I’ve always believed that your health and fitness isn’t just about big goals like running marathons or lifting heavy weights. For me, it’s about staying consistent, showing up to the gym, getting your steps in each day, running, or finding small ways to move and improve every day.
That’s where the Garmin Forerunner 165 has quietly become one of the most useful pieces of tech in my daily life.
A Watch That Starts with My Morning
My day usually begins with a quick glance at my Garmin. Not to check the time, but to see how I slept and what my Body Battery is saying. This feature gives you a score out of 100 based on your recovery, stress levels, and sleep quality. It’s such a simple but clever way to help me decide how hard I want to, or should push myself that day.
Daily Walks, Tracked & Motivated
I’m a big fan of tracking walks and runs. The Forerunner 165 smart watch locks on to GPS quickly, even if I’m just heading out for 15–20 minutes. I love glancing down to see my pace, distance, and heart rate, even if I’m not chasing a PB.
As a minimum benchmark I like to make sure I walk 10,000 steps a day. I wear the watch all day so sometimes this might be a top up thats needed if the day has been busy. On slow movement days (usually working from home) I can make it to late afternoon without taking many steps at all. When I check my watch just seeing that low number is enough to get me out the door to make those numbers up either walking or running. It turns out, seeing those stats build up over time is really motivating too.
Getting Back into Running (Run/Walk Friendly)
I’m taking my running easy at the moment as I am waiting for an operation on my knee. The Forerunner 165’s run/walk intervals and pace alerts have been brilliant. I can set a gentle run segment followed by a recovery walk, and the watch buzzes to cue each change so I don’t have to stare at my wrist or count lampposts. It’s keeping me moving sensibly as I cant help but try and run like I normally would without some guidance. Its kept me accountable to this type of training which is brilliant. I stay in a manageable effort load instead of causing more injury.
In the Gym — Simple, But Insightful
I wear the Garmin in the gym too. The heart rate monitor is useful to read mid-session. I use it to spot when I’m going too hard on tired days or not pushing enough on strong ones.
There are also built-in activity profiles you can customise, so whether it’s strength training, cardio, or a quick HIIT circuit, I can keep my sessions measurable.
Data That Feels Useful, Not Overwhelming
All the data from the watch syncs seamlessly into the Garmin Connect app, which lays it out in a really intuitive dashboard. I can check trends, progress, and insights all in one place, whether I’m training more or just looking after myself better.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 has slotted into my life in a way that makes movement feel easier to track and more rewarding. Whether it’s the post-run or walk dopamine hit from hitting a goal, or just knowing when to rest, it’s become more than a fitness watch, it’s my little daily motivator.
And the best bit? You don’t need to be an elite athlete to benefit. If you move, it’s got something to offer you too.
