Fitbit devices can track your sleep patterns and sleep stages by monitoring your heart rate and movement. When your body has been at rest for about an hour, your Fitbit assumes you're asleep and starts recording by tracking beat-to-beat changes in your heart rate. This data can be used to help you figure out ways to improve your rest, such as setting a bedtime or extending your sleep. The Fitbit app provides your sleep statistics, sleep score, and insights into your sleep quality. While Fitbit’s sleep staging is only correct in 30-second blocks slightly more than two-thirds of the time, using the app for many nights will give you a good sense of your typical sleep patterns.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
How does Fitbit track sleep? | Fitbit uses a combination of movement and heart rate metrics to help determine sleep patterns and estimate sleep stages. |
How does it determine sleep patterns? | Movement metrics, measured by built-in accelerometers, can indicate when you toss and turn or get out of bed during the night. |
How does it estimate sleep stages? | Heart rate is used to estimate when you move from one sleep stage to the next. |
When does it start tracking sleep? | When your body is completely at rest and you haven’t moved for about an hour, your device records that you’re asleep. |
What data does it record? | A daily report with information on how long you slept, how much you moved in your sleep, when you woke up throughout the night, and the estimated time you spent in each sleep stage. |
How can you view the data? | On your mobile device or on your Fitbit. |
How accurate is it? | According to a 2017 paper by Fitbit scientists, the watch’s sensors can classify sleep stages with 69% accuracy in any given 30-second time window. |
What You'll Learn
- Fitbit sleep tracking works by wearing the device to bed
- Fitbit estimates sleep stages by using movement and heart-rate patterns
- Fitbit devices with heart-rate tracking can record sleep stages
- Fitbit sleep tracking is useful for understanding past sleeping patterns
- Fitbit sleep tracking can help you determine what factors to change to achieve the most restorative sleep
Fitbit sleep tracking works by wearing the device to bed
The Fitbit device uses a combination of movement and heart rate metrics to determine sleep patterns and estimate sleep stages. Movement metrics are measured by built-in accelerometers, which can indicate when you toss and turn or get out of bed during the night. Heart rate is used to estimate when you move from one sleep stage to the next.
Fitbit's sleep researchers and the National Sleep Foundation describe the following sleep stages: light sleep, deep sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Light sleep is when your body unwinds and slows down. This stage typically begins within minutes of falling asleep. During the early part of light sleep, you may drift between being awake and asleep. Your breathing and heart rate usually decrease slightly during this stage. Deep sleep typically occurs in the first few hours of sleep. When you wake up feeling refreshed, you likely experienced solid periods of deep sleep the night before. During deep sleep, your body becomes less responsive to outside stimuli. Your breathing slows down, your muscles relax, and your heart rate usually becomes more regular. REM sleep is the stage associated with vivid dreams. Periods of REM sleep are typically longer as the night goes on.
The result of this tracking is a daily report with information on how long you slept, how much you moved in your sleep, when you woke up throughout the night, and the estimated time spent in each sleep stage. Observing these patterns can help you see where to make changes in your sleep hygiene. For example, you can use the data to determine if you are getting the recommended amount of sleep at night and make changes such as adjusting your sleep and wake times.
To get the most out of your Fitbit, it is recommended to wear the device on top of your wrist so that the sensors can detect your heart rate. A snug but not too tight fit is recommended for the best results. The device should be loose enough to move back and forth on your wrist.
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Fitbit estimates sleep stages by using movement and heart-rate patterns
Fitbit devices can estimate sleep stages by using movement and heart-rate patterns. When you haven't moved for about an hour, your Fitbit tracker or watch assumes you're asleep and starts recording. It does this by tracking beat-to-beat changes in your heart rate, known as heart rate variability (HRV). These numbers fluctuate as you transition between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep stages.
While you sleep, your Fitbit device tracks the beat-to-beat changes in your heart rate, which fluctuate as you transition between different sleep stages. This data is then used to estimate your sleep cycles from the previous night when you sync your device in the morning.
Fitbit's sleep researchers and the National Sleep Foundation describe the following sleep stages: light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. Light sleep serves as your entry point into sleep each night as your body unwinds and slows down. During this stage, your breathing and heart rate usually decrease slightly. Deep sleep typically occurs in the first few hours of sleep, and it becomes harder to wake you up as your body becomes less responsive to outside stimuli. Finally, REM sleep is associated with vivid dreams and typically occurs in the second half of the night. During this stage, your brain becomes more active, and your heart rate and breathing increase.
