This one Oura Ring setting was a game changer for me after I had my baby
This article is part of Tom's Guide's Women's Health Week — a series of content that explores how technology and the right workouts can support and empower women through every phase of life.
Months later, when I finally felt strong enough to pop my Apple Watch and Oura Ring back on (an insignificant action to most, but a milestone to me), I leaned on a few features that really helped. I paused my rings on my Apple Watch, for example, removing the pressure to exercise on days when all I could do was sit on the sofa with my baby.
I also used enabled Rest Mode on my Oura Ring — read on to find out what it does, why I did it and how to use it.
According to Oura, Rest Mode allows you to 'focus on recovery when you feel tired, unwell, or need to slow down.' The Oura equivalent of pausing your Apple Watch rings, Rest Mode pauses your Activity Progress Goal, Activity Score and all activity-related contributors, allowing you to focus on rest. The Readiness and Sleep insights will also be adjusted to help you prioritize rest — something I wasn't getting with a newborn, but removing the pressure of not meeting activity goals helped.
Oura says Rest Mode is designed for when you're feeling under the weather, when you're injured, sick, or traveling.
If your Oura ring notices a spike in your average body temperature, you might get a notification that suggests switching to Rest Mode on your home screen. This is because the ring has noticed your body is under strain, and is suggesting that you should focus on recovery.
If, like I did, you're turning on Rest Mode when you're not sick, here's the steps you'll need to follow:
Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
Once you have enabled Rest Mode, the data you see on your home screen will be different. At the bottom of your home screen, you'll be able to see that Rest Mode is enabled.
When you're feeling better, simply tap the notification banner at the bottom of the home screen, or go back to the Rest Mode setting on the sidebar and select 'Turn off and delete tags'.
It's worth noting that once you turn Rest Mode off, your Activity Goal and Score will slowly return to normal, taking into account the time you've been resting. I had Rest Mode on for a couple of months as I mentally recovered, so it took my ring a week to ease me back into my normal goals. During this period, I was still able to view my step count, active calories, and calorie burn if I wanted to, but I found the mental break from hitting fitness targets was what I needed.
Remember, these devices are designed to motivate you, not stress you out. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take them off, re-set, and remember that all movement is medicine, whether you're tracking it or not.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Walmart is selling an 'amazing' $80 military smartwatch for $26, and shoppers say it's 'better than the Apple Watch'
TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Walmart is selling an 'amazing' $80 military smartwatch for $26, and shoppers say it's 'better than the Apple Watch' originally appeared on TheStreet. Smartwatches are so much more than just a clock on your wrist. These handy little devices let you make phone calls and answer texts without even needing to hold your phone. And now, they even double as fitness trackers, allowing you to monitor your heart rate, steps, and more. There's no denying that smartwatches are cool, but they're also expensive. Thankfully, we were able to find a deal on a durable military smartwatch from Walmart. Normally priced at $80, you can grab this Mingwear Military Smartwatch for just $26 at Walmart. It has a two-inch HD touchscreen display and a two-way speaker, allowing you to make phone calls and receive notifications from messaging and social media apps. Plus, it's compatible with both Apple and Android Devices, so it'll work with most types of phones. A fully charged battery should last you up to a week on a single charge, and it should only take a couple of hours to recharge. Along with the smartphone functions, there is also a plethora of fitness features to take advantage of. The watch will continuously monitor things like your steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns. But it can also track exercise data for a specific sport or activity. Simply select your activity from the sports mode settings and start your workout. Additionally, it's waterproof and drop-resistant, so it's suitable to wear while swimming or during high-impact say the Mingwear Military Smartwatch competes with the more expensive smartwatch brands out there, with one shopper saying, "This watch is amazing. It's great, if not better than the Apple Watch. The battery life is