As avid readers of the blog know, I believe that all human behavior and emotion stems from the fact that we will eventually die. Reminders of death are everywhere: as explicit as hearing about the deaths of others, as common as dealing with our own health issues, and as subtle as the passing of time. Yes, even the ticking of the clock is at some level reminding you of the impermanence of life. If statisticians had the appropriate data, I bet they would find that the advent of the watch marked a sharp increase in the anxiety levels of the human race. As we become aware of the passing of time we are reminded deep down in our subconscious that one day our time will run out.

Smartphones exacerbate the problem further. Perhaps one of the reasons smartphones have been heavily implicated in rising levels of anxiety and depression is that they have increased the frequency that we are exposed to time. The clock is glaring at us from the home screen, and always somewhere on the screen if we are using our phones for anything at all.

Technology has now taken a huge leap forward in exacerbating death anxiety: the new Apple Watch. This gadget boasts an ECG function allowing people to monitor their heart rate and rhythm closely. This watch will now compound the anxiety of time passing with a reminder of the vulnerability of the blood pump in our chest as well. Perhaps reassurance about the current health of the heart will counteract the insidious effect of activating our unconscious obsession with death, but I think not. At the end of the day, it will increase the prevalence of patterns that stem from the fear of death. Patterns of thoughts and behavior that cause us to suffer, to be anxious, and to shrink from being fully alive.

The knowledge of death drives everything we do. The only way to stop the cycle of suffering is acceptance. To become aware of our negative reactions to internal stimuli so we can learn to experience acceptance rather than avoidance. We are constantly running from death: by distracting ourselves, by building up accomplishments to construct a legacy, or by amassing wealth and possessions that make us feel larger than life — and therefore larger than death. Instead of running from death we can accept it and rest easy with it. We can appreciate the complexity and beauty of each moment as it passes instead of shrinking from the permanence of impermanence. This is perhaps the primary benefit of meditation. Developing the ability to sit peacefully with whatever arises is the ultimate cure for the denial and avoidance of death.

While we can make progress toward the goal of complete equanimity with the concept of death, most of us will likely never reach full acceptance. Luckily, there are some things we can do to make our lives a little easier.

Maybe put the phone away for a few hours here and there, and try to develop a habit of not looking at the clock so much. Give yourself plenty of time to get to work and arrive at engagements so you do not feel the need to frantically check the time. Cultivate flow states in your life, activities that interest and absorb you enough that you completely lose track of time. Learn how to enjoy the wonderful feeling of not thinking about the future or the past and losing yourself in the present moment.

And unless you have a pre-existing heart condition that benefits from close monitoring, do not buy the new Apple Watch.