Let’s Talk About Why I Love My Oura Ring

A comprehensive answer to one of the questions I’m asked most frequently.

The only photo of my ring that I have lol

Editor’s Note: Hi, I was sick last week, so I didn’t publish!

I wrote a story for FiveThirtyEight a few years ago about my disordered relationship with fitness and health optimization. I was an anxious young woman chasing “the perfect body” through constant ring-closing and an obsessive need to scroll through my health data. So, naturally, I was skeptical when Oura sent me a ring as PR back in 2022 after I wrote that story. Initially, I wasn’t sure if wearing it was a good idea, but I was taken by the ring’s minimalist design. It’s a sleek, unobtrusive piece of “jewelry” that quietly tracks various biomarkers without constantly buzzing or flashing notifications—a much-needed reprieve from my watch.

I figured, what the hell? A ring can’t make me more anxious than a beeping, buzzing watch does.

It’s been three years, and the chill aesthetics are secondary to why I love my ring. My wellness protocols—things like aiming for 8,000+ daily steps, eating …