Where’s my Apple Watch rest day?

Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge

I wore the Apple Watch for a long time. It didn't acknowledge my rest days. The Watch doesn't acknowledge the importance of rest days for building muscles.

I am not the only one who has written about this problem. I received an email that said, "Hey, you know you're not supposed to lie on the couch on rest days." Unless I incorporate hills, I don't usually break 100 bpm when I walk.

I bought an Apple Watch because I was distracted by taking long walks and wanted to know how long the walks were. Four to 12 miles, culminated in a backpacking trip where I hiked 14 miles in one day to escape from a black bear and her pups. The reward system, which primes you for seven workouts a week, trying to close all three rings every day, and so on, began to drive me nuts again.

I shouldn't have to because I have a way to cheat. It's important that we get rest days. Sick days are also a part of the equation. A colleague told me that her Apple Watch encouraged her to close her rings while she was sick. That is crazy.

Athletes are at risk of overtraining. Recovery is important because of this. I am not a professional athlete. I enjoy myself more than my job does. The setup of the Apple watch's rewards doesn't acknowledge that

You can cheat as long as Apple caters to athletes recovery needs. Tell the watch you are doing a cooldown workout. For half an hour, foam rolls. Look! You just did some self-massage after closing your exercise ring.

Despite rumors that the company will release a more rugged, sport focused model, Apple doesn't acknowledge this either. You can focus on rest with the Oura Ring and Whoop's tracker. I have to tell my wrist computer that I am healthy. I think it is ironic that I am cheating at my health devices goal of actually taking care of myself.