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1,001 comments on this thread and having a 2nd similarly titled thread make it clear, as users, we want an on/off option. Fitbit absolutely doesn't care about their consumers. March your $ elsewhere folks! That is the only way to make yourself heard.
I completely agree with you about your situation. That's unacceptable if you have no option at all. Though I have heard other Android users state right here in this forum they can see the averages like I can. But I disagree that Fitbit is using the sleep score to make people buy Premium to see sleep averages. I can see both now. From what I've read it's just added data but sleep averages are not anywhere easy to find with Premium either. I sure don't have it and will not spend $80 a year to have it unless something far more helpful is offered.
To support your comments to some others - We should all be respectful of one another. Some commenters have very serious medical issues regarding sleep. Using technology to help them track the ‘amount’ of sleep they have is critically important to them. Some of us are technically more competent than others and enjoy tapping and swiping.
Nonetheless what we all have in common is that we do not want an artificial sleep score that causes people to feel shamed and inadequate, or as several have said make them feel anxious every morning when they wake up. This psychological pressure coupled with inadequate sleep aggravates a serious health problem.
So please focus on the problem we want fixed. Fitbit - will you help us?
Congratulations! You've lost a customer who sorely regrets spending money on a Fitbit. With 900+ votes and 1000+ comments and still a "under consideration" status after months of complaints from users, this firm is beyond redemption. I'm switching to Garmin.
Please remove the sleep score. It's totally worthless and nothing more then an annoyance. Well, that and a chance for Fitbit to try and sell their "Premium features"...
After the update to the "new experience" I use the app a lot less because it's fiddly, annoying and less informative. When my Charge 3 is used up, I'm looking to change brand, Fitbit's latest update is a downgrade.
It's great that you CAN sleep in Sundays or any other day. I'm not choosing not to sleep, that's just what happens. I'm happy with my 1 hour and 51 minutes I got last night. I could stay in bed all day Sunday and that wouldn't do anything except make me feel less productive.
When one CAN'T sleep, we don't need a made up figure sleep shaming us about our inability. I've lost weight, I stopped drinking, I exercise regularly. I'm in the best shape of my life. All the things I can control, I've done. It's annoying, depressing, and irritating that this extremely large number is proudly displaying my failure at something I have no control over and can't affect in any way on a device that I paid for.
Granacher
There's more we can do. Review the app and review the product wherever you bought it. That also hits them where they live.
@DALwpg Thanks again. And yes to respect and kindness. As the saying goes, "Everyone is fighting a battle...".
I have had major sleep issues through more than a decade of unfortunate life events combined with a very stressful job. My sleep is some better now, but I still endure long stretches of insomnia and fragmented sleep. But even on a rare, extraordinarily good night of 6-7 hours with little waking, I have not had a sleep score higher than the mid 70s. And it is demoralizing to wake, feeling good for a change, and see that score. I would much rather be greeted in the morning by the quantity of sleep (along with the breakdown of light, deep, etc) - but please, FitBit, let me be the judge on the quality of my sleep.
So this is one more plea to FitBit - please, please, please make this sleep score business something that we can turn off, or opt out of... please. Being graded on something that is out of my control is not helpful at all.
@Runner0001 Have panned the sleep score everywhere I can. Filed complaints and Fitbit takes no action. They don't care about the consumers. What about those who cannot afford to switch to another tracker? You can bet they won't refund your money spent over the years for numerous Fitbits!
Two hours of sleep for more than 1 night would probably have me in the hospital. No kidding. You know what happened when scientists tested rats by not allowing them to sleep at all for two weeks? They DIED. I hope you find relief.
