Why a sports watch?

Sure, a Polar, TomTom Runner or FitBit might look pretty sharp on your wrist, but what is the actual use of a sports watch? Do they really serve a purpose during your workout, or are they nothing but a fun gadget? Plus: what to look out for if you’re planning to purchase one.

Of course, you don’t need a sports watch to exercise. In fact, we’ve been managing without them just fine for decades. But over the past few years, FitBits, activity trackers and smartwatches have become virtually indispensible to a growing number of fitness fans. And it’s not surprising, as a sports watch is a nifty tool for monitoring your health. The device will tell you the duration and intensity of your workout and your heart rate, which can be highly motivational: “I ran 5 kilometres in just 30 minutes yesterday and today I’ll try to ramp this up to 5.5 kilometres.”

Your own personal trainer
A sports watch tells you everything you need to know about your activity level for that particular day, which may prompt you to walk another round or pop into the gym. Some wearables come with a workout app, and there are also features that help you control your breathing.
A sports watch is a little like a personal trainer that way: it’s always with you and encourages you to try your hardest while at the same time telling you when it’s time to take a break.

Checklist
If you’re in the market for a sports watch, you’ll find that the selection is endless. There are watches available from major brands such as Nike, TomTom, FitBit, Garmin, Sigma and Polar in every price category, ranging from 50 to 600 euros. Make sure to check that the watch you’re looking to buy is compatible with your smartphone and decide which features are important to you. Choose a large or a small screen, special workouts, available sports, options to connect to your computer, and battery life. Select the watch that best suits your needs to get the most fun and results out of it.

How financially fit are you?
Besides a healthy life, you want a healthy pension. By staying aware of the pension market and react to it in a flexible way, we keep your pension in top condition. Do you already have a pension scheme with BeFrank? Then you can see how your pension is doing on your Personal Pension page. Here you will also find the most important updates. Do you not have a pension scheme with BeFrank yet? Ask your employer about the possibilities.