Reasons why I currently track or have tracked various metrics in my life:
1. A mindfulness tool. Tacking the time to record and note some metric is itself the goal.
2. Have data to be able to test an hypothesis about ways some intervention would affect my life. (i.e Did waking up earlier give me less energy in the day?)
3. Have data that enables me to make better predictions about the future (mostly related to time tracking, “how long does X amount of work take?”)
4. Understanding how [THE PAST] was different of [THE PRESENT] to help defeat the Deadly Demons of Doubt and Shitty Serpents of Should (ala Deliberate Once).
I have not always had these in mind when deciding to track a metric. Often I tracked because “that’s wut productive people do right?”. When I keep these in mind, tracking gets more useful.
Reasons why I currently track or have tracked various metrics in my life:
1. A mindfulness tool. Tacking the time to record and note some metric is itself the goal.
2. Have data to be able to test an hypothesis about ways some intervention would affect my life. (i.e Did waking up earlier give me less energy in the day?)
3. Have data that enables me to make better predictions about the future (mostly related to time tracking, “how long does X amount of work take?”)
4. Understanding how [THE PAST] was different of [THE PRESENT] to help defeat the Deadly Demons of Doubt and Shitty Serpents of Should (ala Deliberate Once).
I have not always had these in mind when deciding to track a metric. Often I tracked because “that’s wut productive people do right?”. When I keep these in mind, tracking gets more useful.