Arena Strive 2024 Recap: A Year of Impact and Progress
As we close out 2024, we reflect on our biggest year yet. Arena Strive partnered with frontline healthcare workers nationwide, delivering tools, coaching, and actionable insights to help them navigate the relentless demands of their roles. Here’s a look at the progress, data, and dedication that defined this transformative year.
By the Numbers
In 2024, 766 healthcare workers from 12 states and 6 cohorts participated in Arena Strive—nearly quadrupling participation since 2023.
Over the 8-week journey on the Arena Strive app, participants in 2024 achieved an average 30% reduction in burnout symptoms. This underscores the impact of tailored coaching and tools for addressing healthcare’s most common challenges – like adjusting to night shifts or decompressing after a difficult procedure.
What Did the 2024 Wearable Data Reveal About Sleep?
It’s well-known that sleep is often a luxury for those on the frontlines—but what did the numbers show?
Across Arena Strive participants, the average sleep duration was 6.7 hours per night. Here’s what we saw by role:
- Physical Therapists reported the most sleep, averaging 7.13 hours per night.
- Physician Assistants followed closely, averaging 6.79 hours.
- Nurses reported 6.55 hours, while Administrators and Managers averaged 6.52 hours.
- Attending Physicians reported the least sleep, averaging 6.37 hours.
This average falls below CDC and National Sleep Foundation recommendations of at least 7 hours of sleep per night for adults (1,2). This is not new to what we know about the relationship between insufficient sleep and both medical errors and cognitive impairment (3, 4).
The data highlights a familiar truth: schedules are long, pressures are relentless, and sleep is limited for those on the frontlines. This is one of the many reasons why Arena Labs was founded, why Arena Strive was built, and why we are pioneering the art of translating these insights into action. Strive’s mission to support healthcare workers matters more than ever. We believe in this mission — so should you.
The Power of Coaching
The support structure provided by Arena was a key win for Strivers. This year, strivers worked with their coaches through their challenges and goals, sending over 8,500 messages to seek advice, share struggles, and celebrate small wins.
Clinicians’ Biggest Goals
At the start of Arena Strive, participants focused on identifying their stressors and setting goals. The top priority for strivers was regulating stress—a critical need in healthcare’s demanding environment.
Throughout the program, the tools participants engaged with most centered on:
- Preparing and activating for the day: Techniques like Box Breathing and Visualization helped participants energize and focus.
- Managing the pressures of the day: Adjusting exhale length and using Panoramic Vision allowed participants to regulate stress effectively.
- Improving sleep: Strategies such as creating a Cold, Dark, Quiet environment and practicing Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR) promoted better sleep quality.
Whether it was a nurse stepping into a chaotic night shift or a physician decompressing after a high-stakes emergency, data, coaching, and expert-led tools were there to provide support, clarity, and actionable solutions.
Looking Ahead
The numbers, stories, and achievements from this year reinforce one essential truth: frontline healthcare workers thrive when provided the same research-backed tools as other high-stress, high-intensity fields.
In 2025, we’ll have more insights to share as we see unprecedented interest in Arena Strive. Our app experience will feature a complete redesign, including fresh content from experts across the performance sciences & healthcare. Also, we’ll be unveiling brand new tools for hospital leaders to take action on the insights we generate. Stay tuned!
If you’re interested in bringing Arena Strive to your hospital, reach out to us at hello@arenalabs.co.