Fitbit stress score explained: How stress tracking and management works
The stress score is rolling out across the range
Fitbit has rolled out stress-tracking features to all of its existing devices, as the company makes a play for mindfulness.
The announcement was made during James Park’s keynote for the launch of the Fitbit Luxe, the company’s premium-grade fitness tracker.
We explain the stress score and how you can use it. And don't forget our guide to wearable stress tracking and other devices that use the feature in different ways.
Which Fitbit devices can track stress?
Fitbit introduced Stress Management last year as part of Fitbit Sense, which focuses on mindfulness.
But now the daily stress score has been opened up to users of:
- Versa 4
- Versa 3
- Versa 2
- Luxe
- Charge 4
- Charge 5
- Charge 6
- Inspire 3
- Inspire 2
- Sense 2
- Pixel Watch series
How does Fitbit stress management work?
The Stress Management feature sits on the Fitbit Dashboard.
Estimations are derived from three metrics on your wrist: heart rate variability, exertion, and sleep data, to generate a single stress score.
Non-Premium users will just see their daily stress score, while those who have paid for Fitbit Premium will see a full breakdown.
And you can add your own feedback on how you're feeling on any given day; however, the app doesn't use this feedback to train the algorithm.
Fitbit is making a play for mindfulness and has teamed up with Deepak Chopra to deliver Mindful Method content for Fitbit Premium.
How do you use it to manage stress?
The idea of the Stress Management score is to identify spikes in stress and then take action. Sadly, your Fitbit wearable can't destress for you—but there are tools on hand.
Most Fitbit devices have a guided breathing mode, which can help reduce stressful feelings. But improving your stress score means focusing on the individual aspects of the score. Hitting your fitness goals and getting Active Zone Minutes in will help with the exertion score, and you'll need some decent sleep.
Pre-bed meditation may support sleep quality—and there's a host of mindfulness content within the Fitbit app. You'll find that in the Discover section, if you're a Fitbit Premium user.
"Our Stress Management Score was designed to help you understand your body's ability to handle stress, which is an important health metric that can impact your physical and mental health,” said Dr. Samy Abdel-Ghaffar, research scientist behind Fitbit's Stress Management.
"If you receive a high score, it means you're showing fewer signs of physical stress, so you may consider taking on a new project or exercising, whereas if your score is lower, you may want to give yourself a break by going to bed early or meditating."
"Over time, your score can help you understand connections between your stress level and your daily activities like exercise and sleep habits," he continued.
And that's the message from Fitbit. The stress score is designed to help you understand and quantify your mindfulness and build a connection between your habits and your mental health. What you do with that information is up to you.
Fitbit EDA sensor explained
Some Fitbit devices (Sense 2, Charge 5 and 6) also include an additional EDA sensor, which stands for Electrodermal Activity, and is a measure of skin and sweat responses, which can be a sign of stress.
How does an EDA sensor work?
To use your EDA sensor, you will have to manually start an EDA Scan session on your compatible Fitbit device.
You can do this using a 2-minute spot-test, or during some of the EDA-compatible mindfulness sessions from Fitbit Premium. These are just like normal Fitbit meditations, but you hold the screen to track EDA responses.
Once you finish the session, Fitbit will tell you how many EDA responses it detected during the session.
However, Fitbit doesn't track EDA scores as a specific metric.
What is a good EDA score?
As with any wearable metric, such as resting heart rate or skin temperature, the number of EDA responses is personal.
Taking two minutes to calm down and focus on your breathing may reduce stress. Thus, performing an EDA Scan is beneficial regardless of your score.
However, it's worth noting your EDA score and working out what's normal for you. If you spot significantly higher scores, it might be time to take further stress-relieving steps, such as establishing a consistent bedtime routine.
