Check the display for your current heart rate in beats per minute (BPM)
Identify your resting heart rate when you are calm and inactive
Compare your heart rate to your target heart rate zone for exercise
Note whether the reading is steady, rising, or falling
Look for alerts or color indicators if your monitor has them
Confirm the monitor is positioned correctly on your wrist, chest, or finger
Recheck the reading if it seems unusually high or low
Record the reading if you need to track trends over time