So, last week (Saturday the 14th of June to be exact) I took off my Apple Watch, and put on the San Martin BB58 Homage. This is literally the first time since the Series 0 that I haven't had an Apple Watch on my wrist.
And I love it.
I'm not here to debate the right or wrong of Homage Watches, the tl:dr is that I view watches as fashion accessories, and as such, copies, homages and inspired by is par for the course. Don't @-me, I really don't care.
I'm also not here to review the San Martin. Others have done that far better than I can, you can find the list here on Youtube. Suffice it to say, I am overjoyed with the watch.
No, I want to talk about the effect removing the computer from my wrist has had on my happiness and mental health, cause it's a pretty big deal, to me at least. Who knows, maybe to you as well.
The trap of being always connected
As a tech enthusiast I have a very real love for technology, the newer the better. I am enamored by all the new shiny things that come out, seemingly every few weeks, that promise to make our lives better and healthier. The promise is so tempting, and honestly, this is the role technology should play in our lives.
Like with the current AI explosion, these developments should be in service to humanity, not in substitution. But we live in a world where the fuel that drives economies and the companies that support it, are hoarded profit, instead of shared prosperity.
In this world technology serves as an infectious vector, a way to permeate every facet of ones life, so that when the new shiny thing comes out, you are compelled to get it.
And look, I'm not saying that the Apple Watch is inherently bad. There are lots of positives to it, and for some it has literally become a life saver. For those who have had those experiences with this technology, it more than justifies the place it demands in their lives.
For me, it just doesn't. Having another screen in my life doesn't add to my chill, it detracts from it. The constant buzz on my wrist of some new notification that I have been programmed to immediately respond to makes me less present, not more.
At least for the people and moments that really matter, which is the point, at least for me. I want to be more present for my family, not for the social graph. Having a smart watch makes that impossible.
Just turn off the notification I hear you say!
That is a fair statement, and one that I actually tried.
After I turned all the distracting notifications off, I basically had a digital watch, with terrible battery life and a hefty price tag. Why on earth would I want to continue down that path, when I can put that cash, between 599 and 799 depending on the model and year into collecting things that are repairable and will literally last for decades?
I mean, I wouldn't, so I'm not.
Unless there is a compelling health reason in the future, this is the last smart watch I will own. It's amazing how nice it feels to say that. If you would have asked me a year ago if I would ever type out those words, and mean it, I would have laughed at the absurdity of the notion.
It's amazing how time, distance and circumstance can change things so fundamentally.
Now this doesn't mean I won't have an electronic device on my wrist ever again, far from it. At this phase of my life and health journey, I really need to keep track of certain metrics. I need to track heart rate, movement and steps. I need to start taking sleep tracking seriously.
To help with this, the current plan is to find a good wearable, without a screen, and notifications, that tracks the metrics I want, and that supports the HealthKit framework. That way I maintain a view into my health, while continuing this evolution to a simpler, more analog version of myself.
Should be fun.
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