Making sense of Oura recommendations

Today Oura updated the ring with new firmware (version 2.5.1), which promised improved sleep tracking. So, my first experiences are complicated by a dynamic situation. Furthermore, I have had the ring for less than two weeks, so I am not expecting it to have solid recommendations for me. Nevertheless, it is interesting to think about the information I am getting and its apparent contradictions. 

 

As of this morning, I had 9 days of activity data in the Oura ring app. I have not on any day met the activity goal it set for me and it told me “Don’t push yourself” this morning, because my body temperature continues to be above baseline. But, it did not adjust the activity goal for today. It has continued today, as it has for several days, to say that I am not active enough, in general, and am not training with enough intensity. It seems to be a bit of a mixed message. I am not concerned, because, I am recovering from a stressful experience/illness and am not exercising at normal levels. It will be interesting to see what happens as it gathers more data.

 

In contrast, the sleep data makes more sense. It has adjusted its recommendations for sleep start times and the changes clearly matched the changing patterns of sleep. This is gratifying, because it is one of the major reasons I bought the ring. It will be interesting to see how the new algorithms perform.