Wearables: why I’m not selling you one (even though it’s almost Black Friday)

With Black Friday everywhere, you’d think this would be the part where I tell you which wearable to buy and drop an affiliate link.

But I’m not selling you anything.

I just want to talk honestly about wearables – what they get right, what they get wrong, and why they can still make a meaningful difference to your health and awareness.

Because wearables aren’t magic.

They’re mirrors.

Messy, imperfect mirrors … but mirrors all the same.

They reflect things we often don’t notice in real time: our movement, our choices, our sleep quality, our recovery, the little habits that shape our days. I use a Garmin Vivoactive 5, but this isn’t a review. It’s more about how a wearable quietly changes the way you show up for yourself.

Accuracy: Not perfect, but not the point

We all know wearables aren’t exactly accurate. Anyone who’s “hit 10,000 steps” while barely moving knows this well.

But, like bathroom scales, the value is in the consistency, not the precision.

If you use the same device under roughly the same conditions, the trends are what matter – and those trends can be incredibly helpful for behaviour change.

Steps: Imperfect, insightful and occasionally hilarious

Tracking my steps has absolutely changed how I move through the day.

• Desk job + no tracking = extremely sedentary
• Desk job + tracking = I find ways to move, even small ones
• Walking pad + adjustable desk = life-changing combo

And then there are the funny moments: standing still washing dishes and suddenly being congratulated for the extra steps.

Or sitting in the car and getting my “Step goal achieved!” message.

Sure… close enough, I guess.

Even with the quirks, tracking steps gives a surprisingly accurate picture of overall movement.

And for the competitive among us? Wearables can be absolute rocket fuel. One of my friends said the month her workplace ran a steps challenge was the most active she’d been in ages – she was out walking like a woman possessed.

And my sister? She’s one of those people who excels at anything competitive. When we’ve done step challenges together, she leaves me in the dust. Most of the time, we compare sleep scores too … and she beats me every single time (I think her watch is faulty, personally).

Where wearables really shine: sleep awareness

Sleep-stage data? Not accurate.

But the patterns over time are incredibly revealing.

I quickly noticed:

• alcohol reliably elevates my heart rate
• eating too close to bed affects recovery
• screens matter more than I want to admit
• yoga and meditation really help me wind down
• one casual weeknight drink can derail an entire night
• late-night chocolate (even the “healthy” kind) absolutely shows up in my metrics

Seeing these things visually has made me rethink my evenings, including those moments where I used to mindlessly grab a sweet snack at 9:30pm.

Now I do think twice – and I sleep better for it.

The sleep score trap

I had to remove my morning sleep score for a while because I found it influenced how I thought I felt.

Now I check in with myself first and look at the data second.

It works much better that way.

Heart rate, HRV and the “relaxing day” lie

Resting heart rate and fitness age

One of my favourite things is seeing my resting heart rate drop as my fitness improves. The “fitness age” decreasing alongside it feels like a quiet reward for consistency.

HRV and recovery

HRV isn’t perfect, but it’s useful for spotting patterns. Although sometimes it’s wildly off.

There have been days where I’ve been flat-out stressed, juggling far too much, absolutely wrung out – and my watch chirps: “You’ve had a relaxing day.”

My immediate reaction: “No, I bloody well haven’t!”

And, I’m convinced my heart rate spikes from pure frustration when it says that.

But overall, the trend data gives me insight into when I’m run down, even before I consciously register it.

Hydration, move alerts and other helpful nudges

Hydration tracking

A gentle awareness tool – not something I obsess over.

Move reminders

I ignore these more often than not, but when I do get up, the “Movement alert cleared!” message feels encouraging.

Heart rate training zones

Real-time feedback keeps me honest during walking mat sessions and if I want to stay in Zone 2, a quick glance can ensure I’m on track.

Calories burned

Absolutely not accurate, but the overall rhythm matches reality well enough to be useful for recognising trends. And when my intake vs output trend matches the data, the scale reflects it.

Connectivity: the feature I didn’t want but sometimes like

This may horrify people, but my phone is on Do Not Disturb almost 24/7. The last thing I wanted was notifications pinging on my wrist.

But when I want the connectivity, it’s helpful.

And when I don’t? Bluetooth off, problem solved.

What I do use frequently:

• timers
• alarms
• categorised workouts
• hydration tracking
• move reminders
• fitness age.

And I’m aware I’m only using a small portion of what the watch can do. I’m barely touching the tip of the iceberg.

Menstrual tracking

Great for many, but with a Mirena, it’s not relevant for me.

Safety: my honest answer

Are wearables safe to wear 24/7?

Truthfully, I don’t think we know yet, without long-term data.

For me, the improvements they’ve helped me make – less alcohol, better sleep, more movement, better awareness – feel worth it.

Everyone gets to decide their own comfort level.

So … should you get one (or upgrade)?

Only if you want:

• more awareness
• patterns you can’t ignore
• gentle accountability
• curiosity about your choices
• a nudge toward more intentional habits.

A wearable won’t change your life on its own.

But it will make it harder to overlook the habits that quietly shape your health.

Sometimes that’s all you need.