John Mackey, the founder of Whole Foods, recently shared how his Apple Watch helped him make a significant lifestyle change by quitting drinking. In an interview with Business Insider, Mackey revealed that he decided to give up alcohol three years ago, partly due to the data collected by his smartwatch. Mackey explained that he used his Apple Watch to track his sleep patterns and noticed that on some days he slept well, while on others he did not.
This led him to question what he was doing differently on the days when his sleep quality was poor. After analyzing the data, Mackey identified three key factors that affected his sleep: exercise, meal timing, and alcohol consumption. He found that more exercise and avoiding large meals before bed led to better sleep.
However, the most significant discovery was the impact of alcohol on his sleep quality. “I have an app on the Apple Watch called AutoSleep, and it tracks my sleep,” Mackey said.
mackey credits smartwatch for better sleep
“I’ve learned so much from it because it tells me about not only how long I sleep but my quality of sleep and how deep my sleep is. I started to notice that anytime I drank even one beer or one glass of wine, my deep sleep went to zero. My total sleep would drop about an hour.”
Despite enjoying alcohol and initially not wanting to give it up, Mackey conducted numerous experiments and consistently found that drinking led to a lack of deep sleep.
This realization prompted him to choose between quality sleep and alcohol consumption. Since quitting drinking in January 2022, Mackey has reported significant improvements in his sleep quality and overall well-being. He no longer experiences “throwaway days” where he feels unwell and just waits to go to bed early.
The Apple Watch now includes built-in sleep tracking, and the latest models, such as the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2, can even detect signs of sleep apnea. Mackey’s experience demonstrates the profound impact that wearable technology can have on personal health and wellness by providing valuable insights and encouraging positive lifestyle changes.
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
