Arriving in a humble box, I slipped my Oura ring onto my right hand, alternating between my middle and pointer finger, per the ring’s instructions. My hope? Better sleep, channeling Susie’s ability to say “no,” maybe more walks. And almost immediately, my life shifted from Before Oura to After with the stark clarity only data can provide.
On days when my period was nearing, I’m now aware of my basal body temperature rising, using the data to enable me to skip pilates and opt for a mile-long walk for matcha instead. When a late-night Fashion Week party kept me out, I made up for it the next day with a nap, grinning as I watched my readiness score increase before heading back to my desk. As for the wearability, I inquired with my fashionable friend and reluctant Oura evangelist, Jess Graves, editor of The Love List, for insight.
Adhering to a shared belief that anything is better than an Apple Watch, Jess put off purchasing based on aesthetics, too. Her solve—sizing down and wearing her Oura as a pinkie ring—earned the wellness tool a spot at the Khaite show alongside the rest of her outfit. Another keen eye, Madison Utendahl, speaker, host, advocate and founder of Utendahl Creative, counts on her Oura for its sleep tracking and the infamous readiness score. “What’s really stuck out to me about the sleep tracker comes down to the way it puts to rest any sort of rumors or theories that you don’t need to sleep. As an entrepreneur, sleep historically has become something people brag about not having or not needing. The Oura ring single handedly debunked any of those theories for me. I’m a better boss, a better entrepreneur and a better team member when I’m well rested.”
Editorial Producer CBS News + SLT instructor Lizzie Crowley stacks her Oura ring with another band for a more stylized feel, something I’ve also taken up. And similarly to my conversation with Sofia, Lizzie sees her Oura as a magnet for aligned interest. “It subconsciously helps you align with people of similar preferences and interests. Just like with most wearables, you can tell who is keenly interested in their health and helps you find common ground with strangers.” And sure enough, at fashion week events, at dinner parties, even on Zoom for work calls, I found myself connecting over the device-slash-accessory I was so hesitant to sport.