Understanding the Role of Fitness Trackers
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Fitness Trackers: Friends or Foes?
I’ll be the first person to admit that fitness trackers can be helpful tools. But I’ve also written extensively about how they can unintentionally hurt your health. Concepts like streaks and oversimplified fitness gamification are often misguided and anxiety-inducing. Additionally, I find it crucial to differentiate between wellness features and medical capabilities in these devices. Recently, I’ve been concerned about a phrase I continue to encounter from both consumers and company representatives: “getting credit.”
After a hearty Fourth of July feast, my in-laws suggested a “family fart walk” to relieve our digestive burdens. With peach cobbler still on the menu, the idea was well-received. However, before we stepped out, my sister-in-law hesitated, lamenting that her Apple Watch was out of juice. “Damn,” she said, “Now I won’t get credit.” At that moment, my eye twitched in disbelief.
A few weeks later, during a Google Pixel Watch 4 briefing, I heard the term again. Google expanded its automatic activity tracking this year, motivated by user feedback indicating a desire to “get credit” for workouts they’d forgotten to log. As we enter the busy product launch season, the phrase seems omnipresent. Naturally, people want credit for quantifiable metrics — workouts, naps, steps, heart rate accuracy, sleep stages — if it can be measured, it appears people want recognition for it.
The Obsession with Tracking and Credit
During my time with a running club, I often heard the refrain: If my Garmin doesn’t track it, it doesn’t count. If it’s not on Strava, did it even happen?
I completely understand this impulse. Exercise can be challenging. Who wouldn’t want a little acknowledgement for undertaking a difficult task? I’ve certainly drawn attention in public for unleashing an expletive after a smartwatch incorrectly logs my five-mile test run. “Are you kidding? I have to do it again?!” Or, “What do you mean this walk didn’t contribute to closing my Exercise ring?” Often, I find myself questioning a five-thousand-dollar smart mattress for failing to give me credit for a blissful nap aimed at fixing my cross-country jet lag.
The number of times I’ve been frustrated by a Garmin declaring my workout “unproductive” is countless. But why does it even matter?
When written out, it’s easy to see how absurd this fixation is. Yes, it can be exasperating if a smartwatch or fitness tracker fails to log your stats accurately. However, fixating on these numbers can distract from the real goal: improving your health. The only “tracker” that truly matters is your body, and it never fails to register physical activity.
Understanding the Psychology Behind Tracking
A significant trend in recent years involves fitness trackers offering scores to simplify varied data points. These scores are generally easier to comprehend than seemingly random metrics. However, psychologically, I’ve found that these scores often cause me to feel like I’m back in school trying to ace a test. My workouts and various metrics become just another series of homework assignments, and I feel compelled to perform well or risk failure. Consequently, if a smartwatch’s battery isn’t charged before a workout, or if my Oura Ring lacks enough power for sleep tracking, I hesitate to engage in physical activity until everything is in order, simply so I can get “credit.”
Typically, technology companies design their devices to be addictive to encourage ongoing use. But users need to be cautious, lest they lose sight of their primary objective — enhancing health — in pursuit of streaks and “credit.”
Experiencing frustration over missed metrics isn’t inherently negative. Yet, there exists a fine line between effective monitoring and the darker side of wearable tech obsession. Research has shown that smartwatches can induce anxiety in patients with atrial fibrillation. One study documented a participant performing 916 EKGs over a single year. Furthermore, researchers in 2023 called for more empirical investigations into the health risks associated with wearable tech, highlighting mental disorders and maladaptive behaviors like overexercise, stating, “evidence of efficacy does not mean an absence of harm.” The trend of wearable tech triggering health anxiety and paranoia is becoming increasingly documented.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
This isn’t intended as a scolding; I’ve yet to meet a dedicated fitness tracker user who hasn’t found themselves a bit too obsessed with metrics at some point. The key is to recognize these thought patterns as warning signs indicating that one may be developing obsessive tendencies. Once you acknowledge this, you can reset your mindset.
For instance, whenever I find myself frustrated about “not getting credit,” that’s a signal for me to take a break from wearables for 24 to 72 hours — without pausing my fitness routine. This might mean going on runs, walks, and other activities without any digital tracking. Admittedly, I feel exposed and uncomfortable, fearing I’m somehow “failing” by not logging my exercises. Ironically, these tracker-free workouts tend to be more enjoyable.
Recognizing and confronting that initial discomfort is crucial. It’s a reminder that I run not for speed or accolades but to clear my mind, manage anxiety, and prove to myself that I can handle challenging endeavors. After a run without a tracker, I often find myself returning to my metrics with a healthier perspective — measuring my success not by pace but by showing up.
If the concept of a complete digital detox feels overwhelming, you might find it beneficial to keep an analog activity log as a middle ground. During these breaks, I jot down activities in a simple journal — noting things like “30-minute run” or “lower body strength training.” This practice helps me remember that metrics and accolades are secondary to personal commitment and accountability.
You might scoff at this notion, thinking it irrelevant to your experience. If that’s the case, drop me a line at optimizer@theverge.com; I’d love to learn your secrets. For those who relate, I highly recommend scheduling a 48 to 72-hour break from fitness tracking every couple of months.
My last break took place right after our family “fart walk.” My sister-in-law’s comment had struck a chord, leading me to participate in a bike ride with my in-laws, despite my lack of skill in cycling. I can’t describe how far we traveled or what the ride entailed; all I can tell you is that I genuinely enjoyed it — with zero “credit.”
In our relentless pursuit of health, the challenge often lies in maintaining balance and recognizing when to unplug. Incorporating mindfulness into our fitness routines could be the key to fostering a healthier relationship with technology and, ultimately, ourselves.
For further reading on the complexities of wearable technology and its impact on mental health, check out more here.
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