What it is, why it matters and how to improve it

Feb 11, 2026 – 5.00am

Stress is an imprecise term and a difficult thing to measure. But technological advances mean it’s now simple to capture what is perhaps the best proxy for our response to it: heart rate variability, or HRV.

Found on most smartwatches and wearable fitness trackers, heart rate variability can tell users if they’re pushing too hard, about to fall ill or ready to smash a workout.

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