In addition to tracking your sleep stages, Fitbit also provides a Sleep Score, which is based on your heart rate, the time spent awake or restless, and your sleep stages. This score gives you a quick way to gauge your sleep quality, with most Fitbit users scoring between 72 and 83.
By tracking your sleep with Fitbit, you can gain valuable insights into your sleep patterns and make adjustments to improve your sleep quality and overall health.
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Fitbit devices with heart-rate tracking can record sleep stages
Fitbit devices use movement and heart-rate patterns to estimate sleep stages. When the device detects that you have not moved for about an hour, it assumes you are asleep and starts recording. It tracks the beat-to-beat changes in your heart rate, known as heart rate variability (HRV), which fluctuate as you transition between the different sleep stages.
The resulting data can help you understand your sleep patterns and make adjustments to improve your sleep quality. For example, you can use the data to adjust your sleep and wake times to ensure you get adequate sleep. Additionally, the Fitbit app offers a Sleep Score, which takes into account your heart rate, time spent awake or restless, and sleep stages to give you an overall score out of 100.
It is important to note that Fitbit's sleep staging is correct only slightly more than two-thirds of the time, so it is recommended to use the app for multiple nights to get a more accurate sense of your sleep patterns.
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Fitbit sleep tracking is useful for understanding past sleeping patterns
Fitbit sleep tracking is a useful tool for understanding past sleeping patterns. By tracking your sleep, you can gain insight into the quality of your sleep and identify areas where you can improve. For example, you might discover that you're not getting the recommended amount of sleep, prompting you to adjust your sleep and wake times.
The Fitbit device automatically detects your sleep when worn to bed. It uses a combination of movement and heart rate metrics to determine sleep patterns and estimate sleep stages. When your body has been completely at rest for about an hour, the device assumes you're asleep and begins recording. It tracks the beat-to-beat changes in your heart rate, known as heart rate variability (HRV), which fluctuate as you transition between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep stages.
The data recorded by your Fitbit includes information on how long you slept, how much you moved in your sleep, when you woke up throughout the night, and the estimated time spent in each sleep stage. By observing these patterns over time, you can identify trends and make informed decisions to improve your sleep hygiene and overall sleep quality.
Additionally, the Fitbit app offers features such as a sleep schedule and bedtime reminders to help you maintain a consistent sleep routine. You can also experiment with your sleep environment, such as adjusting the thermostat or lighting, to see if it has any impact on your sleep data. Regular monitoring of your sleep patterns can be beneficial for those striving towards specific health and lifestyle goals or those curious about the science of sleep.
With the Fitbit sleep tracking feature, you gain access to a wealth of information about your sleep patterns. This knowledge empowers you to make adjustments and improvements, ultimately enhancing your sleep quality and overall health.
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Fitbit sleep tracking can help you determine what factors to change to achieve the most restorative sleep
The data from your Fitbit can help you understand your sleep patterns and make changes to improve your sleep quality. For example, you can use the data to ensure you are getting the recommended amount of sleep each night, adjust your sleep and wake times, and improve your sleep hygiene by creating a preset sleep schedule and adding bedtime reminders.
Additionally, you can experiment with your sleep environment to see if it impacts your sleep data. For instance, you can try turning down the thermostat or darkening your bedroom to see if it improves your sleep quality. You can also observe how your daytime habits, such as exercise and caffeine intake, affect your sleep patterns.
The Fitbit app provides a Sleep Score, which is based on heart rate, the time spent awake or restless, and sleep stages. This score gives you a quick way to gauge your sleep quality, with most users scoring between 72 and 83. A higher score, such as above 90, indicates excellent sleep quality.
By regularly tracking your sleep with Fitbit and reviewing your data, you can identify areas where you can make changes to achieve more restorative sleep.
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Frequently asked questions
Fitbit uses a combination of movement and heart rate metrics to determine sleep patterns and estimate sleep stages. It uses built-in accelerometers to measure movement and heart rate to estimate when you move from one sleep stage to the next.
On your mobile device, open the Fitbit app and tap the “Today” tab, then the “Sleep” tile. On your Fitbit, swipe up from the clock face to see "Fitbit Today", then scroll up until you find the "Sleep" tile.
There are three types of sleep: light sleep, deep sleep, and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Your body cycles through these stages multiple times throughout the night. Don't worry if your sleep graph spikes and dips suddenly between these stages, as this is normal.
The normal setting counts significant movements, like rolling over, as being awake. The sensitive setting records all movements as time spent restless or awake, which is better for restless sleepers.