Getting used to a wristwatch.

September 19, 2008 9:25 PM

How can I get used to wearing a wristwatch? I have not worn one for a while (4 years) because of an inability to get used to them. Now it is a requirement that I wear one.

I have found a watch but now have to get used to having the thing on my arm.
If it means anything, I am left handed.

posted by ooklala to clothing, beauty, & fashion (16 comments total)

I'm that way with watches (and rings, actually). You say you have an inability to get used to them, but how long did you give it? Do you leave it on or take it off frequently? For me the only thing that helps me acclimate is time. It took me a month or two to get used to my wedding band, because I'd never worn rings before that. The watch isn't quite as bad, but almost. I still take off my watch whenever I'm home.

Good luck with it.
posted by empyrean at 9:35 PM on September 19, 2008

What's the requirement? Does it have to be a wristwatch or can you use a pocket watch? I've never felt comfortable with wristwatches because my wrists are tiny so I used a pocket watch instead. If that's not an option I can just say to keep your watch on all the time unless your taking a shower or shoving your hand down a sink or something. I'd hope that time would eventually breed familiarity with it.
posted by woolylambkin at 9:49 PM on September 19, 2008

Probably the best bet is to force yourself to depend upon it.

But then again, I've always loved wristwatches.

Whatever you've gotten into the habit of using to check the time, try to catch yourself when you do so, and then check your wristwatch anyway. Try to convince yourself that all other references for what time it is are unreliable in comparison to your watch, which is now a part of your body which keeps time. Be careful in picking out your watch. Treat it like you would a nice business suit - i.e. something that may not be natural to wear, at first, but that you need for work, and which should thus reflect you as much as something like that possibly can. Make it somehting you'll show off to friends (note: this doesn't mean it has to be expensive, it just means you have to like the one you picked out quite a bit.)

Showers and sleep are the only times you take it off (and, I guess, for sex as well. It can get uncomfortably caught in a partner's hair pretty easily) but otherwise you wear it all the time.

After two weeks or so, you should feel naked and ill-informed without it. I don't think it should matter which wrist it's worn on, just whichever one feels more correct for it, in your eyes. I myself am right-handed, but left-eye dominant. Unlike most right-handed people, I wear my watch on my left wrist. So your eye-dominance will probably play into which wrist feels correct more than your handedness.

Hope this helps.
posted by Navelgazer at 9:54 PM on September 19, 2008

I'm the same as you. I hate to wear anything like watches, necklaces and the sort... feels very uncomfortable. But I have done so in the past and my answer is... time. After a while you do get used to it. Sorry there's nothing more I can give here but time really is the best answer in this case.
posted by Effigy2000 at 10:04 PM on September 19, 2008

I was the same, but was given a watch as a gift and took several months to get used to wearing it.

I'm not sure that Navelgazer is right that most right-handed people wear their watch on their right wrist. Everyone I know (except my fiancee) wears theirs on their left. It makes sense to me, because I'm more likely to be doing something with my right hand, and it's easier to glance at my left wrist without interrupting whatever it is I'm doing. So you might want to try wearing yours on your right wrist.
posted by robcorr at 10:39 PM on September 19, 2008

In addition to wearing it on your right wrist, you may find it helpful to put the face of the watch on the inside of your wrist, rather than the outside. Depending on how formally you're dressed and how nice your watch is, this may not be an option (I do it with a digital watch with a velcro band), but I find it easier to check the time that way, and it's just more comfortable to wear it.
posted by spaceman_spiff at 11:07 PM on September 19, 2008 [1 favorite]

I don't like wearing wristwatches either, and my pockets are fairly full, so I just attached a wristwatch to my belt loop. I liked it so much that I eventually bought a watch designed to attach to a belt loop (or something similar). It's like a pocket watch attached to a small carabiner. Depending on the reasons for the requirement, this may be a completely useless suggestion. If so, you have my apologies.
posted by ErWenn at 11:23 PM on September 19, 2008

A comfortable wrist strap helps. I hated wearing metal wristwatches because of the metal was not comfortable.

A small watch helps too. Sometimes a large watchface gets caught in shirt sleeves and makes wearing jackets a little tricky.
posted by abdulf at 11:37 PM on September 19, 2008

I use apocket watch with chain, coleman makes one that sells for about $20-25. battery operated so you don't have to wind it.
posted by docmccoy at 12:21 AM on September 20, 2008

Is it a requirement that you wear a watch on your wrist? Can you wear it somewhere else?

I used to wear a nurses watch that I pinned to the band of my trousers & would either let hang or tuck into a pocket. The only problem I had is that I would frequently run these $20 watches through the washing machine and need to replace them.
posted by goshling at 5:50 AM on September 20, 2008

I'd go along with the other recommendations. Find a watch you like, then you'll be more inclined to wear it. Wear it all the time unless you're sleeping and you'll get used to it.

Watches can be very personal to you as for a lot of people it's the only real fashion statement you want to make.

One caution about wearing it with the face on the inside of the wrist, you may find that the watch catches on things more if it isn't really slim profile (and looking at the one you point out it looks to be the same thickness as a Swatch) and you end up with a scratched watch face. Nice design though, I like the "average day" one.

For what it's worth, I'm right handed, wear the watch on my left wrist.
posted by arcticseal at 6:05 AM on September 20, 2008

I think you need to clarify what you don't like about wearing a watch. Is it the thickness? The weight? Turns your hand blue? Too shiny? Each of those have different solutions.
posted by smackfu at 8:09 AM on September 20, 2008

I was always kind of meh on wristwatches until I discovered Skagen's ultra-slim designs. I have this one. (Well, actually, I had the black version of that one, which I can't find a picture of, and I recently lost it, and so I have ordered the linked variety so if I do find the other one, I will have two varieties to choose from each day.) It is basically unnoticeable to me when I am wearing it, although I have had a number of people notice and comment on its design.
posted by kindall at 8:21 AM on September 20, 2008

I'd suggest wearing on your right arm - it won't make contact with the table/desk when you are writing/eating, and you won't notice it as much.
posted by kenliu at 5:30 PM on September 20, 2008

I wear a watch that looks more like a bracelet, with multiple decorative sections linked together. It fits a bit loosely, and I find it more comfortable than a standard watch. I´m not sure how socially acceptable this watch style would be for a tomato though.

Don´t feel that you need to wear it all the time, if it´s for work taking it off can be part of your ¨done with work¨ routine.
posted by yohko at 8:05 AM on September 22, 2008

Try getting a cloth band- I've found them to be immensely more comfortable with one.
posted by Four Flavors at 1:19 PM on September 22, 2008