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| Meta Title | Is the Apple Watch Worth it? Thoughts from a Former Skeptic |
| Meta Description | Is the Apple Watch worth it? Yes. Here's why, and three unexpected behaviours I've developed from consistently using the watch. |
| Meta Canonical | null |
| Boilerpipe Text | Is Appleās watch worth it? Yes.
I use it to track my habits and exercise, when to give my cat and dog their pills, the timer reminds me to switch off the garden sprinkler or hang out the laundry, and the little red notification dot ā or lack thereof ā helps me reduce my device time.
Importantly, itās helped me change my habits for the better and removed my anxiety at missing messages or phone calls.
Is an Apple Watch Worth It Contents
Why was I skeptical?
Why did I change my mind?
How I use my Apple Watch
Positive behaviour changes from having an Apple Watch
UPDATE: After 12 Months Do I Still Think the Apple Watch is Worth It?
Final thoughts
Why Was I Skeptical?
I already have three progressively smaller devices which allow me to catch up on news articles, multiply 3 x 25 (because my brain just wasnāt working that particular day), set alarms and timers, and learn what the weather is doing outside my window without having to actually go outside.
So, do I need yet another, smaller device, with similar functionality?
Technically
, no. Not really.
For the basic stuff an Apple Watch can do, I already have substitutes: laptop, tablet, and phone. And for the fancy exercise tracking and activity stuff thereās a drawer in a downstairs desk where an old heart rate monitor and a couple of step monitors lay with dead batteries next to my half-empty bullet journal, all gathering dust.
The final nail in the coffin, the last technophobe excuse is I would have to upgrade my phone if I were to get a new watch. My phone ā bought second hand and with me for over seven years ā still does the trick. As long as Iām no more than 30 minutes from a power supply.
Besides, my phoneās primary use is to be ignored. Especially when someone has the temerity to call me. A more expensive chunk of silicone and glass wonāt change that fact.
Why Did I Change My Mind?
A significant shift in lifestyle and a genuine need to be reachable at all times, or at least between the hours of 7am and 11pm. Thatās what changed my mind.
No more missed notifications
My wife drives a lot for work and goes late into the night when on call. One particular night, the car broke down in the middle of nowhere and it was 20 minutes before I saw her missed calls. I donāt carry my phone or iPad everywhere I go, so itās all too easy to miss important calls and messages.
The Apple Watch resolved that. Being notified of an incoming message via a soothing chirp and a fizz on my wrist, rather than having to carry around my phone in my back pocket and worry about forgetting it when I sit down, is very comforting. Not having to set the notification volume on the phone or iPad to match a transatlantic fog horn is also a big positive.
The crash detection and emergency calling is a neat feature too, which thankfully we havenāt had a reason to use.
At some point, weāll try the walkie-talkie feature. But for now, weāll continue to shout at each other like lunatics through the walls.
Encourage better habits
The other drive to purchase a watch comes from my new healthy habit of exercising. Iām six months into a consistent streak of working out, something Iāve struggled with the last year or so, well, to be honest, the last decade, and being able to track heart rate, calories burnt, and time spent in sweating, puffing purgatory is appealing.
There is an enormous amount of satisfaction in adjusting the exercise time from 10 minutes to 12 to 15 to 20 to 25 as I get healthier and fitter. Something about spinning the crown and watching the numbers climb just hits the spot for me.
A drive towards simplicity
An advantage of the Apple Watch is it does everything I need in one device. It sits unobtrusively on my wrist ā which is convenient being that my wrist goes where I go ā and it wonāt need to be replaced for quite a while.
No more having to find the heart rate monitor before I get changed into my workout gear, or hunting for my bullet journal to tell me which exercises to do today, or leaving my iPad behind for the timer. All of which are great excuses NOT to start exercising.
With the watch, itās all there, all the time. No more wasted time looking for stuff. I get changed and start exercising. Itās that simple.
Which watch did I get and why?
I bought a refurbished Series 8 directly from Apple.
The Ultra was super-nice, but way more watch than I need, and the Series 9 didnāt feel like a big enough step up from the 8 to make it worthwhile.
The money I saved by buying a refurbed, prior model, went towards upgrading my phone, as my first generation SE was too old to pair with the watch. Now Iām the owner of a brand new third generation SE with a battery that lasts all day. Bliss! Why didnāt I upgrade sooner?
