Award-winning actress Rosario Dawson has starred in a range of films and television series over the course of her career. Most recently, she starred in the title role of AHSOKA for Disney and served as executive producer for Common Ground, a documentary advocating for regenerative farming.

As an outspoken activist for various causes, Rosario sits on several boards, including V-Day, CANN, Jane Fonda’s Climate PAC, and the Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum. In 2023 she founded the Rio Dawn Foundation. 

Read on to hear how Rosario uses Oura to track her sleep stats, reach activity goals, know if she’s getting sick, and more. 

What drew you to Oura Ring? 

I’ve never been interested in a smartwatch as I don’t want another piece of tech that can distract me during the day, and sleeping with it seemed bulky and intrusive, too. Oura Ring is so discreet, feels comfortable to wear while sleeping, and looks like a beautiful, complimentary piece of jewelry. 

The accurate and personalized support and data it provides made it an obvious choice. Plus, it only uses Bluetooth which you can turn on or off while wearing, which I really appreciate.

 What’s your current health & fitness routine, and how does Oura play a role in it? 

I’m big on walking and will go out of my way to add more steps in. Whenever I can meet with a trainer or take a fitness class with a friend, I do. I’m enjoying learning calisthenics at the moment. 

With Oura, it’s great to gauge my energy levels so I can adjust the intensity of my workouts and prioritize rest to avoid injury or strain. I love being alerted to achieving my activity goals every day! 

What’s the most surprising insight you’ve learned about your health since using Oura?

Oura knows I’m getting sick before I do! It also alerts me to changes in my body, automatically tracks what kind of exercise I’m doing, and tells me if I’ve had caffeine or a meal too late in the day. The data doesn’t lie, and having it spelled out so clearly has helped me prioritize many healthy behavioral changes. It’s so rewarding to see my statistics change and improve. 

LEARN MORE: How Oura Can Help Monitor Illness

Which Oura data do you check in the morning? At night? 

 If someone asks me how I slept, I usually answer, “Let me check!” I’m always curious to check my heart rate variability (HRV), REM sleep, and deep sleep in the morning. At night, I like the satisfaction of seeing my step count for the day. Rather than comparing myself to others, I’m comparing my levels strictly to myself. It’s nice to have a healthy, consistent competition with my younger and future selves. 

With a busy schedule as an actor and activist, how do you find balance? 

 Self-care keeps me grounded and in flow; for me that can mean meditating, napping, or going for a walk, hike, bike ride, or swim. If I get off track, which is so easy to do, I know I can maneuver and adjust gently back to where I want to be. With Oura, I’m reminded whether I’m being too sedentary or pushing myself too hard, which helps me make choices that strike a balance where I feel best.  

Rapid Fire…. 

 One word to describe your approach to health? 

Curious.  

Evening routine for better sleep? 

Dim the lights, avoid caffeine, don’t eat too late, turn off devices to avoid blue light, and lower the temperature.

Must-do morning ritual?

Drink an immediate glass of water and stretch. 

Mid-afternoon energy booster?

I meditate — 20 minutes feels more rejuvenating than a nap! 

RELATED: What Is Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR)?