In the age of smart technology, where our watches can do almost as much as our phones, I’ve had to take a step back and reflect on what I truly need from my wristwear. Just the other day, a coworker was raving about the latest smartwatch deals from Cyber Monday, and it got me thinking. Even my wife has joined the smartwatch bandwagon, and everywhere I turn, people can’t stop talking about them.
The most common praises I hear? First, the convenience of controlling smartphones without digging into pockets. Reading messages, checking calls, changing music – all at a flick of the wrist. Then, there’s the health aspect. Many use their smartwatches as a beacon of hope towards a healthier lifestyle, tracking every step, heartbeat, and calorie.
The Reasons Behind My Reluctance
But here’s the catch – for me, these are precisely the reasons why I’m hesitant to get one.
You see, I already find myself glued to my phone, trapped in an endless scroll. If I could do all that with even less effort, I fear I’d be losing more personal time to the digital abyss. I keep my phone on ‘do not disturb’ 24/7 to escape this very trap. Adding a smartwatch into this mix? That would be like feeding a habit I’m trying to break.
And as for health tracking? I’ve been down that road. Fitbit, MyFitnessPal, Noom – you name it, I’ve tried it. Sure, they worked, but only in the short term. The novelty wore off, and none of these gadgets or apps led to any sustainable change in my health routine. Plus, my favorite sports, boxing, and airsoft, aren’t exactly wristwatch-friendly activities.
Embracing the Simplicity of a Traditional Watch
So, I stick to my trusty analog G-shock. It’s simple, robust, and does what I need it to – tell the time, time my activities, and wake me up. It’s not about what it can do; it’s about what it can’t. It doesn’t bombard me with notifications or tempt me with endless apps. I don’t need to charge it constantly, though a battery change is due every couple of years. When I’m hitting the punching bag, I take it off, not at risk of getting damaged and not of a risk of it damaging me.
In a world where more often seems like better, I’ve found solace in less. My G-shock may not have the flashy features of a smartwatch, but it offers something more valuable to me – peace, simplicity, and a break from the relentless connectivity of modern life. Sometimes, what we need isn’t a device that does more, but one that helps us do less.
-Ryan
