When I used to do conscious self improvement, I journaled. I simply answered the prompt: what did I do to achieve my goal today, and what can I do better?<p>This had the same effect as their quantitative approach: you start to see patterns.<p>I’d suggest: the profound enabler of change isn’t the quantitative aspect of it, it is that you’re logging data in the first place.<p>Our brains can’t log that much. Notepads and spreadsheets can.<p>Of course, quantitative va qualitative have some trade offs, but the low hanging fruit is data logging, not Excel.
I have a secret startup plan - MOOPs<p>Massive Open Online Psychology.<p>You wire your house with iPhones or Alexas recording your daily conversations with your family - it records things like "number of positive responses" vs "number negative responses" when replying to your spouse or children.<p>There are dozens of simple verbal checks one can pull out of even fairly raw speech to text, let alone visual dances.<p>And imagine if you had a monthly review with a therapist how had all this data at their fingertips- and could coach you and your spouse to improve the worst of it.
> Our spreadsheets hammered home that what contributed most to our happiness was time spent together or with friends — while, crucially, not working — and there was no way to get more of that if we continued to live in the Bay Area, one of the most expensive parts of the country. So I proposed an idea that would have seemed radical were there not so much data backing it: “I think you should quit your job, we should sell our house, and we should move somewhere cheaper,” I told my husband matter-of-factly one day. So we did.<p>Will be kind of hard to meet with friends, as they have all stayed in the Bay Area?
>We’re in a much more precarious place financially now, after a few non-spreadsheet-related surprises, but we’re still determined to make whatever decisions we can to improve our lives.<p>This, imho, shows the issue with basing life decisions so relentlessly on personal data no matter how well collected. Either the unexpected catastrophic scenario hasn't happened so you don't hedge for it or it has happened and you hedge too much on it happening again. Just like basing stock decisions on the recent past is great right until a recession or bubble hits to wipe you out.
Something about this article felt disjointed. I read back over the jarring part to see if I had somehow skipped over a section or read it in the wrong order.
I have often thought about ways of optimizing my life, but doing so in a minimally invasive/time suck matter.<p>One element, mentioned in the article, is coming up with your “happiness score”. However the way they suggest it seems a bit onerous. I almost wonder if it would be easier to do a “happy or not” style of data collection. Basically like the ones you see at airports, but maybe tied to facial recognition so you know <i>who</i> in the family is recording it.<p>Ideally you would add more metrics (like sleep monitor), but I feel having just that much would be beneficial.<p>Thoughts on this? Can anyone think of an easier method for the basic data collection (which doesn’t involve someone filling out a spreadsheet?)
I've been curious about this for a while. Seems like it is a lot of work but could be useful in small sustained bursts of effort (maybe 2 months) - much like diet logging. Will yield some insights and benefits and you don't have to keep it up forever.<p>Anyone have suggestions for software or other tools? The article explained motivations but was pretty light on the methods. To stretch the analogy above, is there a MyFitnessPal for this or do people's aims vary enough the everyone just rolls their own spreadsheets?