Wearables Wednesday: Should you aim for consistently high HRV?
Controversial opinion: Having consistently high HRV—reflecting low physiological stress—is not always adaptive. Same with stress overall.
I see so many people, companies, and conversations focused on simply “optimizing HRV”. What does that mean? HRV is not truly the outcome of interest—it’s just a signal of autonomic nervous system activity. And having day-to-day alterations in HRV is normal and a sign that you are being exposed to varied experiences and using your body’s resources to meet demands.
Stress gets a bad rap. But in reality, stress itself isn’t bad. A stress response is simply the body recognizing the demands of our environment and activating to help us meet those demands. And, as a reflection of physiological stress, having consistently high HRV isn’t as great as it seems.
Basically, if we are challenging ourselves and growing, our nervous systems will be more highly activated at times.
Like most things, stress is good in moderation.
Too much stress, and we become overwhelmed, panicked, exhausted, with extreme or chronic stress responses leading to worsened health and a greater likelihood of dying earlier.
Too little stress, and we stagnate, get bored, lose motivation to learn and grow, and may even get depressed. I read something recently about how marijuana will increase HRV. Probably true, but good luck getting things done if you’re constantly high!
Ultimately, the body is well-equipped to handle occasional periods of stress. It matters how we perceive the stressors (for example, are they challenging or threatening?), whether we cope in healthy, adaptive ways, and whether we recover adequately—emotionally and physiologically. And this may be different person-to-person.
Of course, you want to ensure your HRV is not deviating too far from your baseline for too long. That may be a sign of overwork and a lack of recovery. You can also use this information to learn what helps you recover, when you might be getting sick, and more. But overall, don’t sweat the day-to-day variations. They may just be signaling that you are working toward challenging goals and that your body is working to meet the demands of your environment.
👋 I'm Lydia Roos, health psychologist, stress and wellbeing scientist, and Founder of EvolveWell Research Partners.
📌 EvolveWell specializes in conducting research for mental and physical health, wellness, and fitness companies on a project, fractional, or advisory basis. [evolvewellresearch.com]