Closing your Apple Watch rings can lower less stress, improve sleep - and win you prizes

Kerry Wan/ZDNET Closing your Apple Watch's activity rings could be good for your health. That's according to a new data analysis in the Apple Heart and Movement Study, which found positive associations between activity rings' closure and sleep, heart health, and mental well-being. The analysis of data, contributed by more than 140,000 participants, found that people who regularly closed their activity rings were 48% less likely to wake up frequently during the night, 73% less likely to experience an elevated resting heart rate, and 57% less likely to report elevated stress. Also: The best Apple Watches of 2025 While Apple's Heart and Movement Study's findings are new, the notion that exercise is good for your sleep, heart, and stress isn't. Smartwatches and fitness trackers like the Apple Watch encourage healthy and active behavior through constant reminders and incentives to exercise and make health-minded lifestyle decisions. That's especially top of mind ahead of the Apple Watch ... Read full article.