Sleep is free, requires no equipment, and is probably the single highest-leverage health intervention available. So naturally the wellness industry turned it into a hobby.

Now there are rings, bands, watches, and apps all competing to tell you your sleep was suboptimal. You wake up, check your score, feel vaguely judged by a device that didn't go to medical school, and start the day already behind.

The optimal sleep protocol hasn't changed: dark, cold, consistent timing, no screens before bed. Your great-grandmother didn't need a recovery score to know she slept well. She woke up rested and got on with it. The metrics exist to sell you more metrics.