Productivity & Peace: What happens when I take my Apple Watch off

I’m a pretty active girl. My daily routine includes walking up in the mountains above my house. A few years ago my husband bought me an Apple Watch, which has been a fun way to keep track of my fitness goals.  However, it’s been acting wonky, and I’ve been thinking a lot about taking a break from it.

I’m probably overthinking this, but within moments of the thought, “I just might take a break from my Apple Watch,” came “I wonder if I’m addicted to it…or at least overly attached to it…?” These successive thoughts take me to, “I think I need to test this theory.”  

So, I’m on my morning walk - with nothing to record the details of my exercise for the first time in years. I was caught somewhere between anxiety and freedom. “This will mess up my recorded fitness trends.” At the same time, in contrast: “This feels amazing.”  As I remember what life was like before my Watch, I began to pray…and two very solid concepts came to mind rather quickly: productivity and peace.

I sensed the Lord saying, “Test these theories. Ask your questions, and see where you are in one week. Does setting aside your Apple Watch offer more productivity for your work-life, and more peace for your heart-life?” 

“…I’m probably overthinking this, but within moments of the thought, “I just might take a break from my Apple Watch,” came “I wonder if I’m addicted to it…or at least overly attached to it…?” These successive thoughts take me to, “I think I need to test this theory…””  

Productivity: is it compromised by all the tech, or enhanced?  We’re all so deep in our screen-life, that we’ve all lost our objectivity.  So, I’m not laying down my phone or computer for a week, but I’m laying down one of the little screens in my life and asking, “Do the prompts from my Watch help or hurt?” It’s as simple as that.

Peace: a much more complicated issue… so layered and complex. We all want peace, but it seems so elusive. Jesus is called the Prince of Peace, and his peace could bring us comfort… but many times it doesn’t… because there is a huge difference between recognizing peace as a concept and feeling it in our bones.  When we step back and recognize the impact of trauma in our lives, it’s easy to see chaos. However, this is where the truth in our minds must override the fear in our hearts. The truth is, we are not alone. Not only do we have the promise of Jesus’ constant presence, but we also have a potential community around us- if we will just reach out.  When we cross the thresholds of these realities, we can find peace abiding amidst the chaos.

I certainly have no deep convictions about having or not having a digital watch. I’ve loved my Watch and probably will for years to come. It’s just an interesting check in my spirit to see where I am at. 

Meredith and her Apple Watch (pictured above) on the trail

While my Apple Watch has little to do with community or Jesus, just the exercise of laying it down… just… might… lift my chin a little. And when I look up, I might see these beautiful opportunities around me to believe what is true.