I wasn’t always a “watch guy.” For years, I couldn’t justify strapping a second piece of technology to my wrist when I already carried what felt like a supercomputer in my pocket. My phone could tell the time, organize my schedule, and answer just about any question I had, so why would I need anything more?
Like many people, my early experiences with watches were simple and practical. As a kid, I wore inexpensive digital watches, nothing fancy, just fun. That evolved into a Timex Ironman in my younger adult years. At the time, I was working as a lifeguard and swim instructor, and the Ironman’s durability and Velcro strap made it the perfect companion. It could take a beating and keep going, which was exactly what I needed.
Later, I briefly tried something a little more aspirational, a fake Rolex bought from a street vendor while traveling. It didn’t take long to realize it wasn’t for me. A watch is supposed to say something about you, and “I’m not authentic” wasn’t the message I wanted to send. That experiment ended quickly, and the junk watch ended up in a drawer.
As my career shifted into a blue-collar industry, practicality once again took priority. I didn’t want to risk damaging a watch while working, so I simply stopped wearing one. Years went by, and watches were no longer part of my life.
Meanwhile, my wife had fully embraced the world of smartwatches. She wore a Garmin Vivoactive and loved everything about it, heart rate tracking, sleep scores, body battery metrics, and more. She often shared her stats with me, clearly excited by the data. I found it interesting, sure, but I couldn’t understand the appeal of scoring your physical condition. It felt unnecessary, maybe even a little obsessive.
Then, about eight years later, something changed.
My workplace began rewarding long-term employees with Garmin watches, and I was lucky enough to receive one. My first thought was to sell it. A quick $750 on Marketplace sounded much more appealing than reintroducing a watch into my daily routine. But my wife convinced me to at least give it a try. After all, I could always sell it later.
That one decision changed everything.
From the moment I put it on, I was hooked. It turns out I had always been a data nerd, I just hadn’t fully embraced it yet. Suddenly, I was tracking workouts, analyzing sleep patterns, monitoring heart rate, and even counting steps. All those metrics I once dismissed became fascinating. I wasn’t just wearing a watch, I was learning about myself in a completely new way.
Today, my Garmin Venu 3 is almost always on my wrist. The only time I take it off is to shower, and even then I feel like I’m missing something. If it’s charging on the dresser, I find myself wondering what notifications I might be missing or what activity isn’t being tracked. It has become part of my daily rhythm.
Lately, I’ve even started experimenting with customization features like Face It, designing watch faces to match my mood or to get a reaction from friends. One of the most surprising aspects of owning a smartwatch is how it continues to evolve. There is always something new to explore, another feature to try, another layer to uncover.
Maybe some people see smartwatch users as just following the crowd. But from my perspective, it has been a genuinely transformative experience. And when this watch eventually makes its way to the big eco-waste bin in the sky, one thing is certain, I will be first in line for whatever comes next.
1 comment
Oh the places you’ll go! Great article and story. I think your watch journey is just beginning Dick!