Tracking Your Health: How and Why?
If you’ve ever seen me wearing a ring on my finger, it’s not just jewelry. It’s an Oura Ring, a small but powerful device that tracks health metrics like my sleep, heart rate variability, body temperature, stress levels, and daily movement. I’ve worn it for five years now, and it’s helped me tune in to things I’d otherwise miss—like how my sleep quality changes if I eat too close to bedtime. I’ll admit, it’s become a reliable health companion.
What about you? Do you use or have you considered using a health or fitness tracker? There are plenty of options: Apple Watches, Fitbits, Whoop bands, and more. As I started writing this, I thought about the reasons you might say no: “I sleep fine,” or “I don’t need all that data.” Maybe even, “Wouldn’t all that information just make me anxious?” But in my own experience, tracking has helped me make small but impactful changes—more movement, better sleep, improved eating habits, and a heightened awareness of how I feel both physically and emotionally throughout each day.
A Bit of My Journey with Health
I’ve always been health-conscious. From playing sports in high school to being a woman in her 50s who makes time for walking and lifting weights daily, taking care of my body has been important to me. I do love food, though, and despite my knowledge of blood sugar, I can be found munching on half a bag of Cape Cod Kettle Chips from time to time! Growing up, we weren’t a household that kept snacks around or drank soda. In fact, my interest in water started in college, when I suddenly became aware of how essential it was. I can’t recall if someone mentioned it to me or if I read something, but it struck me deeply, and I’ve been serious about drinking water ever since.
Back then, we didn’t carry water bottles everywhere. If we wanted water, it was from the fountain or a quick sip during basketball practice—certainly no water bottle at our desks! Today, I always have one nearby: in the car, next to my bed, and beside me as I write this. It’s become a habit I couldn’t imagine living without.
While I don’t actually track my water intake, I drink a lot of it. But I challenge you—if you think you drink enough water, measure it for a few days and see where you really stand.
Fitness and the 10,000 Steps Idea
Movement has always been a given in my life. I walk outside almost every day, rain or shine, and keep a regular strength training routine. Fitness—whether for health or just a bit of vanity—has always been a priority. I’m sure you’ve heard the “10,000 steps a day” recommendation, but did you know it originated not from scientific study, but from a Japanese company in 1964? They created the first pedometer, Manpo-kei, meaning “10,000 steps meter,” and the idea just stuck.
For years, I measured distance the old-fashioned way—driving routes in my car. But on a vacation with friends, I saw my friend Craig checking his Fitbit one evening. Realizing he hadn’t hit his 10,000 steps, he headed to the hotel treadmill. Seeing him motivated by those numbers intrigued me, and soon, I bought my first Fitbit. From there, I moved to a chest-strap heart monitor, then an Apple Watch, and finally, my Oura Ring. I’m now upgrading to my fourth one since starting in 2019.
Why I Value Tracking
They say, “What gets measured gets improved.” The idea is that knowing specific metrics helps you track progress toward your goals. In business, it’s key performance indicators (KPIs); in sports, it’s stats and averages. Metrics may not be for everyone, but they motivate me. Tracking sleep cycles, steps, resting heart rate, and even temperature trends has opened my eyes to patterns I hadn’t seen before. I’ve learned which foods affect my sleep, noticed early signs of illness, and become more mindful of how I’m feeling throughout the day.
Interestingly, my data tracking seems to have a ripple effect. My husband, initially skeptical of having so much information, is now considering trying it out. And just recently, I let a close friend test out one of my Oura rings before I sold it. She works out regularly but hadn’t tracked her activity much. A week in, she messaged me saying, “#$%& Oura ring!” because she was out walking, motivated by the realization of how little she’d been moving.
So, Should You Try Tracking?
Think about your goals. Are you already doing the things you know you should but aren’t seeing the results you want? Tracking might help you find the small tweaks that make a difference. Whether you’re looking to sleep better, move more, or just understand your body a bit more deeply, the information you gain might just be the nudge you need to elevate your health journey.
Try it out. Give tracking a week and see what it reveals—you might be surprised.