Intuitive Sleep Signals: Your Body (The Original Wearable)
Pay attention to these 8 key metrics for optimal rest
People have gone ape shit crazy over wearables with the promise of tracking & improving your sleep. I understand the frenzy because I’m a believer in the potential of technology to help usher in a new age of well-being.
But focus on the key word.. help.
There’s no way in hell a piece of technology is going to do the heavy lifting and fix your sleep troubles.
Wearables should be treated with the same intention as supplements. Their purpose is to aid the process and enhance your self-awareness, not be the focus of your work.
If you make them the focal point, neurotic patterns ensue.
Most importantly, I advocate for the intersection and synergy of both the technology to track sleep metrics and the intuitive wisdom we’re all capable of tapping into.
The Intuitive Sleep Signals
Believe it or not, you can track the quality of your sleep without a fancy gadget like the Oura ring or a Whoop strap. Here are the intuitive sleep signals which tell all:
Resting Heart Rate
Your resting heart rate is an excellent metric to measure whether or not your body is ready to take on a challenge. The quality of your rest heavily influences the rate at which your heart beats.
To check your pulse at your wrist, place two fingers between the bone and the tendon over your radial artery — which is located on the thumb side of your wrist. When you feel your pulse, count the number of beats in 15 seconds. Multiply this number by four to calculate your beats per minute.
For most people, I like to see a number between 40-70 beats per minute.
A higher RHR indicates you’re body is under stress.
A lower RHR indicates efficient cardiovascular function.
Grip Strength
The strength of your grip is another fantastic way to tell whether you recovered well from proper sleep or not.
If you notice an inability to lift as well as you normally would, then there’s a good chance you didn’t sleep well.
Mental Clarity & Acuity
How well can you think?
How sharp are you?
If you sleep like a rock, you’ll notice an effortless ability to recall information, listen to others, craft a sentence fluidly, so forth.
We all know what it’s like to get a shitty night of sleep and how that destroys our mental capacity. I’ve been there one too many times.
Energy Levels
Sleep and energy levels are often intertwined.
Feeling sluggish and unable to stay awake past noon? You’re likely getting shitty quality sleep due to a number of causes.
Feeling limitless throughout the day? You’re getting superb rest.
Time To ‘Wide Eyed Awake’
This is one many don’t consider.
How long does it take you to feel fully awake in the morning?
When you’re well rested, it’ll only take a few minutes.
But when you’re depleted from crappy sleep, it can take hours which is generally most people’s experience. Hence they rely on crutches like caffeine or nicotine.
Strength During Training
Self-explanatory.
Do you feel weaker or stronger than usual during a training session?
Weaker = Poor sleep.
Stronger = Great sleep.
Tolerance To Daily Stressors
How well are you able to deal with bullshit thrown your way during the day?
Your ability to handle mental and emotional stress is a fantastic indicator of general sleep quality. People often describe being more grumpy and quick to anger when they don’t get enough rest while the opposite holds true as well.
Better sleep makes you more resilient on all fronts.
What would normally trigger you when sleep deprived rolls off your shoulder effortlessly when fully rested.
Junk Cravings (or Lack Thereof)
Cravings for processed junk are a strong indicator of sleep quality.
Your brain responds to sleep deprivation by seeking more calories because it’s in a state of chronic stress. That’s why you lean on cookies, cake, crackers, sugary beverages, and what not following an awful night of tossing and turning.
When you get the rest your body needs, it craves healthy, nutrient dense options instead of ones which are void of nutrition.
The more you pay attention to these 8 key metrics and embody them over time, the more they become second nature. From that point, a wearable is a nice to have, not a needed gadget designed to make you feel like shit.
With that said, a lot of people such as myself enjoy tracking sleep metrics, even with the capacity to play the game intuitively.
Hit me if you have any questions about this fam.
Much love,
Zaid