Smartwatches and other wearables were already a hot item before Apple released its new watch this month, and now the buzz is, well, making wrists popular again. With a price point starting around $350, solopreneurs have to be wondering: can I get one and call it a business expense? While you’ll have to take that up with the taxman, here are a few ways a the Apple Watch and other smartwatches can help—or possibly hinder—your productivity… Never Miss A Notification While most of us keep our phones handy on our desks or in our pockets, having the notifications right there on your wrist may prove to be very helpful. For example, a slight vibration on your wrist notifying you that you have an inbound email might be less distracting than the desktop pop-ups so many of us have. But as we’ve come to learn, notification is often synonymous with distraction. When you’re interrupted with an email alert that requires a response, it takes an average of 23 minutes to get back on task. If you multiply that throughout your day it can really add up. Tracking Time Time is money and keeping an accurate track of your hours is critical for solopreneurs—especially if you’re invoincing a billable rate. (Learn the art of an effective invoice.) Many smartwatches on the market have time-tracking apps and it won’t be long before we start seeing a flury of time-trackers for the Apple Watch. Doing Business Here’s where the Apple Watch will really shine. Need to get to a meeting? No problem, your navigation app is right on your wrist. Giving a Power Point presentation to a prospective client? Your watch becomes your presentation remote, seamlessly clicking you through slides while leaving your hands free. Need to collaborate on a project? Apps like Slack and Workflow will make it easy. Need to record the meeting you’re in? Just hit record. Perhaps one day, you’ll be able to snap a picture of a receipt with your smartwatch. Regardless, the business-oriented smartwatch apps space is going to be exciting to watch. Health & Fitness Okay, health isn’t really about business, but there is no doubt that a healthier person is more effective no matter how or where they work. Smartwatches can track your steps, your exercise, your water intake, your sleep, and more. There are additional apps for tracking calories too! Smartwatches will take your fitness bands to the next level for sure, and help your general well being—and that’s always good for business. The business use cases of smartwatches is going to require a new way of thinking, but that’s what small business-owning entrepreneurs have always done!
