You get what you measure
Fri, 2011-11-18 14:29Written by Eeva, Nokia Wellness Diary team
The idea behind tracking is that once you start paying attention to your behaviour and choices, you become more aware of them. For example: just tracking your sweets intake can make you think twice before having that piece of candy or can of soda. Tracking your exercises and having a weekly target can make you think about exercising more, and to get out and do something.
This is nothing revolutionary or surprising - in IT it's been known for a while that measuring something will direct people to perform in that area. Wellness Diary tries to guide people to take their well-being into their own hands: look at what improves your overall well-being and do more of that. Alternatively, try tracking your baseline in select areas, and make a note how they make you feel. Then, one step at a time, make small changes, track, and see what the results are.
Having something of a personal assistant, even if it's just an app on the phone, can guide the thoughts and actions to a better direction. For smokers, thinking about adding each cigarette into the device can tip the scale towards quitting. Paying attention to what we eat can pause us to think before having that hamburger, and so forth.
My personal goal of making exercise a daily habit is still something I'm working on, as old habits die hard. But it's there, in progress and on my mind. What's your target, or what would you want to track and achieve?
- Eeva
Comments
Happiness.
What you said in your comment all is well and good to move twards that direction
Good!
Ivan
I've read a few times that one of the most effective weight-loss techniques is to simply take a photo of every meal and snack before you eat it.
@suncho: Have you tried the de-stress monitor? That might work, although the focus isn't exactly on 'happiness'...
@Benreal: Thanks for your encouragement!
@Sergeev1986iz: Glad you liked it!
@markheseltine: That's an interesting idea. What's the idea, what happens when you have taken the photo? Are they just stored or do you come back to the food gallery?
I've not tried it myself but I understand it's simply the act of taking the photos that does the job. No need to do anything else! Ref. Tim Ferriss 4 Hour Body + others
@markehseltine: I suppose it's the same idea as in the posting - paying more attention to what you eat makes you think about the amounts and content of your plate. I have to take a look at your reference, thanks for the tip!
verigood
very useful