Ditching the Fitness Trackers

Why stepping away from the rings, badges, and buzzes gave me back my freedom.

The Early Obsession with Data

As an actuary and self-described data geek, I’ve always loved numbers. So when pedometers hit the scene about 15 years ago, I had to have one. That “magic” 10,000-step goal (fun fact: it was completely made up) became my daily mission.

When Fitbit arrived, I upgraded and dove even deeper. Competing with friends on step counts was fun, and the leaderboard trash talk was real. At one point, my dad even friended one of my friends by accident, and they both started calling me to complain about each other stealing the top spot. It was hilarious—and also a little telling about how seriously we all took it.

Enter the Apple Watch

When the Apple Watch launched in 2015, I was all in. Closing my rings became a non-negotiable. I chased streaks (my longest was 327 days), pushed through workouts when I was sick or injured, and ignored my body’s signals—all in the name of hitting a digital badge.

And it wasn’t just fitness tracking. Constant notifications, texts, emails, and news alerts buzzed at me all day long. My wrist had basically turned into a stress machine.

The Turning Point

Sometime in 2023, I finally took my watch off. And you know what? Walking still “counted,” even if no device tracked it. Running felt freeing without pace alerts. I started listening to my body—resting when I needed rest, pushing harder when I had the energy.

It was uncomfortable at first. I had been conditioned to need “proof” of my workouts. But every day it got easier. Slowly, I realized I felt healthier, stronger, and calmer without the watch than I did when I was obsessively chasing circles.

Life After Fitness Trackers

Now, I occasionally grab my Garmin for a long or unfamiliar running route, just to measure distance. But I try to ignore pace, heart rate, or VO₂ max stats. If I want to run slow, I run slow. If I only make it a mile, I stop. If I feel great, I keep going.

I move because it feels good—not because my wrist tells me to.

I also gained something else: fewer distractions. Without constant buzzing, I’m more present in my own life. Sure, I look at my phone more than I’d like (since it’s always on silent), but at least now I’m in control of when I check it.

Why It Matters

I’m not saying everyone should ditch their tracker. For some, it’s a fantastic tool to build awareness and motivation. But for me, it shifted my focus toward external validation—rings, streaks, badges—instead of internal cues like energy, joy, and strength.

Fitness trackers can encourage short-term wins, but they can also make us ignore our bodies in favor of digital rewards. At some point, I realized that wasn’t sustainable.

✨ Key Takeaway

Health isn’t about streaks or circles. It’s about tuning into your body and finding movement that feels good, sustainable, and joyful. If your tracker motivates you—great. But if it starts controlling you, maybe it’s time to see what life feels like without it.