Smartwatches are all the rage these days. According to a recent report from Strategic Analysis, global smartwatch shipments in the first quarter of 2014 increased by 250 percent over the same period in 2013. Long story short, business is booming in the smartwatch industry and it’s likely to continue growing over the coming year as more smartwatches hit the market. Google’s Android Wear OS is greatly anticipated which will be running on devices like the LG G Watch and Moto 360.

It still begs the question, what are some places where smartwatches are useful? Many of us already have a smartphone in our pockets – or in our hands – constantly throughout the day. Why would anyone need a wearable device on the wrist, albeit with less power and a smaller display, that does pretty much the same thing?

To help out, we’re going to change gears a bit and list the top five places where a smartwatch would come in handy. In the event that you’re wearing a smartwatch, you can resort to using it instead of your smartphone. Keep in mind this list is mostly going to apply to companion devices, or watches that pair with a smartphone. However, it would apply just the same for standalone smartwatches too.

Top Five Places Where Smartwatches are Useful

Movie Theater

Before we get into the rules for using smart devices in a dark movie theater please understand I’m not advocating interrupting those around you with a bright screen. However, most smartwatches display notifications and alerts via an unobtrusive UI – which generally also includes an analog or digital clockface. Because of the clockface feature, there are usually options to keep the display dimly lit.

One thing that really sucks about putting your phone on silent or vibrate is that sometimes you miss important calls, texts and messages. With a paired smartwatch, all you need to do is glance at the device on your wrist to see what’s going on. In the middle of an action packed scene it can be difficult tearing your eyes away from the screen, therefore a quick glance at a watch is going to be better. Plus, a small 1.5” – 2” watch display is less likely to disturb fellow movie-goers around you than a 5” smartphone screen.

At Dinner

When you’re at dinner with friends or family it is incredibly rude to fiddle with your phone constantly. We all understand social etiquette, so I’m sure you also realize it’s just as rude to glance at a watch on your wrist at the same frequency. That being said, it is okay to steal the occasional glance or two. If you’re expecting important messages, calls or emails a quick glance will tell you when they arrive. That’s exactly where a smartwatch comes in handy.

You can reach for a condiment and glance casually at your notifications or you could tap to dismiss a call when one comes through to your phone in the middle of a conversation. In situations where you don’t want to keep your phone on silent, but you also don’t want it ringing for a few minutes straight, the option to dismiss calls instantly is beneficial.

Swimming

Some smartphones now ship with waterproof bodies and designs, but for the most part phones do not mix well with water. Adversely, you’d be hard pressed to find a smartwatch that didn’t come with some kind of water resistance rating. While swimming, you generally cannot check your smartphone or monitor incoming messages, but if you have a smartwatch you can.

In-between all those laps, or a heated game of water volleyball, you can check your emails. Although, some would say the break from the digital world is worth it. In case it’s not, the smartwatch can help feed your addiction.

In a Meeting

No one likes listening to the higher ups bicker and talk about quarterly earnings – I don’t anyway. Surprisingly, the middle of a work meeting is the perfect time to check a smartwatch. We’ve already covered what kind of stuff you can monitor and accomplish with a watch, so getting to it is the real prize here.

Of course, the same social etiquette mentioned above applies if not more necessary. You don’t want to let your supervisor catch you playing Candy Crush on your smartwatch – it probably wouldn’t bode well for that potential raise. That being said, when you need to take a quick break from the monotony of an earnings call and connect with the outside world, smartwatches are great for that.

Active Lifestyle Events

While you’re running, hiking, biking or even grooving to your latest exercise video it’s difficult to whip out your smartphone and interact with it. Even something as simple as changing the current music track can be a pain. If you have a smartwatch paired with your phone, you can keep your heart rate up and do what you need to do without missing a step. Just switch tracks, check messages or reply to emails right from your wrist.

Of course, as with everything else on this list what you can do with your watch is going to depend on the device in question, but that’s a given. Just remember to pick out the smartwatch that’s right for you, and you should be all set.

Back to the point at hand, like the rest of the activities on this list you can rely on your smartwatch – instead of your phone – while you’re active. While it doesn’t exactly keep your attention away from tech, it does allow you to be more aware of the world around you than when you’re busy staring down at a phone display. I know, I know many of you will wonder how that’s different from looking down at a smartwatch screen. It’s because smartwatches are designed to get you in and out as quick as possible, or at least they should be. Smartphones, on the other hand, have this uncanny ability to keep you glued to them longer than you need to be.

Perfect for Times When You Can’t Check Your Smartphone

There’s a reason all the situations on this list happen to be places where you can’t just pull out your smartphone and start browsing it. There are standalone smartwatches that aim to completely replace handheld smart devices, but for the most part watches act as a companion to latter. They complement smartphones perfectly, especially for those who love to consistently check their phones for new messages. Next time you’re jonesin’ to pull out your phone and browse your social media feed, reply to text messages or look at silly memes online but you can’t – remember that a smartwatch would be great for all of those things.

One of the biggest arguments about smartwatches is that they are gimmicky. After all, most of us already have smartphones, tablets or other devices – why slap a smaller, less powerful version on your wrist? The answer is: convenience. If you don’t understand why the convenience is worth it, then you don’t need a smartwatch – and that’s okay.

Do you already own a smartwatch? Name some places where smartwatches are useful to you? Feel free to share in the comments below.