If you’re a fitness tracker person — or an aspiring one — you get used to the occasional notifications about your lifestyle. Closing those rings can be addicting, after all.
For many, these notifications can be a helpful nudge to stand up and stretch, and remember that you are, in fact, a human creature who needs to do things away from a screen. Especially folks at desk jobs with THAT desk job posture. For others, it’s a little too reminiscent of the guilt-tripping “have you even been to the gym lately?” commentary and ‘Almond Mom’ concern-trolling that yield a little more than shame and annoyance.
Depending on which view you hold, your mileage may vary with the latest updates to watchOS that includes AI-supported features that go the extra mile: including a Workout Buddy function that reportedly “provides you with the right encouragement based on your workout data and fitness history.”
One HuffPoster who noticed the change in their app noted a new little icon (see the little treadmill guy) urging her to get some extra activity in.
Anecdotally, some users have found that the notifications can feel a little off-putting when you’re sick or in a situation where you can’t possibly fit in a brisk jog or bike ride. Likewise, research has shown that sometimes the emphasis on collecting constant data via our fitness trackers can do more harm than good by reinforcing orthorexic or obsessive behaviors.
