Yes, Apple Watch tracks the power nap you usually take on the couch. The sleep slump, or the afternoon slump, is the real struggle, and you would agree that surviving the 3 PM crash is tough. Turns out that Apple’s latest update helps make those midday snoozes count for you.
Your Apple Watch will automatically detect sleep even if you don’t manually change your settings or turn on sleep focus. Isn’t that amazing? The smart sensors calculate the data based on your heart rate, movement, and sleep patterns.
So, now that unplanned ‘’I am going to close my eyes for a minute’’ nap can finally be recorded. Keep reading to learn more about the hands-on experience of tracking naps on Apple Watch.
How Does Apple Watch Track Naps?
There are sleep detection algorithms that help you track naps, and they do not need you to say, “Hey Siri, I am taking a nap now.” With WatchOS 11, it’s smart enough to figure out on its own.
The sensors on the Apple Watch use a combination of heart rate and motion to monitor your sleep duration and patterns.
While scrolling down on the watch, you will see an actual sleep app, which is opened by default when you fall asleep with the watch on. So, when you sleep with a watch on, the auto-sleep tracking system will help you learn your REM (Rapid Eye Movement), deep sleep stages, and duration on the watch itself.
This new feature in the latest Apple Watch is so cool that, unlike previous versions, it doesn’t require Sleep Focus to be turned on. You can just put it on DND to avoid distractions from other alerts or notifications.
However, there are some caveats that you should consider when using the watch to track your nap. The watch doesn’t record data for shorter naps, less than 20 minutes. Secondly, you should wear the ultra band for proper detection.
Tips For Accurate Nap Tracking Without Automatic Nap Detection
- You can enable sleep mode for better and more detailed nap tracking. It also helps you to know the wrist temperature, which is not shown while the sleep mode is disabled.
- Most of the time, you do not even get blood oxygen information while the sleep mode is disabled. So if you want a full report, you can avoid auto nap detection and turn on the sleep mode.
- I suggest not sleeping with the Titanium band, as it can affect the detection of sleep patterns. It’s a premium band, but definitely not the one you would want to use to track your sleep. You can try the ultra ones with the trail loop band. This band is highly recommended for tracking your sleep.
watchOS11 Key Features For Auto Sleep & Nap Tracking
With watchOS, Apple has finally acknowledged that naps are survival tools (once the forgotten middle child). Check out the features the latest watchOS 11 has to offer.
- Automatic Nap Detection: No more setting timers or manually logging your nap. Now, with the latest Apple WatchOS 11, all you have to do is put on the watch and sneak in an hour of power nap after lunch. Your sleep data will be recorded instantly without any hassle. The automatic nap detector is even aware when you simply rest your eyes and fall asleep.
- Improved Sleep Stage Tracking: With new features, you get a better idea about your sleep stages, including how long you were in REM, core, and deep sleep stages. Not just this, but you can also get to know how restful and deep your nap was. The duration, along with the quality of sleep, is a complete win-win!
- Seamless Integration with Health Apps: I like that all the nap data is easily synced with the iPhone. This allows you to check the nap trends, compare them to nighttime sleep, and gain clarity on how midday rest affects your overall energy levels.
- Sleep Apnea Alerts: The watchOS 11 feature allows you to access data about breathing disturbances or potential signs of sleep apnea. So while using the watch to detect your sleep, keep an eye on any deformity.
- Customizable Activity Rings: To tweak your fitness targets depending on the day of the week or how you feel, you can use the feature of activity rings. These are customizable goals that you can add to the activity rings, and the catch here is that you can also put them to rest. The pause button lets you take a break without any guilt.
Viewing Your Nap Data
Once your Apple Watch has recorded the sleep or nap, you would surely want to have a look at it. But let me tell you that, if your watch is on auto-sleep detection mode than the data recorded will not be as detailed as it can be with the sleep mode on.
In case if the sleep focus is disabled, the watch will track your movement, duration, and heart rate but to view the complete data including the blood oxygen level, sleep patterns, and the quality of your nap you will have to enable the sleep mode.
Step-by-Step Setup To View The Data On Your Apple Watch and Iphone
On Your Apple Watch
- Open the Sleep app on your watch, and the complete data will be displayed.
- For heart rate, click on the Heart Rate app and check your heart rate patterns during the nap.
On Your iPhone
- Open the Health app on your phone.
- Tap, ’Browse’, then select Sleep.
- You can see your sleep data for the day, including any naps.
Duration Matters
Shorter durations aren’t usually recorded on Apple Watch. The nap should be at least 30 minutes long because then it is easily recorded.
For more consistent tracking, you can aim for naps between 30 and 60 minutes. Moreover, ensure to wear it nicely to maintain accurate readings.
Wrap Up
As we come to the end of this article, I am sure you would agree with me that napping isn’t just for toddlers; it’s a way to boost your midday energy levels, and tracking your naps is the cherry on top.
Now, you can easily get rid of the confusion of ‘did I nap for 20 minutes or 30’? Your watch is smart enough to log your unplanned afternoon slump that hit even harder than the morning espresso.
The best part is that you don’t have to toggle much; the Apple Watch picks up the motions and records them easily.