But, also, don't think because I'm having more success sleeping that it's easy because it isn't. I have no problem posting my sleep screenshots as you can see even though you had fun with my naps (I've got thick skin so no worries). If you look again you'd see I also have between 1-2, and even more at times, OF HOURS OF AWAKE TIME - every - single - night - in the middle of the night. No exceptions. I have not slept straight through in years now. But, still, seeing my trends/patterns, through fitbit, and especially trying to increase my sleep averages has been mostly successful. And naps don't come free and easy. I can't just lay down and sleep on demand like you commented on and might think. Everything takes serious preparation now. Naps included. For every night before bed, and after I wake up in the middle of the night, as well as before any nap, I take melatonin gummies. I also take zzzquil sips often and buy it by the 4 pack. Sometimes ambien or xanax (though those can be a problem so now more careful). I call them sleep cocktails because I usually combine more than one thing. Also, even though I've lived in Hawaii for over 20 years and never needed AC for the first 18 years here, I now have a room AC and turn it on nightly. I close the curtains and add two floor fans as well for coolness and white noise. In addition, I also sleep with ear plugs and the best sleep mask I've ever found on Amazon here (large, soft and does not touch your eyes). https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KC5DWCC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
So getting sleep is in some ways like going to WAR (Melatonin/ZzzQuil/Ambien/Xanax/ROOM AC/Ear Plugs/Sleep Mask/Two room fans/Ceiling Fan/Curtains closed). It's a battle for me and I make all kinds of little preparations, DAILY. But it has worked and I will continue keep it a priority because I can see and feel the difference with the improvements and my overall increase in sleep times. Which is why when sleep averages were missing on my Fitbit a couple months ago I Googled it and found this forum. I hope you can find some relief soon too! Sounds like we're all trying.
I speak tongue in cheek often. I don't mean to offend but sarcasm is difficult to express when this text editor keeps changing my words when I go back to edit.
My sleep patterns are so erratic that I've given up trying to understand them. I feel refreshed after less than two hours of sleep but can sometimes sleep for 6 or 7 hours straight and feel like I need a nap. Volume doesn't seem to work for me as a general rule. So far I can't seem to tell what kind of sleep (light, REM, deep) I'm getting because I get inconsistent results there too. Having said all that, I still like monitoring the volume because I get sciatica when I don't get enough volume (my one symptom). I feel for you because I can't stay in bed if I'm not sleeping. I must get up and do something, read something, write something. I can get a 20 minute nap sometimes and be good for hours.
I have found through this community and elsewhere that many people suffer from sleep issues. I'm finding it more common than not in my small group of friends, associates, neighbors. I persued the "8 hour" goal for far too long, blaming myself for not being able to get half that most nights. It's this very war against (for) sleep that all of us wage daily that makes me so irritated by that **ahem**able number that mocks me each morning. It seems we all have enough to battle with already without FB Corp giving us another one. If I thought their intentions were good it might help but I know better.
When I read others being sleep shamed also it irritates me even more. I despise bullies and it feels like we're all getting bullied.
@Runner0001 I have enjoyed reading your posts. I, too, have severe sciatica but have never thought about it being connected to my lack of sleep. So you may have put me on to something.
I am not so sure that an 8-hour perfect sleep exists. I have been reading research that we (humans) may have enjoyed multiple, shorter sleeps in the distant past, and been healthier because of it. Not sure how true that is, but it gives me hope that those 3-4 hour nights are not as detrimental to my health as I thought they were... except that I'm not getting that second 3-4 hour sleep later in the day.
As an older woman, I definitely have sleep issues, but I can't help but think of the many different people out there also struggling for a good night's rest - new moms and dads, shift workers, people stressed by life events and medical problems, to name a few. And, we finally have a device that helps us track sleep, with hopes of improving it, but now, this device judges our sleep rather than just giving us the facts/data. The data may still be there, but the score is demotivating, discouraging, and completely unnecessary. If people like the sleep score, then let them keep it. But those of us who are negatively affected by it need to have a way to hide it, opt out of it, or turn it off.
fiddlegrrl- you just made one of the most eloquent, passionate please in this entire thread of requests to Fitbit to give the users what they are asking for.
