It has been a year since I purchased my OURA Ring. Before this, I had always worn my Apple watch, but when I wore the Oura Ring for six months, it taught me a lot about myself and helped me figure out how to improve my health and sleep. It’s also easier to hide and more comfortable to wear than most bands on your wrist.
I was introduced to the OURA ring by a close friend who took control of her health and saw some significant effects as she began to track her lifestyle choices, her movement and especially the critical components of her sleep.
When it comes to sleep trackers, the Oura Ring is by far my favourite. It gathers excellent data and is also really comfortable to sleep in (I tried to avoid sleeping with any jewellery). With the Oura Ring, I learned more than I ever imagined. I needed to know about my sleep quality by tracking my heart rate, body temperature, oxygen saturation and menstrual cycle. While my sleep phases chart and breathing regularity graph provide a more in-depth look into my nocturnal behaviours, my sleep score serves as a quick summary.
The information on my heart rate variability (HRV) is the most intriguing. Sleep “stressors” like travel, anxiety, or potential sickness are indicated by HRV. It also shows the effects when you take certain medications like anxiety medication, antibiotics, etc. If the Oura Ring detects a big change in HRV, it may recommend taking it easy for a day. Activity goals cannot be enabled while on a rest day. People have told me to relax while I’m amid a lengthy trip or when I’ve had a particularly hectic week. Thanks to this prompt, I am more attuned to my body and pay more attention when it tells me to relax or skip a workout.
Growing up, tracking my menstrual cycle was ingrained in me, but learning about the different phases of the cycle is key to how I perform during the month and how I schedule activities around these days.
The Menstrual Phase
When your period starts, your levels of oestrogen and progesterone are at their lowest. This is known to cause a dip in energy.
The Follicular Phase
At this point, I practice some aerobic exercises (Pilates) as I feel more energized. I adapt my diet and get more exercise (which means more walks with Duke), which does wonders for my mood and cramps during the follicular period.
Ovulation
My energy level rises because oestrogen levels are highest during ovulation. My Pilates workouts get intense during this phase.
The Luteal phase
In the luteal phase, oestrogen levels start to fall as progesterone rises. For most women, this is the most problematic part of the cycle. Progesterone has a “depressant” effect compared to oestrogen, which may lead to low energy and low mood.
A Fashion Statement
Oura certainly nailed it and I love the way it looks.
Regarding my other jewellery, I love how the Oura Ring complements all my accessories. I have received tons of compliments and I chose gold as most if not all my jewellery is gold (#goldphaseera). The Oura Ring is available in various metals and stones, including silver, rose gold, black, and a matte black variant dubbed stealth.
Although Oura has a heftier-than-average price tag, I couldn’t be more pleased with how it has helped me feel connected to my body and better control my everyday health. No health-tech purchase should be a replacement for professional medical care, but since I first slipped on my Oura ring, I’ve increased my exercise levels, improved my sleep, and gained a better understanding of how to prioritise rest and feel ready to take on the day.
I’ve been reaping the benefits of my ring for the past nine months without fail. My ring has empowered me to take charge of my health in many ways. The ‘weekly health reports’ provide insightful data on my sleep, workout, and heart-rate patterns. Another useful feature is the ‘daytime stress’ monitor, which tracks my emotional state throughout the day and tells me if I’m relaxed, restored, engaged, or stressed.
A new “resilience” tool has been a great help in monitoring my physiological stress tolerance and recovery time; it basically keeps tabs on your daily stress load and evaluates your recovery time based on factors like your sleep quality, degree of preparedness, and balance of healthy activities. The most significant improvement to my health has been a better awareness of my menstrual cycle and its effects. As a result, I am much more considerate of myself and my needs at different points in the month.
