Ryan AshcraftFeb 5

I stopped wearing my Apple Watch a few months ago and haven't been tempted to start again. After many years of wearing one, I finally realized having technology constantly nagging me on my wrist was harming my health more than helping.

The focus on streaks and rings doesn't work for my routine and workouts (mainly CrossFit). I'll occasionally wear it as a heart rate monitor, but overall it's been freeing to have more physical distance from my tech.

Show threadRyan Ashcraft

I don't think we talk enough about how the Apple Watch is pure genius from a product-retention perspective.

Streaks: wear the Watch every day
Stand ring: wear the Watch all day

Are these features actually helping you, or just retaining you as an Apple Watch user? Serious question to ask yourself.

Feb 5 at 4:06pmIvory for Mac
Show threadRich AestheticFeb 5
@ryanashcraft I like the data collection aspect. Only notifications I have are Foodnoms meals reminders, Liftin workout tracking, iMessage, and phone. Everything else (of which there isn’t much that I allow) goes to iPhone, then iPad, then Mac only.
Show threadkevalFeb 5

@ryanashcraft I used to obsess over streaks but it had a negative impact because there are always days when you don't feel good and now losing your streak makes it worse. Then I stumbled on this blog https://www.humancode.us/2023/04/13/streaks-are-bad.html and now my life has changed.

I also, removed streaks from my pushup tracking app and life feels so much better now. No stressing out on silly streaks.

Streaks are bad for you

I’m convinced that streaks is an antipattern for healthy habits, and it is actually quite bad for you.

humancode.us