- 1). Turn one of your palms up so that the inside of your wrist is exposed. Place the tips of your index and middle fingers of the opposite hand on the exposed wrist. Position the fingers so they sit slightly to the side of tendons in the middle of the wrist. Alternatively, place your index and middle fingers of one hand on your neck. Position the fingers so that they sit just below the corner of your chin.
- 2). Gently press your fingers into your skin and move them around until you feel your pulse. Using your watch to keep time, count the number of beats you feel in a 10 second period, notes the Cleveland Clinic Health System.
- 3). Multiply the number of beats you count by six. This number represents the number of times your heart beats in one minute.