About Steven AitchisonThis might seem a bit strange but I have noticed over the last few months that when I wear my quartz watch I notice a discernable difference in my energy.
A few months ago, the battery on my watch went dead and I kept meaning to get the battery replaced but kept on forgetting. What I noticed, when I didn’t have the watch, was that I had more energy. I woke up more refreshed in the morning and seemed to have more energy throughout the day. As I said, I put this down to coincidence and threw it to the back of my mind. Then my wife eventually bought a battery, trust my wife to put me to shame, and I started wearing the watch again.
Within a few days my energy levels seemed to drop, I was tired and weary in the morning, I struggled to get out of bed and felt sleepier during the day. Again, the thought that the watch was causing this lethargy was dismissed as nonsense. Of course, I didn’t tell anybody about this.
Therefore, to get the thought out of my head and dismiss it altogether I decided I would try a little experiment.
For two weeks, I would record my energy levels in the morning (6am) Afternoon (1pm) and Night (9pm). The first week was when I was wearing a watch and the second week was when I wasn’t wearing a watch.
The results surprised me.
Energy levels wearing a watch
Nothing much wrong with that, except looking at it now my energy levels seem pretty low. I may have been too harsh when scoring. I judged my energy levels: lethargy (how tired I was feeling), enthusiasm (how eager I was to keep working), and sharpness of mind (was I foggy or was my mind still thinking clearly).
Energy levels without wearing a watch
I was a bit shocked by this. An overall drop in energy levels over the week by about 8%. I definitely felt a difference in my energy levels.
The difference
I thought about this and thought I might have skewed the results in a number of ways;
- By already noticing in the past that my energy levels were low, thereby I had sort of formed a hypothesis already in my mind. So I could have inadvertently been more energetic when I was not wearing my watch, it’s a possibility.
- In the second week not wearing my watch I thought about my energy a lot more. I could have boosted my energy by simply thinking about it.
Nonetheless, it was interesting to carry out this experiment. I wonder if anybody else has seen this as well and if it might just be quartz watches. I wonder if it would be the same with a digital watch or a mechanical watch. Let me know your thoughts.
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Hmmmm…As I read your post, I found myself wondering if it’s the watch itself or your relationship with time when you’re wearing it. Or with whatever you associate your watch…work, productivity, etc.
I know that’s true for me. When I’m not working, I choose not to wear a watch and that choice helps me feel completely free. I’m passionate about my work, and I’ve come to equally treasure my leisure time.
If you could change your thoughts about your watch, what would you change them to?
I kind of agree with Tammy on her view. When I decided not to wear a watch I realised I feel more freedom, less anxiety. Maybe watch-free means free of time limit and you can fully be in the moment.
Lose the Watch! Thanks so much for the wisdom…. Brad
As a person with a background in both analysis ans statistics I see two potential faults that might give a false positive. First your expectations were already set. This can influence you unconsciouses thought patterns and alter your experienced levels of energy. The second problem is that the time span was very short and local factors might have gotten in the way.
All the same the result is something worth thinking about.
You can overcome these issues I raise by adding extra eliments to the test. Go a month or more with and then without and then with and then without. Over a much longer time scale expectation effects might lessen. Over the same period ask the wife to secretly keep score of her perception of your energy levels.
The two sets of data will highlight any bias and make you results very hard to dispute.
On the other hand this is a lot of fuss.
Wow. I never knew wearing a watch had that kind of impact. Looks like I was “right” not wearing a watch since my college days.
Cheers,
Ellesse
The level of energy that was drained from wearing a watch was probably mental. I agree with Matt’s comment. Some people might get energized from wearing a watch because they like the stress of getting on time to a meeting.
Perspective has such a huge influence on us that we sometimes get confused with what else that could be causing our energy drain.
Try switching to a fun watch like pink panther or something embarrassing like a huge calculator watch to see what happens.
Thanks everyone for your comments on this. As I mentioned I thought the fact that I was starting to believe. the watch was draining my energy skewed the results. you’re also right that if I think it is just keep the watch off.
I just thought it was an interesting observation to let you know about. Glad it provoked some reaction.
Glad to have been provoked. It was an interesting post. You never know there could be the seeds of a “scientific study” that in years to come people will point back to and say – “that blogger started it all”.
