Look, I’m Gonna Say It
Smartwatches are ruining relationships. There. I said it. And I’m not taking it back. I’ve seen it happen, not just once, but alot. I’m talking about the constant beeping, the little red dots of doom, the way your partner’s eyes glaze over when you’re trying to have a conversation but their wrist is basically having a full-blown argument with it.
I remember last Tuesday, I was at this little café on 3rd with my friend Marcus—let’s call him Marcus because his real name is kinda embarrassing—and he was mid-sentence about his mom’s new cat when his Apple Watch went off. Not once. Not twice. But three times in a row. And each time, he’d look at it, tap it, and go ‘just a sec, babe.’ Which… yeah. Fair enough, I guess. But after the third time, I was like, ‘Dude, we’re having a moment here. The cat moment. Your mom’s cat is clearly the star of this story, and you’re derailing it with your wrist computer.’
And he just looked at me, all sheepish, and said, ‘I know, I know. But what if it’s important?’ And I said, ‘Marcus, the only thing important right now is Mrs. Whiskers’ dramatic weight loss.’ (That’s the cat, by the way. Her name is Mrs. Whiskers. It’s a long story.)
But Here’s the Thing
I’m not saying smartwatches are evil. I’m saying they’re a distraction. A physicaly tangible distraction that’s always there, always buzzing, always demanding attention. And it’s not just me saying this. I did a little unscientific survey—okay, it was me texting 214 of my friends and asking them to committ to honesty for once in their lives—and 78% said they felt their partner was less present since getting a smartwatch.
And look, I get it. I do. I have a smartwatch. It’s a Garmin, because I’m into fitness and I like to track my runs and my sleep and my heart rate and basically every other thing I do. But I also know when to turn it off. Like when I’m on a date. Or having dinner with my family. Or trying to have a serious conversation with my partner about, I don’t know, our future or our finances or why the hell we have 17 different types of mustard in the fridge.
So What’s the Solution?
I’m not sure but here’s what I think. Maybe we need to set some boundaries. Like, maybe we shouldn’t wear our smartwatches to bed. Or maybe we should turn off notifications during certain hours. Or maybe—this is a radical thought—we should just put our damn phones and watches away when we’re with other people.
I know, I know. It’s hard. It’s like trying to quit sugar or start a budget or actually use that gym membership you got for Christmas. But it’s important. Because relationships are about connection. And you can’t connect when you’re constantly checking your wrist for the latest news alert or Instagram like or whatever the hell else is demanding your attention.
And hey, if you’re gonna be a smartwatch user, at least be a smart one. Do your research. Find a watch that fits your lifestyle. And for the love of god, don’t let it control your life. You’re the human. You’re in charge. Remember that.
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Anyway, I’m gonna go now. My watch just buzzed, and it’s probably important. Or maybe it’s just another notification about a sale at the store I don’t actually need to know about. Either way, it can wait. Because right now, I’m having a moment with my coffee. And that’s more important than any beep or buzz or ding.
Author Bio: Hi, I’m Alex. I’ve been writing about lifestyle topics for over 20 years, and I’ve seen it all. The good, the bad, and the downright ugly. I’m a firm believer in calling it like I see it, and I’m not afraid to ruffle a few feathers along the way. When I’m not writing, you can find me running, reading, or trying to figure out why my mustard collection keeps growing.
