Less Data, More Joy – The Hidden Stress of Wearable Tech

Originally written for the Nov/Dec '24 OutThere Outdoors publication - learn more by visiting their website: outthereoutdoors.com/health-fitness

The phone call with my client didn’t go well. Instead of discussing race-day strategies and tapering in preparation for their event in three weeks, the conversation shifted to self-doubt, anxiety, and more questions than easy answers. The catalyst? Week after week of the same message from Garmin Connect – “Training Status: Unproductive”. 
 
Over the last decade, wearable technology, with the ability to collect and analyze all kinds of data, has followed an exponential growth curve. GPS enabled smart watches (think: Garmin Forerunner and Fenix, Coros Pace, Suunto Vertical, Apple Watch) are now commonplace, actively tracking heart rate, sleep, oxygen saturation, steps and mileage, pace, power…all to inform recovery status, sleep score, heart rate reserve (HRR), body battery, heart rate variability (HRV), cadence, fitness age, and training status, among other variables. 

But here’s the question: Just because we can measure all this data, does it mean we should?
 
Recently, I’ve noticed a trend among clients, friends, and even myself. Despite consistent and productive training, anxiety and perceived stress surrounding activity and performance are on the rise. Wasn’t the promise of more data supposed to bring renewed excitement and deeper insights into our training? Unfortunately, the exact opposite has occurred, and what once was an outlet for stress has now become a source of it. 
 
To be fair, analyzing training and health-related data from wearable technology can be incredibly useful. Triangulating data across multiple metrics helps with trend analysis, informing decision making, encouraging course-correction, and optimizing training and recovery.  An example for you: a friend of mine on the east coast is using wearable technology at scale within industry to inform wellness models, allowing healthcare to be proactive rather than reactive (Example data observation: sleep is poor, HRV is unbalanced, and resting heart rate is elevated – is this a recipe for illness?)
 
With this model in mind, data collection doesn’t sound so bad. So, what’s the issue? The problem isn’t the data itself, but the power we give it to capture and control our attention. A workout that felt beneficial in the moment shifts towards feeling less so after viewing a string of less-than-ideal metrics, followed by an impersonal algorithm-based status update. Completing a ride, climb, paddle, run, hike, or swim used to bring satisfaction and calm. Now, many of us are left wondering, “Was I fast enough?” or “What was my heart rate?” or worse – “How do I compare to others?”
 
At day’s end, putting too much faith in imperfect, and often inaccurate data robs us of the joy and vitality that comes with being active. Perhaps the answer is not found in collecting more data but in focusing on being more present and reflective without it. Dan John, a strength and performance coach at the Olympic Training Center, offers some simple but powerful advice: “Do less, better!” (Go ahead, read those last three words again.)
 
The next time you’ve wrapped up an activity and you’re pouring over the data, consider these questions: 1) Is this data helping or distracting me?  2) Does this data calm my nerves or elevate my anxiety, and 3) How accurate is this data anyways – is it really measuring what I think it’s measuring? This engaged reflection turns down distracting data and turns up your innate sensory system. 
 
Reducing the noise around data may be the missing training aide you didn’t know you needed – an addition by subtraction solution. Ready to get started?  Try going on your next walk, hike, run, ride, paddle, or outdoor activity without your wearable (gasp!). You may just find that your training status, and mindset, shift from “unproductive” to “joyful”!