In a world ruled by screens and overstimulation, wearing a watch (yes, really) might be the analog reset we didn’t know we needed.
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We’re a generation obsessed with time, yet somehow always out of it. We set alarms for self-care, sync our schedules across five different apps, and constantly talk about “wasting time,” “losing time,” or “not having enough time.” Still, we miss deadlines after swearing it was only Wednesday.
Somewhere along the way, time became a slippery slope. Between burnout, overstimulation, and the pressure to always be “on,” we’re actively dissociating from the present. For Gen Z especially, time doesn’t feel linear anymore—it feels fractured. Glitched. Skipped.
Which is maybe why, lately, something as old-school as wearing a watch feels strangely… radical.
The Lost Art of Knowing What Time It Is
To tell time is one thing. To feel it passing is another. Somewhere between late-night doomscrolls and the pressure to optimize every second of the day, we stopped tuning into the actual rhythm of our lives. Days now feel like tabs we forgot to close. Time isn’t marked by meaning anymore, but by metrics—calories, follower counts, streaks, unread messages.
We set alarms to “soft launch” our productivity, track our screen time, and convince ourselves we’ll finally become the best version of ourselves next week. Then before we even notice, everything feels urgent while nothing feels real. The days blur together, leaving us wondering why we feel so untethered.
Why Time Feels Fake
Even when we’re not working, we’re still performing. Our breaks become content. Our commutes become catch-up time. Even “me time” is expected to look productive, aesthetic, or—at the very least—photogenic.
Maybe the problem isn’t poor time management. Maybe it’s our entire relationship with time that’s broken. The rise of time blindness—a common ADHD symptom that’s become increasingly relatable in the age of overstimulation—shows how often our brains are fighting to stay in the present moment. We’re overloaded, overstimulated, and always a few steps removed from now.
On Milestones We Missed
For a generation that entered adulthood during a global pandemic, time was never going to feel normal. Class schedules collapsed into Zoom fatigue. Work hours bled into weekends. We celebrated birthdays on screens, graduated over Google Meet, and mourned milestones we never got to have. Beyond altering routines, that disruption rewired how we experience time itself.
Even now, the pressure to be online has warped our internal clocks. We’re told to plan five years ahead while also living in the moment. We grind, overshare, and recharge—all before lunch. Amid all that noise, the idea of simply checking the time without falling into a scroll hole feels like a relief.
It makes sense that we’re yearning for something real. Analog habits like film cameras, planners, or wearing a watch resonate not because they’re trendy, but because they’re tangible.
Why Watches Matter Again
Watches can be a reminder to slow down. Unlike phones, which pull you in with apps and notifications, a watch offers a single, intentional interaction. You glance, you register the hour, you return to your life.
There’s no dopamine hit, no scroll trap, no algorithm waiting to hijack your attention. That simplicity is powerful. In a world where so much of our time is mediated by screens, wearing a watch helps you reclaim your focus.
Your Time Starts Now
If you’re curious where to begin, The Watch Store is making the analog shift feel less intimidating and more intuitive. Recently rebranded for a new generation of wearers, it now offers a more streamlined, story-driven experience. Whether you’re a minimalist drawn to sleek and functional designs or someone looking for a statement piece that says “I have my life together (even if I don’t),” there’s something here for you.
With brands like Tissot, Frederique Constant, Alpina, Tommy Hilfiger, Calvin Klein, and Bering in their lineup, The Watch Store makes quality timepieces more accessible than ever. You can find them at SM North Edsa, SM Fairview, SM Bacolod, SM Cebu, and SM Davao, with more branches on the way. Prefer to shop from your phone? They’ve got that too at thewatchstore.com.ph.
So if you’ve been feeling off lately, out of sync, or like time is slipping through your fingers, maybe don’t reach for your phone. Reach for something that ticks.
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