Creativity and Wearables.

I’ve done something recently that I never thought I’d do in a million years.

I joined the wearables crowd. I’m now an iWatch wearer and I’ve discovered how these devices can influence habits and through cause and effect actually impact my creativity levels.

Firstly, I love watches, so the first loss was not wearing a ‘proper watch’. ?However, the iWatch was a hand-me down, so in true Sustainability style I thought I’d give it a go.

As they say, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would this ridiculously small, tiny screen on my wrist really be worth having instead of a lovely analogue watch? Would it be worth the trade off and make a difference? Turns out, it is and does.

It is a mini creative enabler assistant! BOOM

Here’s how it’s helped me:

1. Health and Wellbeing Reminders:?Simple nudges to move, breathe, or stand. These small actions break up the day and refresh my mind. I do listen and react and when taken in a positive spirit it helps rather than annoys.
2. Notifications and Messages:?Quick access to updates without picking up my phone is good. This reduces screen time and keeps me focused. I have culled my notifications down as well and find that a 2 second glance is not enough to break my flow. Also there is no subconscious FOMO going on to want to periodically check the phone.
3. Tracking Habits:?I can set goals like sleep, exercise, or mindfulness and see my progress. This builds momentum. For me the biggest win is the heart rate monitor. Seeing the effect of exercise and stress in the form of data is a powerful motivator. Habits informed by data are much easier to keep.

These features create a ripple effect. A healthier, more balanced lifestyle leads to a clearer, more creative mind. I was not expecting this at all. Who would have thought a watch could achieve so much – I didn’t.

So it looks like my lovely Seiko Divers and G-Shocks are going to gather dust by the bedside.

However, there’s a catch:?It’s easy to let wearables become distractions.

Endless notifications or checking metrics can pull you away from focus, especially if you have to then ‘do’ something. Creativity thrives on focus and interruptions don’t help. Another slight bugbear is having to recharge it every night. It’s a bit of a bind, but then again, it’s no different to winding up a manual watch.

Here’s my early learning on how to keep the iWatch experience positive:

1. Control Notifications:?Number One by far…Be selective. I only allow alerts for essential apps.
2. Choose the right watch face: I have an analogue style hands with my exercise rings embedded as sub dials – it reminds me of the Omega Speedmaster dial, which is a cool added bonus.
3. Schedule “Do Not Disturb” Times:?Especially during formal meetings and 121s where you need to be fully present.
4. Use It as a Tool, not a crutch:?The goal isn’t to become dependent on the watch as a surrogate mobile, but to let it support positive habits and making things easier.
5. Review and Adjust:?Regularly check what’s working and tweak the settings.

Shock horror - Done right, wearables can be powerful creative enablers. They help you build positive habits that fuel creativity and productivity.

??CTA – Get a wearable! Give it a go and prepare to be amazed how, with a bit of careful management it can improve your life.