Experts suggest switching to an analogue watch face on smartwatches can boost time awareness, cognitive skills, and memory—especially in younger users.
A Simple Setting With Big Impact
A small tweak on your smartwatch could have surprising long-term benefits for your brain. Experts say choosing an analogue watch face—instead of a digital display—may help slow cognitive decline, improve time awareness, and even support children’s math skills.
Why Analogue Still Matters
While smartwatches are packed with high-tech features like heart rate monitors, fall detection, and sleep tracking, experts warn that digital convenience could be eroding essential life skills. Danny Toffel, CEO of Watches2U, said, “We all love convenience, but reading an analogue clock trains cognitive skills and our understanding of how time passes.”
He adds that relying solely on digital displays—especially among younger users—could hinder long-term cognitive development and organizational habits.
How Digital Dominance Affects Learning
A 2023 survey by ClearitWaste.co.uk revealed that 1 in 6 people struggle to read traditional clocks. The issue has even made its way into exam halls, with some schools in the UK reportedly replacing analogue clocks with digital ones due to students’ difficulties in telling time.
“Toffel emphasized that analogue clocks aren’t just about tradition—they’re tools for learning. ‘They help children grasp fractions, support math development, and build an intuitive sense of time,’” he said.
Where Changes Can Be Made
One of the biggest advantages of a smartwatch is customization. Most models allow users to switch between different watch faces, including digital and analogue displays. Toffel recommends users, especially parents and educators, opt for an analogue face to encourage time-telling skills and a visual sense of time’s passage.
“Even small choices like this can build stronger mental habits,” he said. “Having analogue clocks around the house can reinforce these skills in children—and adults, too.”
Why It’s Gaining Attention Now
The concern is growing in a digital-first world where screens dominate every part of life—from classrooms to offices to bedrooms. Experts believe this shift could quietly reduce important brain functions unless steps are taken to retain analogue habits.
“Smartwatches are fantastic tools,” Toffel said. “Use them for health tracking and communication, but don’t forget the cognitive value of the traditional clock face.”
Reconnecting With Time, One Tick at a Time
As the debate around screen time and digital dependency continues, experts urge a balanced approach. Switching to an analogue display is a low-effort, high-impact way to stay connected with a timeless skill—literally.
In a world where every second counts, knowing how to read them might be more important than we think.