Don’t stop.
This was a very interesting article. I have an issue with watches but it is quite strange. I cannot wear them. They break after a week or so. Just stop for no apparent reason. The longest a watch has lasted was a cheap Walmart watch. It lasted for about two months. A record.
Someone said once that it was my strong electromagnetic field. Sounds good to me. I gave up on buying watches and just ask what time it is.
I was amazed with the results that you’ve shown! I didn’t know that wearing watch can lower the energy level. Thanks for this great information that you share.
Good post. You make some great points that most people do not fully understand.
“A few months ago, the battery on my watch went dead and I kept meaning to get the battery replaced but kept on forgetting. What I noticed, when I didn’t have the watch, was that I had more energy. I woke up more refreshed in the morning and seemed to have more energy throughout the day. As I said, I put this down to coincidence and threw it to the back of my mind. Then my wife eventually bought a battery, trust my wife to put me to shame, and I started wearing the watch again.”
I like how you explained that. Very helpful. Thanks.
It’s really unbelievable. I personally don’t think your energy level have anything to do with the watch.
It is more likely that when you put on a watch, you will frequently look at the time and lost your concentration, hence lower your energy level.
Just my thought.
Articles are always hard to search but here are some options.
http://www.eshariq.com
I constantly wear my watch and I have always felt my energy level drained. I put this down to having a very demanding lifestyle. Ive had all sorts of treatment including acupunture etc.
However, last night I talk my watch off for a change and this morning walk up at 5.30am full of energy. However, when i put my watch on again at 7.30am I could not muster the energy to get out of bed until 9am.
I do put this down to my watch and have decided never to wear a watch again as I believe the metal from watch is causing some sort of blockage for my blood circulation.
reminds one of dr strangelove ( How i learnt to love the bomb)
General Ripper’s concern over our precious bodily fluids being drained
Not it is your quartz watch that is responsible
How cunning
You may be interested in the research on the effects of subtle electromagnetic fields, EMFs. Check out the goqlink.com site to learn about some research done, and also look up the Teslar watches, which have energy chips built into them to boost your field. You may be prone to the subtle effects of EMFs.
Interesting,VERY interesting….. I was reading your article for the oposite reasons….I seem to drain my watch batterie very quickly, and when my boyfriend would wear my watch for half a day or so, the watch would be working again. I’m trying to find out what’s going on?!
I really wanted to know how did you measure your energy level. Well if wearing something will do bad for your energy level than I think you should not wear it.
But however I have doubts … you can also try this by changing the company of your watch.
Wow first of all thanks to you that for such a deep thought.
But don’t you think that at that time when your energy level was down you have taken such kind of food. I mean to make such kind of reports we do have to consider all the aspects to reach at the conclusion.
What do you think ?
I have also seen many people who have problem with some kind of equipment and they cant bear their presence. So is that mean this is some kind of allergy.
Will you please describe it with the relevance of other equiment as well.
I have noticed that whenever I am around any electronics, or anything requiring batteries it all seems to drain or die. I have experienced these problems for years and have tried many different experiments. One being I bought a brand new watch with new batteries, wore it over night, and it died. then took it off at work and it started back up again?? Strange but true…Computers crash, clocks die or get jumbled, Ipods that usually last days and days last only a few hours when I wear them? I guess I am hoping that someone has some research and answers for me..I have been told it is because of my electromagnetic fields are too strong. It seems that when I feel deep emotion in anyway thats when it happens. I am curious if anyone has had these problems too? Please feel free post a response..anything would be helpful….Thanks
I have about 25 watches!! And at any given time, 15 are in the bag to go to my watch repairman for new batteries and/or repairs. I seem to “throw” the battery systems out of wack! (Have vague memories of my mother telling me NEVER to wear/touch her watch nor my sister’s watch.) Any clues as to what my body is doing to the watches? My repairman just loves me, but it’s going from “normal” to ridiculous! And I need to be very aware of time for my job. And I have a very high personal energy level, so I’m depleting the watch’s energy, not vise-versa.
Thanks for any input….
It is also the type of watch you wear that makes the difference. I have about 15 watches and I have noticed a change in mood and energy levels when wearing eacch one of them . I think we need to study this aspect and I am sure there are many new revealations to be made