How I Use My Apple Watch
The apps I use the most on my watch are:
Reminders
Streaks
Timers
Workouts
Activity
Calendar
Sleep
Calculator
Alarms
My days are more structured now, with repeating reminders and friendly notifications that appear when I close my activity rings. No more missed pet meds, forgotten laundry, or drowning the garden and wasting water because I forgot to turn the sprinkler off.
I trust my watch to ding when it needs to and tell me what to do next, which might sound a tad Big Brother or The Matrix, but it removes a huge amount of worry for me and allows me to use my mental energy where itās best spent. Which isnāt wondering whether Iāve pilled the dog or not. Is the reminder āPill Goof Ballā still active? Let me check. Itās no longer on todayās list which means Iāve pilled my lovable, happy goof ball and he gets to stay healthy. No more worries about under- or over-medicating.
For me, structure is good, structure is necessary. Without it my days would be an unholy mess.
Positive Behaviour Changes From Having an Apple Watch
Exercising is still tough to do some days, but now I have a purpose and a weird sense of accountability. I donāt want to disappoint my watch by not exercising.
Which brings me to three unexpected benefits.
The Apple Watch has helped me think and act more deliberately
I use the Streaks app to track my habits, whether thatās writing my book, exercising, or not biting my fingernails. The habit of marking these behaviours as complete adds a layer of thoughtfulness to my actions.
For example, as a reward for exercising, I get to push the good exercise icon in the Streaks app and hear a happy little ping! When itās time to exercise, itās no longer a drag to get going, or wasted time debating with myself about the pros and cons of stepping on to the elliptical. Now, itās a deliberate thought, āI
want
to exerciseā.
My mind has tricked me into wanting to exercise, to get that tiny rush of dopamine from the completion reward.
My terrible habit of biting my fingernails has also seen a shift. Previous to the watch, the thought about
not
biting my fingernails would come
after
the act. Nothing deliberate there at all. It was as subconscious and automatic as breathing.
But now, when I bite my nails I have to push the bad hand icon, which resets the number of days since I last bit my nails, and listen to the sad, disappointed beep.
These days, when I go to bite my nails, I pause for a moment before the satisfying rip, and think, ādo I want to push the button and hear the crestfallen chime?ā
More often than not, thatās enough for me to lower my fingers from my mouth. Not always, but itās been a surprising boon.
I check my devices less
The next benefit is the reduced time spent checking my iPad or phone and getting distracted.
No more worries about missed calls or messages. No more checking the device and then feeling guilty about reading the news or searching for that 1912 Waterman pen on eBay. I look at my watch and see if the red notification dot is there or not. No? Then no missed messages or calls. Yes ā along with the chirp and fizzy vibration ā and thereās a message.
If the watch is quiet, then no-oneās trying to get in touch. And I
know
no-oneās trying to get in touch, which brings a level of calm and serenity.
This all means I can complete my chores without a guilty break in the middle of them, or fret over important messages that have gone unread.
The Apple Watch allowed me to reduce my digital footprint
The third benefit is a reduction and simplification in the number of apps and services I use.
In my freelance days, I had apps and services galore, but since my shift to working for someone else, I no longer need half of what I installed or subscribed to. And I never got rid of anything, because, well, āyou never knowā¦ā This is, of course, complete bunkum, codswallop, claptrap, and balderdash. I did know, I just didnāt want to take the effort to remove them.
Setting up my new phone was the perfect reason to unsubscribe and not install the apps and services that had fallen into oblivion over the last year. Like turning over a fresh, blank page in my favourite notebook.
Fewer apps means fewer syncs and setups. No more wasted time adding an event to my Google calendar, only to edit the event and mess with sync settings and notifications when updates donāt work the way I thought they would.
The upshot is fewer apps means more use of Appleās native apps and less third party solutions with their in-app purchases. The downside is fewer features in some cases, but as my life is simpler than it used to be, it makes sense to have a simpler approach to my digital choices. And I donāt miss the features Iām not using.
Itās like having a wardrobe full of white shirts and dark trousers. Itās easy to know what to wear for work each day, leaving more brain power for the important decisions I need to make. Sure, it might bore some, but for me, Iām putting the right level of energy into the right actions. Like being deliberate with my positive behaviours.
