Understanding Your Energy Rhythm in rivva
Learn how rivva uses your sleep data to forecast daily energy patterns, calculate sleep debt, and schedule work when you're most capable. Work with your biology, not against it.
Most productivity tools treat every hour like it’s the same. 9am? Great for deep work. 4pm after six meetings? Also great for deep work, apparently.
Except that’s not how humans work.
Your energy naturally rises and falls throughout the day. Some times are better for deep work. Others are better for lighter tasks or rest. rivva helps you see these patterns so you can plan your day in a way that feels easier, not forced.
What is your energy rhythm?
Think of your energy rhythm like a weather forecast, but for your brain.
It’s a simple picture of how your focus and energy naturally rise and fall during the day. rivva shows you when you’re likely to be sharp, when you might hit a slump, and when it’s smart to schedule breaks or lighter work.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s working with your natural rhythms instead of against them.
How does rivva know your energy levels?
rivva learns your energy patterns by looking at your sleep and daily habits.
Here’s how it works:
Sleep data rivva gets your sleep data from Apple Health (if connected) or from manual check-ins you add yourself.
Natural rhythms rivva combines your sleep data with circadian and ultradian patterns—the natural energy cycles most people follow throughout the day.
Pattern recognition Over time, rivva gets better at predicting when you’re likely to feel focused, when your energy might dip, and when lighter tasks or breaks make more sense.
The goal isn’t to tell you exactly what to do. It’s to help you plan your day around your real energy, not an idealized version of productivity.
How can you use your energy rhythm in your day?
Your energy rhythm helps you decide when to focus, when to take breaks, and when to schedule lighter work.
rivva uses your energy rhythm to:
Suggest better timing for tasks
Avoid scheduling hard work when your energy is low
Protect your peak hours for deep, strategic work
Batch admin tasks during lower-energy windows
Instead of forcing yourself through tasks when you’re drained, you work when you’re capable. It’s sustainable productivity.
Does your energy change during the day?
Yes, and that’s completely normal.
Energy naturally goes up and down throughout the day. Most people experience:
Morning peaks Higher energy and focus shortly after waking
Post-lunch dips Lower energy in the early afternoon (totally normal)
Secondary peaks A rebound in energy later in the afternoon or evening
Evening decline Natural wind-down as your body prepares for rest
rivva takes all of this into account. It won’t schedule your toughest work when you’re usually drained.
And if your day changes or your energy feels different than usual? rivva can adjust your schedule in real time so you stay on track without feeling forced.
What is sleep debt?
Sleep debt is the accumulated difference between the amount of sleep your body needs and the amount you actually get.
Think of it like financial debt. If your body needs 8 hours but you only get 6, you’re “in debt” by 2 hours. Over time, this debt grows and leads to mental and physical fatigue, impacting your mood, focus, and performance.
rivva uses sleep debt to help you understand how your rest (or lack of it) affects your energy throughout the day.
How does rivva calculate sleep debt?
rivva calculates sleep debt by:
Finding the difference between your body’s required sleep and the sleep you actually get each night
Summing those nightly deficits over a 14-day period
This gives you a clear picture of your accumulated sleep debt and how it’s affecting your capacity.
Why can’t I view my sleep debt?
To calculate sleep debt, rivva needs at least 3 days of sleep data—either manually inputted by you or automatically synced from Apple Health.
If you have at least 3 days of data and still can’t view your sleep debt, reach out to us at support@rivva.app or via our WhatsApp support line.
Why does rivva recommend a sleep schedule?
A consistent sleep schedule helps your body recover and reduces sleep debt over time.
Following rivva’s recommendations can:
Clear accumulated sleep debt
Make your energy more predictable
Improve focus and performance during the day
rivva’s suggestions aren’t strict rules. They’re gentle guides based on your energy patterns, recent sleep, and upcoming tasks. The goal is to help you feel rested and energized, not to pressure you.
How does rivva use your sleep data?
rivva uses sleep data to:
Give smarter energy insights
Plan your tasks more realistically
Help you see when you’re likely to be focused
Suggest when a lighter day might be better
Show when you may need extra recovery
Your sleep data stays private and is used only to make your planning experience more helpful. It isn’t shared or used for any other purpose.
What if your energy or sleep insights don’t feel accurate?
rivva works hard to ensure the data you see is accurate. But if something doesn’t look right, reach out anytime:
Email: support@rivva.app
WhatsApp: Support line
We’ll help you get it sorted quickly.
Still have questions about energy? We’re here to help. Email support@rivva.app or message us on WhatsApp.