How do you use your watch?

[ScubaCinci]

I feel like I under-utilize my watch. I use it for sleep tracking, morning wake up alarm, timers, and workouts but it's main use for me is just to get notifications so I can have my phone on silent and not have to have it immediately on me. Other than that, there are very few apps I use on a regular basis. I peruse the available apps from time to time but none seem to interest me much or provide a lot of value.

Besides what I've mentioned, what things do you use your watch for that make it somewhat indispensable?

 

[Donka]

I feel like I under-utilize my watch. I use it for sleep tracking, morning wake up alarm, timers, and workouts but it's main use for me is just to get notifications so I can have my phone on silent and not have to have it immediately on me. Other than that, there are very few apps I use on a regular basis. I peruse the available apps from time to time but none seem to interest me much or provide a lot of value.

Besides what I've mentioned, what things do you use your watch for that make it somewhat indispensable?

Not much help here as I'm pretty much the same as you apart from sleep tracking. I like the freedom of leaving my iPhone charging while having the watch keeping me up to date on notifications. Not sure I would own one though if I didn't get the cost reimbursed through work. I do find it convenient for general fitness tracking though like outside walking/cycling and indoors on the rowing machine.

 

[Tdude96]

I can have my phone on silent and not have to have it immediately on me.

To me this is the single biggest benefit of the Apple Watch. It largely frees me from my phone, which is worth the price of entry all by itself.

Aside from what you listed, another primary use is Apple Pay. It's pretty handy to just doubletap the watch and pay. I never used Apple Pay on my phone, I use it all the time on the watch. Oftentimes if I'm just running into a store really quick, I'll just leave the phone behind in my car.

The last thing I use that you didn't list is Weather. Since I primarily do outdoor running or walking workouts, weather is very important to me. I have UV, Temperature, AQI, and Conditions complications on my main watch face, and can quickly tap through to see the forecast to determine the best time window for going outside.

Since I just got a cellular version and can freely leave the phone behind even while working out and still get notifications, calls & texts, I expect to use more 3rd party apps like Audible that I previously left pretty much alone. Since I had to carry the phone with me before I just used its apps. Now that I'm able to be completely liberated from the phone, I think there are a few more apps that'll see use.

 

[ScubaCinci]

Aside from what you listed, another primary use is Apple Pay. It's pretty handy to just doubletap the watch and pay. I never used Apple Pay on my phone, I use it all the time on the watch. Oftentimes if I'm just running into a store really quick, I'll just leave the phone behind in my car.

Yes, I use it for ApplePay and for scanning boarding passes & tickets at events but I sometimes use my phone for that, depending on where I am and if my phone is already in my hand.

I do also have cellular on my watch, forgot to mention.

 

[shakopeemn]

I do also have cellular on my watch, forgot to mention.

Cellular is easy to overlook. Definitely the least used feature on my watch as well.

I like to think that notifications are the feature that I use the most, but I still miss occasional alerts when on silent. I wish Apple would allow alerts on both watch and phone. When I’m home, the iPads are ringing with my watch. Why can’t users have the option?

 

[Nhwhazup]

Sleep tracking, Runkeeper and Duffy for tracking my monthly walking miles and notifications when I don’t feel like digging out my phone.

 

[TeeWrecks]

yeah same functions for me as well. I don't have much apps installed, and funny enough the only notification I have coming in is text messages and health/fitness related ones. Emails, news, and other alerts are all muted. its been great for tracking my workouts but I have it set in my head that my ultra will be my last Apple Watch, I want to invest in a really nice watch and maybe a small fitness tracker that blends in(ring/bracelet)

 

[jz0309]

I feel like I under-utilize my watch. I use it for sleep tracking, morning wake up alarm, timers, and workouts but it's main use for me is just to get notifications so I can have my phone on silent and not have to have it immediately on me. Other than that, there are very few apps I use on a regular basis. I peruse the available apps from time to time but none seem to interest me much or provide a lot of value.

Besides what I've mentioned, what things do you use your watch for that make it somewhat indispensable?

skim thru this thread:
If you were to stop wearing an Apple Watch, what feature/s would you miss most?

 

[CharlesShaw]

skim thru this thread:
If you were to stop wearing an Apple Watch, what feature/s would you miss most?

My post in that linked thread still stands, but since installing Watch OS 10, I’ve had a few “how in the eff do I use my watch?” moments when I’m trying to do something I’ve done for years but wasn’t aware that it has been changed to something else (for example, turning on shuffle mode in the music app).

Back on point, I rely on it primarily for notifications and Apple Pay. Both of which justify having it.

 

[Howard2k]

I feel like I under-utilize my watch. I use it for sleep tracking, morning wake up alarm, timers, and workouts but it's main use for me is just to get notifications so I can have my phone on silent and not have to have it immediately on me. Other than that, there are very few apps I use on a regular basis. I peruse the available apps from time to time but none seem to interest me much or provide a lot of value.

Besides what I've mentioned, what things do you use your watch for that make it somewhat indispensable?

Nothing wrong with that. You should use it in whatever way works.

Aside from the time, I also use it for setting reminders, controlling my AppleTV sometimes (not too often), checking my upcoming calendar entries, controlling my Spotify session, and when I go hiking (regularly but on well used trails) I use the compass/backtrack feature, which is hopefully absurdly unlikely to ever be genuinely useful, but you never know. The Breathe app is good too actually. I don’t use it often, but sometimes I just find it beneficial - when I feel I need it I feel it helps, even if that’s once a month. Lastly, as I’m now closer to 50, I’m glad it’s building up some health metrics. Maybe that’s actually the most important thing.

Mostly time though. I always wore a watch so that’s still the primary function. The other stuff is all (worthwhile) added bonus.

 

[deeddawg]

Besides what I've mentioned, what things do you use your watch for that make it somewhat indispensable?

Applepay
Workouts leaving phone behind
Locally stored podcasts during those.
Locking/unlocking/starting my truck with Directed app
Siri to set various timers when cooking / grilling
Siri to add stuff to lists (grocery etc) or set reminders to do stuff layer
Viewing said lists
Controlling phone music playback to Bluetooth speakers
Flashlight
Calculator
Controlling HomeKit stuff via Siri or app
iMessage. Iewing / responding
Compass
Map

Just for starters.

 

[psychopomp2]

I've just gone from a Gigantic Casio G-Shock to an Ultra 2 (my first ever apple watch!). TBH I'm not interested in heart rate, sleeping/snoring pattern, fitness lark etc so I've switched off nearly all sensors to stop caning the battery life. I mainly use the apple watch outdoors for getting emails/messages/calls on my wrist (its cellular version) as I can't take the phone with me to certain areas of my workplace ...camera phones strictly not allowed

 

[MarkX]

Apple Pay, Siri, taking calls when phone not in reach but mainly to track my runs. I use these functions daily and find them incredibly phone freeing so I spend less time aimlessly browsing.