Another way to think of it is, do I need a super-duper, high-powered task management app with projects and powerful filters when all I need is a simple shopping list? And no, I donāt need a fancy task management app
and
a shopping list app. All I need is one straightforward reminders app.
The
and
logic only applies to dessert when the choice is between ice cream or whipped cream. In that case, the correct answer is always, āandā.
UPDATE: After 12 Months Do I Still Think the Apple Watch is Worth It?
Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt, unequivocally.
Hereās why:
My anxiety about missed calls and notifications is gone
I donāt waste time thinking about what I should be doing next in my day, the watch remembers all that
Iām still exercising consistently and getting healthier
My procrastination is greatly diminished and my motivation to get stuff done has increased
My life is simpler, smoother, and my dogās still happy and healthy
Am I still happy with the older model watch? Yes. I made the right choice and have no interest in the latest model. Maybe in another five or so years I might be.
After a year, what condition is your watch in?
Itās in great condition.
Iām currently on my fourth watch cover ā I buy the cheap covers from Amazon ā as I keep banging my wrist off counter tops and the like and theyāre the ones that break, leaving the watch face and body pristine.
Which watch apps do you use?
Off all the apps, I use Reminders and itās scheduling function the most.
Reminders tells me specifically what to do each day. For example, Monday: Rowing Machine, Tidy the Sitting Room. Tuesday: Weights, Tidy the Dining Room. Every Second Friday: Put out the Recycle Bin.
These are the good notifications that keep my body moving, my house clean, and most importantly, my mind at ease.
I still use all of the apps mentioned earlier in the post, except for the Sleep app. For a while it was interesting to see how much of my night I was awake or in REM sleep, but ultimately, it didnāt help me. My body tells me whether Iāve had a good nightās sleep or not. I donāt need the watch for that.
Final Thoughts: Is the Apple Watch Worth It?
Thanks to the Apple watch:
My days are organized in a way that works for me
My digital life is simpler and cheaper
My pets get their pills when they need them ā very important for their prolonged health and quality of life
We no longer run out of bread or milk ā a global-level crisis when it happens
Iām still exercising and can see a healthy difference in my heart rate and stamina levels with the data tracking
The watch is both easy and fun to use, and when my other devices are just tools for work, or to avoid work through procrastination, itās refreshing to have a device that helps me smile and enjoy life.
So, yes, the Apple Watch is worth it. |
| Markdown | [](https://flemingmccullagh.com/)
- [Become A Better Problem Solver](https://flemingmccullagh.com/how-to-become-a-better-problem-solver/)
- [Blog](https://flemingmccullagh.com/the-problem-solvers-blog/)

# Is the Apple Watch Worth it? Thoughts from a Former Skeptic
Is Appleās watch worth it? Yes.
I use it to track my habits and exercise, when to give my cat and dog their pills, the timer reminds me to switch off the garden sprinkler or hang out the laundry, and the little red notification dot ā or lack thereof ā helps me reduce my device time.
Importantly, itās helped me change my habits for the better and removed my anxiety at missing messages or phone calls.
#### Is an Apple Watch Worth It Contents
- [Why was I skeptical?](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#skeptical)
- [Why did I change my mind?](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#mind-change)
- [How I use my Apple Watch](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#use)
- [Positive behaviour changes from having an Apple Watch](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#positive-behaviours)
- [UPDATE: After 12 Months Do I Still Think the Apple Watch is Worth It?](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#update)
- [Final thoughts](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#final-thoughts)
***
## Why Was I Skeptical?
I already have three progressively smaller devices which allow me to catch up on news articles, multiply 3 x 25 (because my brain just wasnāt working that particular day), set alarms and timers, and learn what the weather is doing outside my window without having to actually go outside.
So, do I need yet another, smaller device, with similar functionality? *Technically*, no. Not really.
For the basic stuff an Apple Watch can do, I already have substitutes: laptop, tablet, and phone. And for the fancy exercise tracking and activity stuff thereās a drawer in a downstairs desk where an old heart rate monitor and a couple of step monitors lay with dead batteries next to my half-empty bullet journal, all gathering dust.
The final nail in the coffin, the last technophobe excuse is I would have to upgrade my phone if I were to get a new watch. My phone ā bought second hand and with me for over seven years ā still does the trick. As long as Iām no more than 30 minutes from a power supply.
Besides, my phoneās primary use is to be ignored. Especially when someone has the temerity to call me. A more expensive chunk of silicone and glass wonāt change that fact.
