Apple finally updated the Apple Watch with a feature that health-conscious users have been asking for.
As part of the WatchOS 11 update announced at WWDC, Apple Watch users will finally be able to schedule rest days.
This feature will allow users to pause their activity rings for a day, week, month, or longer without losing their hard-earned streak.
Apple fans praised the change, saying it will give them more flexibility to take a break without feeling guilty about not closing their Activity rings.
On X, formerly Twitter, fans called the feature their favorite WWDC update, with one fan saying the change was “a small thing, but for us obsessives, very nice.”
The Apple Watch finally has the option to pause activity rings to give users a chance to rest without breaking their streak.
Apple fans welcomed the changes and called them their favorite part of Apple’s announcements at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).
The Apple Watch activity rings aim to motivate people to move and exercise more by giving them a game-like challenge.
Users set goals for how many calories they want to burn, how much exercise they want to do, and how long they want to stand each day.
By achieving all your goals, you will be able to “close” your rings and increase your streak of successful days.
Studies have shown that this type of ‘gamification’ can help promote healthy exercise, improve mental health and combat sedentary lifestyles.
But the same game-like features that help keep people moving can also create unhealthy pressure to maintain a continuous streak.
Since even missing an afternoon walk due to illness, travel, or exhaustion can break a streak of months, some users report feeling guilty or frustrated when they have to take a break.
Activity rings fill up throughout the day as the user stands, walks, and exercises, but some users report feeling guilty if they can’t reach their goals.
But with the upcoming WatchOS 11 update, users will finally be able to schedule rest days when they need them without losing their streaks.
In a statement, Apple says: “Whether users are planning a rest day during their workout, have an injury, or simply need a day off, they now have the ability to pause their rings for a day, a week, a month. or more”. ‘
While consistent training is important for losing weight or building strength, rest days are equally vital for your long-term health.
Rest days not only help you avoid injuries caused by overtraining, but they can also give your muscles time to repair and strengthen.
Taking a day off can be important for your long-term health. Studies have shown that adequate rest during the week can improve long-term performance and prevent injuries (file image)
Constantly overtraining while your body needs rest can lead to fatigue and stress, which will make your workouts less efficient overall.
This means that giving people the option to plan breaks as part of their training could be a big help for those who want to stay healthy for longer.
And on social media, Apple fans are enthusiastically welcoming the long-awaited change.
One commenter wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “The best thing about WWDC is *finally* letting you pause your activity rings if you need to take a break for any reason.”
The user added that ‘having to restart a long streak when I had COVID was the most frustrating.’
Apple Watch users say having to reset their streaks due to illness is ‘frustrating’. Adding the option for rest days can help avoid that pressure
One user even said that as a person with an eating disorder, the need to maintain a good streak could make them feel guilty about taking a break.
This update will finally allow health-conscious Apple users to take days off when they need them without losing their streaks.
Another user added: “I think my favorite update from Apple is being able to pause rings on the Apple Watch.”
They add that, as someone who struggles with an eating disorder: “I feel like sometimes my watch can be a little triggering and make me feel guilty about resting.”
While another commenter wrote: “You can finally pause your rings on the Apple Watch, like you’re taking a day off or sick or something.”
To make things more flexible, users will also be able to customize their ring goals for each day.
That means if you tend to work hard during the week but take it easy on Sundays, you can now change your movement and exercise goals to fit your schedule.
According to Apple, this is so that the rings “provide the right amount of motivation at the right times.”
WatchOS 11 will also allow users to customize their ring goals per day, meaning they can schedule more exercise when they have time to do so and give themselves days to rest that fit their schedule.
This change comes alongside a number of other new features that will be released as part of WatchOS 11.
While the Apple Watch already monitors a wide range of metrics while you exercise, Training Load takes this to the next level by interpreting this data to measure your level of effort and tension.
Popular cardio workouts will use a new algorithm to automatically generate an estimated effort rating based on data such as the user’s height and weight, as well as GPS and heart rate.
By creating an average training load for the last 28 days, users should be able to see if they are increasing or slowing down their training and help avoid overworking themselves.
The update also includes a new Vitals app that can give you a quick look at all the data collected by your watch.
Users will be able to check their metrics such as heart rate, breathing rate, wrist temperature and sleep duration at a glance.
A beta version of WatchOS 11 will be released in July before its full release this fall.
