No more Apple Watch guilt? A device that will allow users to finally rest – Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

As part of a major update to health and fitness features, Apple introduces a new option for watch users to take advantage of scheduled rest days, enhancing the device’s wellness capabilities.

What happened: Apple announced the introduction of rest days in the upcoming watchOS 11, a feature long awaited by users, The Verge reports.

With the new update, Apple Watch users will be able to pause their Activity Rings, allowing them to rest without breaking their streak. This development comes as the industry shifts its focus from gamification to recovery and health improvement.

Additionally, watchOS 11 will enable users to customize fitness goals based on a weekly schedule, automating a process that was previously manual. This change is intended to reduce the guilt associated with not meeting your daily fitness goals, especially on busy days or when you are sick.

See also: Apple analyst says you “don’t want to be anywhere near the stock market” in 4 years and feels WWDC was like a “spokes CEO talking like we’re focusing on 22-year-olds”

The introduction of these features reflects a broader recognition of the importance of rest in exercise plans. It is recognized that taking breaks can actually contribute to long-term motivation and health benefits.

Apple’s decision to include rest and recovery options in fitness tracking is consistent with the practices of professional athletes and offerings from other health trackers that prioritize rest, such as Oura Ring and Whoop.

Why is this important?: The latest Apple Watch update is part of a growing trend within the tech giant to position the device as an all-in-one health and wellness tool. Benzinga previously reported that Apple Watch has expanded its health monitoring capabilities by directly syncing with Dexcom’s G7 glucose monitor, allowing users to access real-time glucose data on their wrist.

In early April, a Benzinga report highlighted various ways to use Apple Watch in medical emergencies, including automatic emergency calls and notifications to emergency contacts after falls. This highlights not only the device’s usefulness in critical situations, but also its growing acceptance as a potentially life-saving gadget.

Photo: Oasisamuel on Shutterstock

Check out more of Benzinga’s consumer technology coverage here by following this link

Read Next: Elon Musk Reacts as Apple Offers Option to Opt Out of OpenAI’s ChatGPT Integration, Easing Privacy Concerns

This story was generated by Benzinga Neuro and edited by Shivdeep Dhaliwal