***
## Why Did I Change My Mind?
A significant shift in lifestyle and a genuine need to be reachable at all times, or at least between the hours of 7am and 11pm. Thatās what changed my mind.
### No more missed notifications
My wife drives a lot for work and goes late into the night when on call. One particular night, the car broke down in the middle of nowhere and it was 20 minutes before I saw her missed calls. I donāt carry my phone or iPad everywhere I go, so itās all too easy to miss important calls and messages.
The Apple Watch resolved that. Being notified of an incoming message via a soothing chirp and a fizz on my wrist, rather than having to carry around my phone in my back pocket and worry about forgetting it when I sit down, is very comforting. Not having to set the notification volume on the phone or iPad to match a transatlantic fog horn is also a big positive.
The crash detection and emergency calling is a neat feature too, which thankfully we havenāt had a reason to use.
At some point, weāll try the walkie-talkie feature. But for now, weāll continue to shout at each other like lunatics through the walls.
### Encourage better habits
The other drive to purchase a watch comes from my new healthy habit of exercising. Iām six months into a consistent streak of working out, something Iāve struggled with the last year or so, well, to be honest, the last decade, and being able to track heart rate, calories burnt, and time spent in sweating, puffing purgatory is appealing.
There is an enormous amount of satisfaction in adjusting the exercise time from 10 minutes to 12 to 15 to 20 to 25 as I get healthier and fitter. Something about spinning the crown and watching the numbers climb just hits the spot for me.
### A drive towards simplicity
An advantage of the Apple Watch is it does everything I need in one device. It sits unobtrusively on my wrist ā which is convenient being that my wrist goes where I go ā and it wonāt need to be replaced for quite a while.
No more having to find the heart rate monitor before I get changed into my workout gear, or hunting for my bullet journal to tell me which exercises to do today, or leaving my iPad behind for the timer. All of which are great excuses NOT to start exercising.
With the watch, itās all there, all the time. No more wasted time looking for stuff. I get changed and start exercising. Itās that simple.
### Which watch did I get and why?
I bought a refurbished Series 8 directly from Apple.
The Ultra was super-nice, but way more watch than I need, and the Series 9 didnāt feel like a big enough step up from the 8 to make it worthwhile.
The money I saved by buying a refurbed, prior model, went towards upgrading my phone, as my first generation SE was too old to pair with the watch. Now Iām the owner of a brand new third generation SE with a battery that lasts all day. Bliss! Why didnāt I upgrade sooner?
***
## How I Use My Apple Watch
The apps I use the most on my watch are:
- Reminders
- Streaks
- Timers
- Workouts
- Activity
- Calendar
- Sleep
- Calculator
- Alarms
My days are more structured now, with repeating reminders and friendly notifications that appear when I close my activity rings. No more missed pet meds, forgotten laundry, or drowning the garden and wasting water because I forgot to turn the sprinkler off.
I trust my watch to ding when it needs to and tell me what to do next, which might sound a tad Big Brother or The Matrix, but it removes a huge amount of worry for me and allows me to use my mental energy where itās best spent. Which isnāt wondering whether Iāve pilled the dog or not. Is the reminder āPill Goof Ballā still active? Let me check. Itās no longer on todayās list which means Iāve pilled my lovable, happy goof ball and he gets to stay healthy. No more worries about under- or over-medicating.
For me, structure is good, structure is necessary. Without it my days would be an unholy mess.
***
## Positive Behaviour Changes From Having an Apple Watch
Exercising is still tough to do some days, but now I have a purpose and a weird sense of accountability. I donāt want to disappoint my watch by not exercising.
Which brings me to three unexpected benefits.
### The Apple Watch has helped me think and act more deliberately
I use the Streaks app to track my habits, whether thatās writing my book, exercising, or not biting my fingernails. The habit of marking these behaviours as complete adds a layer of thoughtfulness to my actions.
For example, as a reward for exercising, I get to push the good exercise icon in the Streaks app and hear a happy little ping! When itās time to exercise, itās no longer a drag to get going, or wasted time debating with myself about the pros and cons of stepping on to the elliptical. Now, itās a deliberate thought, āI *want* to exerciseā.
My mind has tricked me into wanting to exercise, to get that tiny rush of dopamine from the completion reward.
