This might sound small, but it kind of made my day.
While casually browsing around the Apple Watch app on my iPhone, I stumbled upon a setting labeled “Handwashing.” Out of curiosity, I tapped in—and found a whole little world dedicated to something as basic as washing your hands.
I didn’t even realize this feature existed!
Turns out, when I enabled it, the Apple Watch can detect when you’re washing your hands and automatically starts a 20-second countdown—just long enough to encourage proper hygiene, without being annoying. It even gives you a friendly vibration when you’re done.
I immediately turned it on. And honestly? It worked. The next time I washed my hands, I actually paid attention. I rubbed the back of my palm, interlaced my fingers and scrub between them. I stayed for the full 20 seconds.
I didn’t rush. And for once, a timer made me feel better about something instead of stressed.
It’s funny how a small setting hidden in an app can subtly improve your habits—without needing a lecture or an app notification. Just a gentle nudge in the right direction.
So here’s to the quantum discoveries—the quiet features we stumble upon by chance, the ones that make life a little smarter, and a little cleaner—literally.