Project ‘Routine Optimization’ #2: charging my watch + steps

Today’s habit/ routine that I’m optimizing is:

charging my Apple watch.

I have had weirdly problematic issues with keeping my devices charged lately (specifically my watch). To the point that I basically gave up and stopped wearing my Apple watch for several months. (Long enough that I forgot my little 4 digit passcode and had to factory re-set my watch in order to re-set it. 🙄)

I used to always charge my phone overnight, and charge my watch during the day and wear my watch to bed.

But then in the morning, my watch battery always seemed to be getting low (right about the time I was heading out to walk the dog and wanted to count my steps!).

I tried to get in the habit of charging it while I showered, but a) sometimes that was too late and b) I often shower downstairs (and I keep my charger in my room). I’d usually realize I hadn’t put my watch on the charger just as I was about to step in the shower….

Then I’d try to make a point of charging it during the work day, when I was just sitting anyway, but I always forgot.

Anyway, I am sure this sounds like a silly problem and I’m not quite sure WHY this is such a stumbling block, but for whatever reason, it’s been a real issue.

There could be many solutions to this. I realize I could also buy more chargers, this is true. (I currently just have the one brick + 1 Apple cord for my phone and 1 cord for my watch. They both live in a little basket in my room.) I could do something like set a reminder on my phone to put my watch on the charger. I could pair it with something like brushing my teeth in the morning. There are options.

But I decided, you know what? I have been sleeping great lately. I do not really care about my sleep data at all. Why not just charge my watch overnight??! Then I can make sure it is fully charged to count my steps all day long. 😉

This of course means that I am not charging my phone overnight anymore (which, I think is supposed to be bad for your phone anyway? Maybe it’s also bad for my watch, I don’t know).

But it’s easier for me to notice when my phone battery is low and pop it on the charger during the day versus my watch, where the battery symbol is not as visible.

(I’ve also been trying to get in the habit of docking my phone in the evening an hour or so before bedtime anyway, so many days I just charge my phone from like 8-9 pm before bed, and then put my watch on the charger when I actually go to bed and my steps are done for the day.)

I started this last week and so far it has been working great!

As a bonus habit for today’s “Project Routine Optimization”, related to the steps thing, I have also started walking around in between sets when I’m lifting weights (when able).

On both Monday and Tuesday this week, I reserved a Workout Bay, like I said yesterday. These are located up on the “sprint track” at my gym. It’s technically meant to be used for sprinting– track athletes come up to practice here. But there have been no track athletes when I’ve been there lately (there rarely are…), and the track has been wide open.

I decided to slowly/ casually walk back and forth during my 1:30-2 minute rest times in between lifts. It feels better than just sitting there anyway, and boosts my step count before 8 a.m.

That’s all for today’s routine series installment: Charge my watch overnight, and get in extra steps during my workout.

Am I the only one who struggles to keep their Apple watch charged….???

Daily Gratitude:

I am grateful for hitting 4 MONTHS SODA-FREE today! 🙌🙌