My terrible habit of biting my fingernails has also seen a shift. Previous to the watch, the thought about *not* biting my fingernails would come *after* the act. Nothing deliberate there at all. It was as subconscious and automatic as breathing.
But now, when I bite my nails I have to push the bad hand icon, which resets the number of days since I last bit my nails, and listen to the sad, disappointed beep.
These days, when I go to bite my nails, I pause for a moment before the satisfying rip, and think, ādo I want to push the button and hear the crestfallen chime?ā
More often than not, thatās enough for me to lower my fingers from my mouth. Not always, but itās been a surprising boon.
### I check my devices less
The next benefit is the reduced time spent checking my iPad or phone and getting distracted.
No more worries about missed calls or messages. No more checking the device and then feeling guilty about reading the news or searching for that 1912 Waterman pen on eBay. I look at my watch and see if the red notification dot is there or not. No? Then no missed messages or calls. Yes ā along with the chirp and fizzy vibration ā and thereās a message.
If the watch is quiet, then no-oneās trying to get in touch. And I *know* no-oneās trying to get in touch, which brings a level of calm and serenity.
This all means I can complete my chores without a guilty break in the middle of them, or fret over important messages that have gone unread.
### The Apple Watch allowed me to reduce my digital footprint
The third benefit is a reduction and simplification in the number of apps and services I use.
In my freelance days, I had apps and services galore, but since my shift to working for someone else, I no longer need half of what I installed or subscribed to. And I never got rid of anything, because, well, āyou never knowā¦ā This is, of course, complete bunkum, codswallop, claptrap, and balderdash. I did know, I just didnāt want to take the effort to remove them.
Setting up my new phone was the perfect reason to unsubscribe and not install the apps and services that had fallen into oblivion over the last year. Like turning over a fresh, blank page in my favourite notebook.
Fewer apps means fewer syncs and setups. No more wasted time adding an event to my Google calendar, only to edit the event and mess with sync settings and notifications when updates donāt work the way I thought they would.
The upshot is fewer apps means more use of Appleās native apps and less third party solutions with their in-app purchases. The downside is fewer features in some cases, but as my life is simpler than it used to be, it makes sense to have a simpler approach to my digital choices. And I donāt miss the features Iām not using.
Itās like having a wardrobe full of white shirts and dark trousers. Itās easy to know what to wear for work each day, leaving more brain power for the important decisions I need to make. Sure, it might bore some, but for me, Iām putting the right level of energy into the right actions. Like being deliberate with my positive behaviours.
Another way to think of it is, do I need a super-duper, high-powered task management app with projects and powerful filters when all I need is a simple shopping list? And no, I donāt need a fancy task management app *and* a shopping list app. All I need is one straightforward reminders app.
The *and* logic only applies to dessert when the choice is between ice cream or whipped cream. In that case, the correct answer is always, āandā.
***
## UPDATE: After 12 Months Do I Still Think the Apple Watch is Worth It?
Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt, unequivocally.
Hereās why:
- My anxiety about missed calls and notifications is gone
- I donāt waste time thinking about what I should be doing next in my day, the watch remembers all that
- Iām still exercising consistently and getting healthier
- My procrastination is greatly diminished and my motivation to get stuff done has increased
- My life is simpler, smoother, and my dogās still happy and healthy
Am I still happy with the older model watch? Yes. I made the right choice and have no interest in the latest model. Maybe in another five or so years I might be.
### After a year, what condition is your watch in?
Itās in great condition.
Iām currently on my fourth watch cover ā I buy the cheap covers from Amazon ā as I keep banging my wrist off counter tops and the like and theyāre the ones that break, leaving the watch face and body pristine.
### Which watch apps do you use?
Off all the apps, I use Reminders and itās scheduling function the most.
Reminders tells me specifically what to do each day. For example, Monday: Rowing Machine, Tidy the Sitting Room. Tuesday: Weights, Tidy the Dining Room. Every Second Friday: Put out the Recycle Bin.
These are the good notifications that keep my body moving, my house clean, and most importantly, my mind at ease.
I still use all of the apps mentioned earlier in the post, except for the Sleep app. For a while it was interesting to see how much of my night I was awake or in REM sleep, but ultimately, it didnāt help me. My body tells me whether Iāve had a good nightās sleep or not. I donāt need the watch for that.
