The Apple Watch is one of the greatest health and fitness-centric wearable devices that you can wear today. It pairs nicely with your iPhone, alerts you of all notifications, and, most importantly, keeps an eye on your health and fitness metrics. So then why would an Apple engineer, who had himself worked on the team developing the Apple Watch, ditch it after years of wearing it on his wrist daily?
Ray Fernando, who spent years contributing to the smartwatch’s development, shared his experience in a recent viral video titled “Why I stopped wearing my Apple Watch as an Ex-Apple Engineer,” admitting he initially felt “low-key naked” without it. Fernando stated that he felt being “overwhelmed” by its constant demands for attention while it was on his wrist.
How the Apple Watch transitioned from fitness aid to distraction
Fernando acknowledged that the Apple Watch was instrumental in his early fitness journey. “When I first started wearing the Apple Watch, about 100 pounds ago, it helped me keep track of all my walking and fitness goals,” he explained in the video.
However, as the product evolved with the addition of more new features, including sleep tracking and increased notifications, Fernando felt that the device began to work against his mental peace. He described the constant vibrations as creating an “internal hook” that compelled him to check his phone or keep up with messages, pulling him away from daily life and nature.
Despite being familiar with the Watch’s built-in tools like ‘Do Not Disturb,’ the engineer found himself spending too much time managing the settings on his Watch. He ultimately concluded that the simplest solution was “just to take off the damn watch.”
Ex-Apple engineer chose presence over tech-tracking
Fernando, who has tracked his walks for nearly a decade, now relies on instinct rather than digital metrics. He stated that he is familiar enough with his body’s signals, such as sweating or breathing heavily, to gauge his activity level. The engineer highlighted a shift in his values, prioritising mental peace and being present over the need to “microtrack” every detail of his life.
More importantly, Fernando stressed that his decision is not a critique of the device or the team behind it. He credited the Apple Watch for helping him build long-term active habits, stating, “I’m just saying my whole lifestyle has changed.”
