Rising Trend of Apple Watch Abandonment Signals Potential End for the Device
The Motivation and Pressure Dilemma
Smartwatches have been designed, especially when it comes to physical activity. In the case of the Apple Watch, its activity rings system encourages users to move, exercise, and avoid sedentary behavior. However, what seemed like a healthy incentive has turned into a source of pressure for some.
Nicole, a user who shared her experience, mentioned that she reached a point where if she didn’t complete her rings by the end of the day, she would walk around her house until she reached them. “I realized this was not healthy. It became an obsession. I wasn’t working out to enjoy, but to meet what the watch dictated,” she confessed.
This is not an isolated case. On social media platforms like Reddit and TikTok, more and more people are sharing how they stopped enjoying exercise due to the pressure of meeting their daily goals.
A Problem Affecting Several Devices
The Apple Watch is not the only device under scrutiny. Other activity monitors, like the Oura Ring and the Whoop, also impact their users. However, Apple’s watch, being the most popular, has received more criticism.
Some users have chosen to switch to apps like Gentler Streak, which offer a more flexible approach to exercise, emphasizing both activity and rest. “After five years focused on closing the rings, I decided I don’t care anymore. Now I enjoy a more balanced view of exercise,” a user commented on Reddit.
Another user described getting rid of the Apple Watch as a “game-changer” for their mental well-being. “No more stress from constant monitoring, no more notifications that my friends completed workouts and feeling bad for not doing it myself. I feel free. I enjoy exercise without pressure, and it has made me healthier and happier.”
The Other Side of the Coin: Apple Watch Advocates
Not everyone shares this perspective. Many users defend the ring system as a useful tool to stay active. “The rings are a reference, not an unbreakable goal. You control the rings; the rings shouldn’t control you,” argued a user in response to the criticisms.
On TikTok, influencer Sydney Adams King announced she was “breaking up with her Apple Watch” because she felt it placed too much importance on the device’s metrics. Katy Saltsman also acknowledged that after a vacation where she obsessively checked her progress, she realized how much it was affecting her. “Even on my rest days, I didn’t feel at peace. I realized how disconnected I was from my own body,” she explained.
