Using a Smartwatch for Work
Last year, I got a Samsung Watch for free along with my new Galaxy Z Fold phone (an excellent device by the way, and I’m not getting paid to say that!). Yes, I was thinking much the same at the time: “A smartwatch? Isn't that just a glorified fitness tracker? Shall I put it on eBay?” Well, hold on to the scepticism, because it's definitely a lot more than that.
Good Vibrations: Stay on Top of Your Schedule
The first and most obvious benefit of a smartwatch is its ability to keep you grounded in time in a way that your phone or desktop simply can’t. Glancing at your wrist to check when your next appointment or meeting is coming up, or just to check the time, is such a natural way of doing things.
By syncing your digital calendar with your watch, you can get timely reminders for meetings, deadlines, and appointments. No more digging through your bag for your phone, hoping you haven’t already missed a key call. That little vibration right on your wrist (along with a sound if you prefer) is a perfect way of jolting you out of your current task and reminding you that your next appointment is coming up. I can't count how many times my smartwatch has stopped me from being late or helped me finish off a task just in time for a virtual meeting.
You can also set timers if you’re using methods like the Pomodoro technique (I really ought to do a post on that!), which will again nicely let you know when it’s time for a break.
Another great feature here is integration with voice assistants. Just ask your watch to set that timer, schedule a meeting, set a reminder, or even send a quick message. It’s much faster than using your phone.
Stay Connected, But Not Distracted
With a smartwatch, you can very quickly sift through all the incoming messages, emails, and other notifications, and decide what's worth your immediate attention. Anything that goes to your phone can also show up on your smartwatch (you can configure all these things) and you can swipe through them and decide whether they demand your focus or if they can wait until your next break or scheduled communications time. The key benefit here is that you can do this without the risk of falling into the never-ending scroll on your smartphone. There’s only so much you can end up accidentally doing on a small screen on your wrist!
Also, if you're in a meeting or need to keep your phone tucked away, a smartwatch helps you check messages if you’re waiting for something important. Just a discrete glance at your watch, and you're all set.
Never Miss a Call
Have you ever missed an important call because your phone was buried deep in your bag or lost in the clutter on your desk? Your smartwatch gets rid of that problem. With the ability to receive and answer calls directly from your wrist, you'll always be reachable if you want to be. And if you don’t want to answer the call, that’s easy enough to deal with as well.
Track Your Progress and Stay Active
Your smartwatch can act as a gentle reminder to stay active. For example, it can remind you to take breaks, drink water, stretch, breathe deeply, meditate, or exercise. I really like the ‘time to get moving’ reminder on mine, which gives me a buzz if I’ve been sitting down for over an hour. A good smartwatch can also monitor various aspects of your physical and mental health, such as your heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen level, stress level, sleep quality, and more. It’s been revealing to me, for example, how much I actually sleep (or rather, don’t sleep!).
The Alarm Clock, Without the Alarm
Talking of sleep, a smartwatch is also an excellent alarm clock, especially if you don’t want to keep annoying your partner with your 5am alarms! A smartwatch can gently wake you up with a vibration on your wrist—I can’t imagine going back!
Time Management in Style
Smartwatches have definitely come a long way in terms of design. Choose a watch that suits your personal style and looks professional as well. Once you have your watch, you can also pick a watch face that suits your style and needs. There are many options available, from simple analog or digital clocks to more complex and informative ones that show your calendar, weather, battery level, and more. I use a special Outlook watch face that shows my upcoming appointment and whether there are any new emails.
Once you’ve selected a watch face, you can customise it to your liking. You can often change the background, font, colour, layout, and ‘complications’ of your watch face. Complications are the small widgets that display additional information or shortcuts on your watch face. For example, you can add a complication that shows your next meeting, your daily steps, or a shortcut to your favourite app. You can also switch watch faces for different occasions or activities, such as work, leisure, or fitness.