02/26/2026
A question I commonly get asked: “How do I know if I should modify my exercise or activities?”
Here is a brief graphic to help guide your decision:
-Check in with your symptoms and how you feel first!
-Utilize Wearable information as a secondary guide. Resting Heart Rate (HR) and Heart Rate Variability (HRV) are good metrics to show how prepped your body is for activity/stress.
-Combine how you’re feeling with what the metrics say to make an informed decision on what is best for your recovery. Note sometimes less is more in the long run!
If your resting HR is elevated your body is working harder at baseline and therefore usual activities might take more capacity than usual.
HRV measures the variability between heart beats in a given minute. High HRV = a more resilient and adaptable nervous system. Low HRV = a more taxed nervous system, less adaptable to stress.
** Note that HRV and resting HR metrics should only be compared to your own prior data, using the same device. Wearables like oura ring and whoop only give an HRV number based off your deepest sleep aka when the number should be the highest. Apple Watch will measure it more frequently both at night and during the day. Therefore Apple Watch and whoop HRV numbers would be like comparing apples to oranges.
Stay tuned for future posts diving more into wearable technology and recovery!