***
## Final Thoughts: Is the Apple Watch Worth It?
Thanks to the Apple watch:
- My days are organized in a way that works for me
- My digital life is simpler and cheaper
- My pets get their pills when they need them ā very important for their prolonged health and quality of life
- We no longer run out of bread or milk ā a global-level crisis when it happens
- Iām still exercising and can see a healthy difference in my heart rate and stamina levels with the data tracking
The watch is both easy and fun to use, and when my other devices are just tools for work, or to avoid work through procrastination, itās refreshing to have a device that helps me smile and enjoy life.
So, yes, the Apple Watch is worth it.
***
## More Actionable Advice
- [](https://flemingmccullagh.com/creating-a-professional-development-event-employees-want-to-attend/)
## [Creating a Professional Development Event Employees Want to Attend](https://flemingmccullagh.com/creating-a-professional-development-event-employees-want-to-attend/)
- [](https://flemingmccullagh.com/how-to-become-a-better-problem-solver/)
## [How to Become A Better Problem Solver with the Be Helpful Arch](https://flemingmccullagh.com/how-to-become-a-better-problem-solver/)
- [](https://flemingmccullagh.com/develop-the-be-helpful-keystone-habit/)
## [Develop the Be Helpful Keystone Habit and Transform Your Problem Solving Skills](https://flemingmccullagh.com/develop-the-be-helpful-keystone-habit/)
- [](https://flemingmccullagh.com/ask-the-right-questions/)
## [Ask the Right Questions: 2 Problem Solving Questions that Make the Difference](https://flemingmccullagh.com/ask-the-right-questions/)
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Iām Paul, an award nominated leader, innovator, project manager, change manager, and communications manager.
Which means I know how to get employees excited for change, manage projects so they deliver their promised benefits, and help users feel connected and empowered when using software and services.
Thatās my short and sweet elevator pitch. For a longer version of my experience and why I do what I do, you can [read more about me](https://flemingmccullagh.com/about/).
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| Readable Markdown | Is Appleās watch worth it? Yes.
I use it to track my habits and exercise, when to give my cat and dog their pills, the timer reminds me to switch off the garden sprinkler or hang out the laundry, and the little red notification dot ā or lack thereof ā helps me reduce my device time.
Importantly, itās helped me change my habits for the better and removed my anxiety at missing messages or phone calls.
#### Is an Apple Watch Worth It Contents
- [Why was I skeptical?](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#skeptical)
- [Why did I change my mind?](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#mind-change)
- [How I use my Apple Watch](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#use)
- [Positive behaviour changes from having an Apple Watch](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#positive-behaviours)
- [UPDATE: After 12 Months Do I Still Think the Apple Watch is Worth It?](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#update)
- [Final thoughts](https://flemingmccullagh.com/is-the-apple-watch-worth-it-thoughts-from-a-former-skeptic/#final-thoughts)
***
## Why Was I Skeptical?
I already have three progressively smaller devices which allow me to catch up on news articles, multiply 3 x 25 (because my brain just wasnāt working that particular day), set alarms and timers, and learn what the weather is doing outside my window without having to actually go outside.
So, do I need yet another, smaller device, with similar functionality? *Technically*, no. Not really.
For the basic stuff an Apple Watch can do, I already have substitutes: laptop, tablet, and phone. And for the fancy exercise tracking and activity stuff thereās a drawer in a downstairs desk where an old heart rate monitor and a couple of step monitors lay with dead batteries next to my half-empty bullet journal, all gathering dust.
The final nail in the coffin, the last technophobe excuse is I would have to upgrade my phone if I were to get a new watch. My phone ā bought second hand and with me for over seven years ā still does the trick. As long as Iām no more than 30 minutes from a power supply.
Besides, my phoneās primary use is to be ignored. Especially when someone has the temerity to call me. A more expensive chunk of silicone and glass wonāt change that fact.
***
## Why Did I Change My Mind?
A significant shift in lifestyle and a genuine need to be reachable at all times, or at least between the hours of 7am and 11pm. Thatās what changed my mind.
### No more missed notifications
My wife drives a lot for work and goes late into the night when on call. One particular night, the car broke down in the middle of nowhere and it was 20 minutes before I saw her missed calls. I donāt carry my phone or iPad everywhere I go, so itās all too easy to miss important calls and messages.
