Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

First, the cons. But know-- I STILL give it five stars, even for all the crap. So: I was skeptical. It's expensive. Spoilers, it's worth every penny. Con 1. For a $150 of technology, you would think they would offer a quality band, not a cheap piece of rubbery plastic. There are no good alternative bands, either. You will feel ashamed to wear it. It's huge. I have nice watches-- and I have to wear this? I guess the shame at the design monstrosity is a part of the aversive conditioning. (Ha, ugh.) Con 2. Super water sensitive-- If you sweat a lot, you have to take it off and dry it. That's pretty ridiculous. You can't help but sweat with how big it is. You'll be tempted to take it off just because it's ugly, uncomfortably large, and we wash our hands constantly these days. Con #3. The app is dumb and bloated. There's an attempt at a "course" on habits that's a lot of rambling "motivational" recordings. The language through the app is a blend vague of science-esque promises and reach for a mindfulness vibe that gets a C+ as a second-step-cousin-twice-removed of the actual quality Calm app. Trying way too hard, it even tried to get me to earn points and then buy some kind of private coaching plan. Just... It's three apps and all you really need is the alarm and maybe the remote and timer. Well, it's been about two weeks, and I have to give it five stars. Because it worked: Here's how it all started-- Let's just say that I overslept on an extremely important day. My life was at the border of complete self- sabotage. Buying this device against better judgement was my last ditch effort to ensure forever that this would never happen again. --That I would NEVER, EVER oversleep for the rest of my life. So I went through all the cons. And then there was another, that I cannot even feel the shock at less than 50%. It's... not as strong as I was hoping. Like, at 50% it feels like a flick to me. The beep is pretty quiet and the vibration is not very strong either. But the shock at 100% WILL, DEFINITELY wake you up. It does not feel good. You will not want to experience it repeatedly. Here's some advice. Take it to the max. It will not work for you if you also have a higher threshold for discomfort, like me, UNTIL you take it up to the maximum. Even then, I have to have it set to continue at *five 100% zaps* -- *every ten seconds* -- NO SNOOZE - and do not stop until I do the # of jumping jacks AND QR code. THEN I set a second set of shocks to go off right after that, so I do not try to go back to sleep after I get it to stop. I wish that was only the 50% so I would have more options. I never knew my tolerance was so high. Here was my turning point: At a WEEK IN, I stopped using the watch band. I was just taking it off and on constantly for moisture anyway. I started using strong 3M medical tape. I cannot tape it off without MORE discomfort than stopping the shocking. After three days of facing, there is no way out of this except getting up RIGHT NOW, I am finding myself jumping out of bed at 5:30 am and doing jumping jacks before I'm even fully awake. I put the QR code on the desktop of my work computer. (I wish the QR code was more complex? Seems like it wouldn't be hard for them to do that.) So, it takes me about 30 seconds to get started working after waking up. I've been TWO HOURS EARLY working this whole last week, ever since I started with the tape. I don't even have to think about it-- and the battery doesn't really show through my clothes. I feel like I am really getting control over my life. This walked me back from the cliff of destroying everything I've worked so hard to build. For that reason, I'll overlook enough black and yellow on their website to burn my corneas. Sleep is not my master anymore. It doesn't matter how deeply I was asleep; PAVLOV gets me up. When I get the buzz reminder to go to sleep, I take it very seriously. Ok, small random complaint: Sometimes it gives me a small shock and I'm not sure why. Just small shocks, maybe 3 or 4 times a day. But... It wakes me up out of whatever and just reminds me of my goals. I'm like... WTF why is it shocking me randomly? Eh as long as it keeps fixing my main issue, I'll overlook it for now. Try the medical tape. Maybe we will have some attractive wearable elements in the future to hold it. But for now, I just need it to work and leave my wrists free for frequent handwashing. $150+ may seem like a lot, but this is a serious tool for people who are willing to part with $150 to save the rest of their life. For me, it is the first thing that actually worked. I can't put a price on that, and I forgive all the rest. If the makers read this-- I hope my criticism doesn't hurt. You are doing good things. You helped me make the change when nothing else could. Literally, nothing. No, it's not perfect, but neither are we. We are all... this work in progress. So we are in just the right spot to give that grace. Things are finally working out in my life. I'm seeing a dark cloud lifting. Still not perfect, but I know the best is yet to come. I know Pavlov will just keep getting better, too.