Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved staying active. That hasn’t changed as an adult, and now I use the Workout app on my Apple Watch to get a daily workout. But as useful as the app is, there’s one frustrating thing about Apple’s approach: it never gives you any time off.
I hate breaking streaks. 357 days on Duolingo. 698 days on Knotwords. And still going. I have no qualms about saying that gamification has worked wonders for me.
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This is part of a regular series showcasing apps we can’t live without – read the whole article here.
So, I want to maintain my exercise streak (current streak: 1,206 days) on my Apple Watch. But what happens if I get sick, injured, or simply want to take a break? Like a mad disciplinarian, Apple doesn’t allow rest days, instead insisting that I exercise every day for the rest of my life.
Honestly, it’s unrealistic to expect this from people. People need time to rest. Science proves it. Recovery is essential to good health and fitness, but Apple doesn’t seem to understand that.
Luckily, I found another app that Gentle personalitywhich represents an entirely different approach to exercise.
Gentler Streak, unlike Apple’s app, understands that people need rest. Sometimes we’re tired and sore. Sometimes we get sick. Sometimes we take a vacation. Whatever the reason, we don’t always feel like exercising, but with Gentler Streak, we won’t let that ruin your streak. You can take a happy break and resume the next day, guilt-free.
Even better, Gentler Streak learns your physical fitness level and suggests the next activity that’s best for you. If you take it easy one day, the next day it might recommend a harder workout. Or if you push yourself really hard over the weekend, Gentler Streak might suggest yoga on Monday to help you recover. It’s a flexible approach that’s sorely lacking in Apple’s Workout app, and I really appreciate it.
A better way to exercise
The core feature of Gentler Streak is its Activity Path. Unlike standard workout apps that show a “yes” or “no” if you’ve been added to your streak, Gentler Streak displays a green horizontal bar at the top of the screen. This bar displays a trend line for your workouts. High-intensity workouts will be pushed off the top of the Activity Path, while lighter-intensity workouts may move the trend line below the bottom. The goal is to complete the right level of workouts so that the trend line falls within the green Activity Path.
This is an added layer that Apple’s Workout app never offers. You don’t have to guess what exercise to do next either. Just look at your Activity Path to know whether to increase or decrease the intensity of your exercise. And if you need a hint, Gentler Streak will suggest options for you.
When it comes to tracking your exercise, Gentler Streak is here to help. The Watch app is packed with detailed metrics and beautifully designed information that’s easy to understand while you’re exercising. Whether you want to check your heart rate zones or elevation changes, it’s all there.
On your iPhone, you can dig deeper into your metrics to see how you compare to last month or year, how many calories you burned during each workout, where you went during your outdoor activities, and more. You also get health stats, tips, and insights, including monthly summaries and advice on how to improve your form.
You can choose from a variety of activities to start on your watch (there are over 100 in the app), or choose one of the app’s Go Gentler recommendations. These are based on your previous workouts, show you the intensity and duration before you start, and are designed to keep you within a healthy range for your body.
In short, Gentler Streak feels like a workout app that understands you: it knows that not everyone can exercise every day — life often makes it impossible — and it learns the needs of each user and adjusts accordingly to ensure the right workout is always ready for you.
Ironically, Apple pushed for this approach when it first launched the Apple Watch. Apple doesn’t recommend hitting 10,000 steps a day because it’s too difficult a goal for most people and pushing people too hard could lead them to stop exercising altogether. If Apple wants to keep people healthy without pushing them too hard, it would be wise to learn from Gentler Streak.