The Apple Watch resolved that. Being notified of an incoming message via a soothing chirp and a fizz on my wrist, rather than having to carry around my phone in my back pocket and worry about forgetting it when I sit down, is very comforting. Not having to set the notification volume on the phone or iPad to match a transatlantic fog horn is also a big positive.
The crash detection and emergency calling is a neat feature too, which thankfully we havenāt had a reason to use.
At some point, weāll try the walkie-talkie feature. But for now, weāll continue to shout at each other like lunatics through the walls.
### Encourage better habits
The other drive to purchase a watch comes from my new healthy habit of exercising. Iām six months into a consistent streak of working out, something Iāve struggled with the last year or so, well, to be honest, the last decade, and being able to track heart rate, calories burnt, and time spent in sweating, puffing purgatory is appealing.
There is an enormous amount of satisfaction in adjusting the exercise time from 10 minutes to 12 to 15 to 20 to 25 as I get healthier and fitter. Something about spinning the crown and watching the numbers climb just hits the spot for me.
### A drive towards simplicity
An advantage of the Apple Watch is it does everything I need in one device. It sits unobtrusively on my wrist ā which is convenient being that my wrist goes where I go ā and it wonāt need to be replaced for quite a while.
No more having to find the heart rate monitor before I get changed into my workout gear, or hunting for my bullet journal to tell me which exercises to do today, or leaving my iPad behind for the timer. All of which are great excuses NOT to start exercising.
With the watch, itās all there, all the time. No more wasted time looking for stuff. I get changed and start exercising. Itās that simple.
### Which watch did I get and why?
I bought a refurbished Series 8 directly from Apple.
The Ultra was super-nice, but way more watch than I need, and the Series 9 didnāt feel like a big enough step up from the 8 to make it worthwhile.
The money I saved by buying a refurbed, prior model, went towards upgrading my phone, as my first generation SE was too old to pair with the watch. Now Iām the owner of a brand new third generation SE with a battery that lasts all day. Bliss! Why didnāt I upgrade sooner?
***
## How I Use My Apple Watch
The apps I use the most on my watch are:
- Reminders
- Streaks
- Timers
- Workouts
- Activity
- Calendar
- Sleep
- Calculator
- Alarms
My days are more structured now, with repeating reminders and friendly notifications that appear when I close my activity rings. No more missed pet meds, forgotten laundry, or drowning the garden and wasting water because I forgot to turn the sprinkler off.
I trust my watch to ding when it needs to and tell me what to do next, which might sound a tad Big Brother or The Matrix, but it removes a huge amount of worry for me and allows me to use my mental energy where itās best spent. Which isnāt wondering whether Iāve pilled the dog or not. Is the reminder āPill Goof Ballā still active? Let me check. Itās no longer on todayās list which means Iāve pilled my lovable, happy goof ball and he gets to stay healthy. No more worries about under- or over-medicating.
For me, structure is good, structure is necessary. Without it my days would be an unholy mess.
***
## Positive Behaviour Changes From Having an Apple Watch
Exercising is still tough to do some days, but now I have a purpose and a weird sense of accountability. I donāt want to disappoint my watch by not exercising.
Which brings me to three unexpected benefits.
### The Apple Watch has helped me think and act more deliberately
I use the Streaks app to track my habits, whether thatās writing my book, exercising, or not biting my fingernails. The habit of marking these behaviours as complete adds a layer of thoughtfulness to my actions.
For example, as a reward for exercising, I get to push the good exercise icon in the Streaks app and hear a happy little ping! When itās time to exercise, itās no longer a drag to get going, or wasted time debating with myself about the pros and cons of stepping on to the elliptical. Now, itās a deliberate thought, āI *want* to exerciseā.
My mind has tricked me into wanting to exercise, to get that tiny rush of dopamine from the completion reward.
My terrible habit of biting my fingernails has also seen a shift. Previous to the watch, the thought about *not* biting my fingernails would come *after* the act. Nothing deliberate there at all. It was as subconscious and automatic as breathing.
But now, when I bite my nails I have to push the bad hand icon, which resets the number of days since I last bit my nails, and listen to the sad, disappointed beep.
These days, when I go to bite my nails, I pause for a moment before the satisfying rip, and think, ādo I want to push the button and hear the crestfallen chime?ā
More often than not, thatās enough for me to lower my fingers from my mouth. Not always, but itās been a surprising boon.
