sleep disorders; rather, the data is intended to assist identify anything unexpected that may warrant a medical examination.
LEVELS OF BLOOD OXYGEN:
Certain Garmin devices have the ability to continually track your blood oxygen saturation levels throughout the night by using a SpO2 sensor. In essence, monitoring this can show how well oxygen is transferred from the lungs to the body’s tissues.
Once more, this statistic might assist in identifying any possible sleep problems you may be having. But not every Garmin gadget has a SpO2 sensor, and even those that do might only be able to monitor for a certain amount of time.
BODY BATTERY:
Although Body Battery isn’t strictly part of Garmin’s Advanced Sleep Monitoring kit, it does use sleep data to provide users useful information about how their energy levels from the previous night’s sleep will affect them during the day.
When it comes to working out, the Body Battery function can assist you in determining if your body is ready for a certain session. This makes sure you get the most out of your training, which is beneficial when preparing for a particular event.