Call it coincidence, but just the other morning my sister texted me asking if I want her old smart watch. “I’m actually in the middle of writing a blog all about why I’ll never own one” I responded (with a upside-down smiley face emoji and zero judgment), and immediately decided this was the next post I had to publish…because that free smart watch was callin’ my name and this was the perfect opportunity to review my values and walk the talk with my life principles.
This isn’t the first time I’ve been offered a smart watch at little to no cost. When I was (very) pregnant with Sloan, I invested in a phone that had a better camera and more storage for the 7826914503 pictures I would be taking of my girl. With said phone came a smart watch for ridiculously cheap, and despite both Bob and the salesman’s persuading, I politely declined.
“Never say never” is a phrase I personally subscribe to, so I realize saying “I will never own a smart watch” is a liiiiiiiittle dramatic. But in this season of life, with where technology is, and at my current level of information and knowledge, ^^that^^ declaration feels true & authentic & worthy to me. Years ago I made this decision with a bit of ego and arrogance; today I’m approaching it with intention, intuition, and a self-induced obligation to inner peace and felt this perspective was worth sharing.
Like I said…zero judgment
Before I step up on my smart watch soapbox, allow me to state the obvious – I’m writing this post with allllllll the respect and zero judgment…a hand-over-heart great for her, but not for me mentality. This is not an attack towards anyone who wants or owns a smart watch. I’m not trying to spark shame or guilt. There’s ZERO expectation that you throw your smart watch into the trash after reading this. You do you, boo…with confidence, clarity, and certainty.
Smart watches have obvious pros – convenience, efficiency, connection, information – and ya girl appreciates all of the above. But I’ve weighed the good, bad, and ugly on smart watches (& TikTok & botox & and crocs) over and over again in my head, and call me an opinionated millennial, but this is my hot take on the topic…
A little too available
It’s absolutely wild that my first decade of life relied on a landline phone for communication, and now only twenty years later the average person can speak and type into a one-inch computer on their wrist! Let’s just take a moment of silence to remember the joy of checking the answering machine when you walked through the door, the revolutionary *69 feature, and three-way calling. *Sigh*While advancement in technology in such a short period of time is ahhhhh-mazing, the pressure that comes with it to always be “on” and “available” is just not my thing.
Now you might be thinking, “but what if something’s wrong or there’s an emergency or someone needs you?”…and as a slightly anxious mama and (slowly) recovering control freak, I can appreciate those apprehensions. But I’ve quieted those concerns with the simple facts that 1) I already check my phone a million times a day, and 2) someone should be calling 9-1-1 in those instances instead of me.
The older I get, the more boundaries I set – not to keep people out but to prioritize and protect my time, energy, and wellbeing. My brainpower is limited and my bandwidth is precious, so the last thing I need is 24/7 communication with the flick of my wrist. I am worthy of space, I can take time to respond (mmmmm…maybe repeat that affirmation to yourself the next time you get a text). In today’s fast-paced, stressed-out, next-best-thing world, the easiest way to show my heart & mind & soul respect is by giving them the opportunity to disconnect.
Intuition over information
Steps, sleep, oxygen saturation…you name it and a smart watch can probably tell you all about it. Just give it another decade and that bad boy will take our blood levels and automatically order next week’s groceries based on our body’s needs too! Now you know I don’t believe in TMI (especially when it comes to women’s health) and many of these metrics can be inherently helpful, but sometimes the best information comes from within.
A woman’s intuition is strong (like gravity strong), and the buzzing and beeps can actually drown the little voice inside of us and cloud our judgment. Rather than trust our instincts or listen to our guts, we rely on notifications for when to stand, stop a workout, or go to sleep. Kinda cool? Yes! Necessary? Not in my book. I don’t know about you, but my intuition muscle could always use a little extra flexin’, and I’m far more likely to take a beat and look inward when I don’t have an ever-alert attention whore strapped to my wrist.
EMF radiation
Before you roll those beautiful eyes at me…hear me out. Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) are invisible sources of energy associated with the use of electrical power – think microwaves, computers, wifi, cell phones, bluetooth devices, and smart watches. While there are mixed reviews regarding the damaging affects of EMFs and how much is too much, I like to err on the side of caution with a “better safe than sorry” approach whenever possible.
Obviously I use devices that emit EMFs in my everyday life, and I do it WITHOUT tinfoil wrapped around my head, thank you very much. But something about a smart watch attached all day every day simply doesn’t sit well with me. Rather than live in fear, I focus on the areas I can control and learn more about those I can’t. Avoiding wifi feels nearly impossible, and I need my computer to publish these posts on the weekly(ish)! But passing on a smart watch is an easy “no thanks” for me for all the reasons listed here, and gives me a little peace of mind regarding EMFs in the process.
Obsessive much?
In college I wore a heart rate monitor during every workout to tally calories burned. A few years later I trained to compete in a bikini competition and meticulously logged every ounce of food consumed. I currently use an app to track the frequency and performance of my workouts. And every single time it comes to measuring progress and hitting metrics, I tend to get a teeeeeeeensy weensy bit obsessive.
Hands down, without a doubt, I know owning a smart watch would make every step I take, calorie I burn, and minute I spend snoozin’ a competition. And while challenges are fun and goals require benchmarks, I’m not about to start measuring my worth in heartbeats per minute or sleep cycles per night. There are enough pressures coming at me from my self and society, I really don’t need it from a smart watch too.
More purposeful presence
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been talking to someone and they glance at their smart watch mid-conversation like a moth to a flame…proof that the tiniest flash or buzz or beep is enough to derail the best of human brains. While checking notifications with the flick of a wrist is convenient, it’s a little too easy (IMO) to get pulled out of life and sucked into a vortex of emails, texts, and Instagram likes, completely oblivious to (or at least preoccupied from) the world around you.
Especially since becoming a mama, I’ve had a growing number of “pinch me” moments and “don’t forget a single detail” days. Whether I’m playing with my daughter, snuggling my husband, connecting with friends, or engaging with patients, I want to be 100% present and purposeful with my time and energy. In today’s world, there are enough opportunities for guilt, overwhelm, and information overload…the last thing I want is a smart watch distracting me from the life & laughter & love right in front of me.
Aaaaaaand she steps off the soap box…
Halfway through writing this post I questioned if I was getting a bit too sassy, then realized I was in my luteal phase and couldn’t help but giggle because it all checks out. For my one article on smart watch cons, there are probably a hundred promoting the pros with more than valid points, and even in this time of heightened hormones I can appreciate the practicality and productivity that smart watches provide.
If made it through said sass to the end of this post, then my guess is you’re either 1) debating a smart watch and want to see both sides of the story, 2) boycotting too and needed to know you’re not alone, or 3) wearing a smart watch but that little voice inside is urging you to think twice. No matter your “why”, I hope my points and perspective gave you peace in whatever path you choose to take. I know my “less is more” approach to life (and health) isn’t for everyone, and that’s ok! Smart watch or not, remember that you know your body & heart & mind & soul better than I or anyone else ever will….just don’t forget to unplug of ALL those devices long enough to take a listen.
– Amanda
Disclaimer: The content provided here does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for personalized healthcare. I’m a doctor, but I’m not your doctor. If you have concerns about a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