My faith in corporations, executives and their miss guided technicians to see the light and do the right thing Will be destroyed your Fitbit does not respond to this. I cannot believe the stubbornness and your responsibility of Fitbit.
fiddlegrrl Your honesty is amazing. Your openness about your challenge it’s refreshing. I believed my sleep problems, related to apnea were serious but I do manage to get six hours of reasonable sleep most nights. I am still regularly tired but can function. I truly hope you can make progress.
Fitbit‘s refusal to do something that would be such a benefit to their users is so disappointing.
I 100% agree with this suggestion. Please give the option to turn off the sleep score. I find this piece of data meaningless without additional context about how it was calculated. Additionally, replacing the weekly average of number of hours slept on the Android nightly sleep list view is beyond frustrating. That was one of the things I looked at most, so seeing it replaced with a number that doesn't mean anything to me is maddening. And since sleep tracking is the primary reason I bought my Fitbit in the first place, this change has made me think about switching to a different product altogether.
My phone could easily be my pedometer, there are a ton of heart rate monitors on the market. I went with Fitbit specifically for the sleep tracker. I hate the sleep score. I’m at this forum looking to turn it off, but I can’t really recommend Fitbit to friends until you do. This has been under consideration for months, so I guess it’s time to look for an alternate piece of tech
I agree with DALwpg, very eloquently put and makes an emotional impact. If human beings read this forum, I think enough has been said to affect a change. Unfortunately.... Minimum wage doesn't get the talent it used to.
Re: sciatica, I bought a TENS device (Amazon) years ago that helps immensely! It's the same thing they use at physical therapy, simply applying small current to targeted muscles. The devices now are battery (AA) operated, two batteries lasting for weeks of almost continuous use or months of few times per day use. My daughters even have their own (to avoid fighting). They cost around $25 and are life changing. Most have a clip so you can hook it on your pants and carry it around with you. I drive with it, work around the house with it. They're amazing!
Including options for how, when, or whether to display the sleep score would be appreciated. The key part that needs to be optional for me is the ability to display the average time asleep in the log. It would then provide the most valuable information with one click.
As as a principle for future changes, may I suggest ensuring data detail is primary and evaluations are secondary. The value of fitness trackers is the details they provide over approximations and estimations.
@Runner0001 I'm so sorry you have sleep problems. Miserable I know. Are we related? Keep at it. Regardless of your belief system, 'Zen and the Art of Happiness' by Chris Prentiss was most helpful (I find something new each time I reread) also, I use gentle music (Native American music or 'Healthful Sleep' cd, stored on iPod) with earbuds to help me stop thinking at night. I pray you'll have good sleeps from now on! The ONE positive is we're not alone in our sleep crusade. Sleep well.
DALwpg, Runner0001 thank you, once again, for your kind words. I'm just a sleepy person looking for relief like the rest of you 😴.
Runner0001 - I am intrigued by the TENS device and will definitely look into that since I also have my share of arthritis. Thank you for sharing what has worked for you. I hope you continue to find relief.
Granacher - I love your suggestions. I often listen to classical music to destress and drown out my own head-noise. I discovered the Relax My Cat YouTube channel. Hours and hours of music. I love it because the music is not repetitive or predictable (so I won't sing along in my head!). And, I will look for that book.
Now, if we can just get FitBit to LISTEN to us and get rid of that insanely disturbing sleep score...
@fiddlegrrl I have also found no screen use, tv, computer, or phone 2 hours before bed really helps! I hope you like the book. I have given 14 copies and everyone seems to find something that speaks to them. I kept a copy and reread regularly, always a new insight.
How is this not yet fixed??? I will be ready for a new tracker soon and I will switch over to Apple watch or something else if this doesn’t get changed. The first thing I do in the morning is look at my sleep graph and I have started many days off with a negative experience because of the stupid sleep score (even when i had a great night’s sleep!!!). It’s not worth it and it’s absolutely ridiculous that it is not optional yet. This is just Fitbit‘s way of trying to get people to upgrade to premium and instead what it’s going to do is push a bunch of people away from Fitbit. Stupid stupid stupid.
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