outstanding!" Another shopper felt like they got a great bang for their buck. "For the price, you can't beat it. It has all the functions of a fitness tracker for a fraction of the cost of name brands, and the battery life is impressive." A smartwatch keeps you up to date on what's happening, even while away from your phone. If you don't have one yet, consider grabbing the durable Mingwear Military Smartwatch. It's just $26 at Walmart for a limited time. Walmart is selling an 'amazing' $80 military smartwatch for $26, and shoppers say it's 'better than the Apple Watch' first appeared on TheStreet on Jul 28, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Jul 28, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Yahoo
Amazon's 'stylish' $200 smartwatch is on sale for $30, and shoppers say it 'does everything an Apple Watch does'
TheStreet aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Amazon's 'stylish' $200 smartwatch is on sale for $30, and shoppers say it 'does everything an Apple Watch does' originally appeared on TheStreet. Why we love this deal In our busy world, it's common to have a jam-packed day juggling a professional and personal life. One simple way to streamline your day is with a versatile smartwatch. The stylish accessory blends the capabilities of a smartphone and fitness tracker for one game-changing device. You don't need to shell out the big bucks for a name-brand watch from Apple or Samsung. Instead, check out the amazing deal on the Mikego Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker at Amazon. For a limited time, the $200 device has been discounted by a whopping 85%, so shoppers can score the smartwatch for just $30. Mikego Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker, $30 (was $200) at Amazon Why do shoppers love it? The smartwatch is equipped with a 1.83-inch high-definition screen, which can be customized with your photos or over 130 watch faces. Constantly monitoring several health parameters, including heart rate and sleep patterns, the watch can also track over 100 different types of exercise. On top of that, you'll have access to Bluetooth calling, messaging, and Alexa voice control. One shopper wrote, "Since I got my smartwatch, I feel more organized and active. I love that it notifies me of messages, monitors my heart rate, and motivates me to move. The battery lasts a long time, and it's very practical. It's compatible with Android and Apple.""I'm so impressed with this smartwatch!" said a second reviewer. "The screen is bright and clear, the design is sleek, and it feels very comfortable on my wrist. It tracks my heart rate, steps, and sleep accurately, and I love that it includes Alexa — super useful for reminders and quick questions." What shoppers should know System compatibility: The smartwatch can connect to Android and Apple smartphones. Color options: The watch has six different color bands available. The pink, blue, black, and purple bands are all on sale for $30 or less. Is it waterproof?: Yes, the watch has an IP68 waterproof rating. The smartwatch, with multiple band colors on sale, can be paired with Galaxy devices and iPhones. The IP68 waterproof rating means you can sweat and shower while wearing the accessory, but you shouldn't submerge it underwater for prolonged periods. What shoppers are saying "Since I got my smartwatch, I feel more organized and active." "It does everything an Apple Watch does. The only difference is that it is way cheaper." 'Battery life is impressive, lasting me a couple of days on a single charge.' A third customer wrote, "Fitness tracking features are spot on — heart rate, sleep, steps, and workouts are all monitored accurately. It syncs easily with my phone, and the app is user-friendly too. Whether you're into tech, fitness, or just want a stylish and reliable smartwatch, this one checks all the boxes." The truly incredible $30 deal on the Mikego Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker won't be available for long. Add it to your cart now to secure the savings on this extremely handy accessory. Shop more deals like this DiveLink Smartwatch, $23 (was $160) at Amazon Taopodo Smartwatch, $30 (was $160) at Amazon Senbono Smartwatch, $30 (was $220) at Amazon Amazon's 'stylish' $200 smartwatch is on sale for $30, and shoppers say it 'does everything an Apple Watch does' first appeared on TheStreet on Aug 1, 2025 This story was originally reported by TheStreet on Aug 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
Tom's Guide
20 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I ran 15 miles with the Apple Watch's new Workout Buddy — here's my verdict