### I check my devices less
The next benefit is the reduced time spent checking my iPad or phone and getting distracted.
No more worries about missed calls or messages. No more checking the device and then feeling guilty about reading the news or searching for that 1912 Waterman pen on eBay. I look at my watch and see if the red notification dot is there or not. No? Then no missed messages or calls. Yes ā along with the chirp and fizzy vibration ā and thereās a message.
If the watch is quiet, then no-oneās trying to get in touch. And I *know* no-oneās trying to get in touch, which brings a level of calm and serenity.
This all means I can complete my chores without a guilty break in the middle of them, or fret over important messages that have gone unread.
### The Apple Watch allowed me to reduce my digital footprint
The third benefit is a reduction and simplification in the number of apps and services I use.
In my freelance days, I had apps and services galore, but since my shift to working for someone else, I no longer need half of what I installed or subscribed to. And I never got rid of anything, because, well, āyou never knowā¦ā This is, of course, complete bunkum, codswallop, claptrap, and balderdash. I did know, I just didnāt want to take the effort to remove them.
Setting up my new phone was the perfect reason to unsubscribe and not install the apps and services that had fallen into oblivion over the last year. Like turning over a fresh, blank page in my favourite notebook.
Fewer apps means fewer syncs and setups. No more wasted time adding an event to my Google calendar, only to edit the event and mess with sync settings and notifications when updates donāt work the way I thought they would.
The upshot is fewer apps means more use of Appleās native apps and less third party solutions with their in-app purchases. The downside is fewer features in some cases, but as my life is simpler than it used to be, it makes sense to have a simpler approach to my digital choices. And I donāt miss the features Iām not using.
Itās like having a wardrobe full of white shirts and dark trousers. Itās easy to know what to wear for work each day, leaving more brain power for the important decisions I need to make. Sure, it might bore some, but for me, Iām putting the right level of energy into the right actions. Like being deliberate with my positive behaviours.
Another way to think of it is, do I need a super-duper, high-powered task management app with projects and powerful filters when all I need is a simple shopping list? And no, I donāt need a fancy task management app *and* a shopping list app. All I need is one straightforward reminders app.
The *and* logic only applies to dessert when the choice is between ice cream or whipped cream. In that case, the correct answer is always, āandā.
***
## UPDATE: After 12 Months Do I Still Think the Apple Watch is Worth It?
Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt, unequivocally.
Hereās why:
- My anxiety about missed calls and notifications is gone
- I donāt waste time thinking about what I should be doing next in my day, the watch remembers all that
- Iām still exercising consistently and getting healthier
- My procrastination is greatly diminished and my motivation to get stuff done has increased
- My life is simpler, smoother, and my dogās still happy and healthy
Am I still happy with the older model watch? Yes. I made the right choice and have no interest in the latest model. Maybe in another five or so years I might be.
### After a year, what condition is your watch in?
Itās in great condition.
Iām currently on my fourth watch cover ā I buy the cheap covers from Amazon ā as I keep banging my wrist off counter tops and the like and theyāre the ones that break, leaving the watch face and body pristine.
### Which watch apps do you use?
Off all the apps, I use Reminders and itās scheduling function the most.
Reminders tells me specifically what to do each day. For example, Monday: Rowing Machine, Tidy the Sitting Room. Tuesday: Weights, Tidy the Dining Room. Every Second Friday: Put out the Recycle Bin.
These are the good notifications that keep my body moving, my house clean, and most importantly, my mind at ease.
I still use all of the apps mentioned earlier in the post, except for the Sleep app. For a while it was interesting to see how much of my night I was awake or in REM sleep, but ultimately, it didnāt help me. My body tells me whether Iāve had a good nightās sleep or not. I donāt need the watch for that.
***
## Final Thoughts: Is the Apple Watch Worth It?
Thanks to the Apple watch:
- My days are organized in a way that works for me
- My digital life is simpler and cheaper
- My pets get their pills when they need them ā very important for their prolonged health and quality of life
- We no longer run out of bread or milk ā a global-level crisis when it happens
- Iām still exercising and can see a healthy difference in my heart rate and stamina levels with the data tracking
The watch is both easy and fun to use, and when my other devices are just tools for work, or to avoid work through procrastination, itās refreshing to have a device that helps me smile and enjoy life.
So, yes, the Apple Watch is worth it. |
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