Escape to Serenity: Wild Hokkaido soundscape for the Fitbit app

[JLuluFitbit]

Hey Fitbit Community,

Sound ecology, the study of how we interact with our environment through sound, reveals that nature's sounds aren't just background noise. A study in The Journal of Positive Psychology describes how being near parks and forests (green spaces) have significant health advantages designed to cut through distractions, increased feelings of happiness, and improving focus.

The newest Sound Matters collection - Wild Hokkaido, showcases Hokkaido island’s (Northern Japan) unique wilderness and biodiversity, including iconic sounds of the forest to your Pixel device. This collection is compatible with Pixel 4 and newer models running Android 13 or later.

Our "Wild Hokkaido" collection is inspired by the Japanese practice of “Shin-rin Yoku,” or “Forest Bathing.” This practice involves immersing oneself in the forest atmosphere to enhance well-being, engaging with nature through all five senses, and disconnecting from the stresses of daily life.

The growing Sound Matters collection encourages you to take breaks and enjoy nature's sounds. We wanted to bring this to our Fitbit community, so we've included the full 1-hour Hokkaido forest soundscape into the app - ideal for stress-relief, meditation, or simply winding down.

To find it in the Fitbit app

1. Open the Fitbit app and tap the Coach tab, in the middle of the three main tabs at the bottom of the screen.
2. Scroll right to the Mindfulness tile.
3. Scroll down to Soothing soundscapes and select "See all."
4. Find and tap the "Lower stress with a forest sound bath" soundscape.
5. Press Play below the title to start.

If you'd like to hear more, you can enjoy the full sound collection on Pixel Phones and Tablets - available as ringtones, alarms, and notifications.

1. On your Pixel phone, press a Volume button.
2. At the right, tap More.
3. To change your ringtone, tap Settings.
4. Tap Phone ringtone.
5. Choose the Sound Matters ringtone category.
6. When you find a ringtone you like, tap Save.

For more information on Fitbit, here are some additional resources:

• Fitbit Help Center
• Pixel Sound Matters: Wild Hokkaido Behind-The-Scenes
• Immerse yourself in nature: Introducing Pixel's 'Wild Hokkaido' sound collection
• Pixel Sound Matters: Dawn Chorus Behind-the-Scenes
• Google Sustainability blog

Your Fitbit Community Team