When Apple announced its Workout Buddy feature, an AI-powered assistant to get you through your workouts, I released an audible groan, knowing I'd have to write this article. On paper, it's the kind of thing I hate — an overly-enthusiastic robotic voice, regurgitating stats I've already seen on my running watch. I'm the kind of person who loves to run alone — it's my time to escape, to decompress, and to get my mind in order. I've completed five marathons, and trained for all of them on my own. I fully expected to hate Workout Buddy, but I diligently downloaded the watchOS 26 Beta onto my Apple Watch Series 10 (here's how to upgrade your Apple Watch to watchOS 26 Beta), and ran for 15 miles. The results surprised me. To put my new Workout Buddy through its paces, I set out on several different runs over two days — an easy 7-mile run one day, followed by a 6-mile tempo session and a 2-mile recovery the next. The tempo session was built on my Apple Watch as a Custom Workout. Each run, excluding the tempo session, started with the Workout Buddy's 'pep talk,' which went over how many miles I'd run this week or my current streak of closing my rings, along with phrases like 'Great job starting your run!' and 'You're crushing it!' Then, each mile, Workout Buddy would tell me my average pace for the mile, my heart rate, and what I was listening to. At the end of the run, it gave me a summary of my workout, again, excluding the tempo run. During the custom workout, Workout Buddy didn't seem to work — instead, I had the normal reminders to change pace during the work and recovery phases of the workout. Perhaps it's something I hadn't toggled on in Settings, or perhaps that was Workout Buddy, but all of the 'good job' messaging was gone. Apple isn't the first brand to add AI to its fitness trackers — we've seen it from Whoop, Garmin, Oura, Strava, and Samsung. Yet like pretty much every other brand on the market, Apple's AI isn't foolproof. On one run, Workout Buddy told me how many minutes I'd run that year — sure, running something like 4,000 minutes is an achievement, but it's not a milestone I've ever tracked before. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Another thing to note is that you have to have your iPhone with you to use Workout Buddy, and not all iPhones are compatible. Your iPhone has to have Apple Intelligence in able to use Workout Buddy, so you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro/ iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16. While I didn't hate Workout Buddy as much as I was anticipating, like all of these AI fitness features, in order to be truly useful, it needs to do more. Apple has erred on the side of caution with an overly positive tone, but what I want is my Workout Buddy to tell me that the last rep was slower, so I needed to dig in to finish the workout strong. Of course, Apple probably wouldn't ever do this, as they wouldn't want to risk people getting injured, but even if the messaging was 'that last mile was slower, but this weeks training load is up 60%', or 'you're slowing down but you're going up-hill. Your grade-adjusted pace is as follows…' it would be more useful than regurgitating what's on my wrist already. It's worth noting, this is a Beta version of watchOS 26, and often Apple will hold things back to coincide with the potential release of new watches this fall. What I'd hope to see is AI that gets smarter the more you run with it. If your Workout Buddy could remember your last run on a certain route, and tell you when hills were coming up, or how your current performance compared, that might be more helpful. What's more, if Apple, like most of the best Garmin watches have done for years, could consider your current week's training load, and how well you've slept the night before, and suggest workouts for you, that could take a lot of the guesswork out of training, and enhance the tool. Plus, prevent you from overtraining and picking up an injury that might keep you from the start line. Apple has always fallen behind its competitors in its lack of coaching, recovery, and training features, but Workout Buddy seems to be a hint of what's to come — Apple using the expertise of its Fitness+ Coaches and blending this into the Workout app. I don't for a second believe Workout Buddy can replace the expertise of real-life coaches, but I've always performed best when I've had someone pushing me to work harder, not congratulating me on getting out the door. It's the reason some of Peloton's instructors have become household names — they don't just hold your hand, they push you to get fitter. Perhaps Apple could follow Oura's lead and give users different AI personalities to subscribe to, so you can pick a coach that's right for you. I just hope when Workout Buddy rolls out this fall, its personality is a little punchier, because it has the potential to be a useful tool for runners. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
