I must confess to an obsession with my bathroom scale. I’ve got one of those fancy digital models that not only weighs you, but also tells you how much you weighed the last time you stepped on the scales.
The result, for me, has been a new awareness of my weight, and how it fluctuates from day to day. I keep a log in the bathroom. Well, okay, my log’s actually a piece of paper taped to the wall, but it symbolizes the beginning of my descent into the newest health craze: the quantifiable self movement.
The Quantifiable What?
The quantifiable self movement describes the monitoring and recording of physical and mental activity to live a healthier, more complete life. A number of wearable devices are available to measure and track almost any bodily function, from heart rate and breathing to sleep cycles and mood.
All the information gathered by your information-gathering wristband, bracelet or clip uploads to your phone or tablet, so you can crunch the numbers and improve your health. For instance, the device might record how many steps you take in a day, so you can choose to exceed the number in the future.
If this sounds like applying data analysis to physical fitness, you’re quite right, but the movement is more than that. The idea of the quantified self grows out of the demand for personalized health plans. Just as people prefer to use personal trainers or private rehab centers, so too do they want a fitness program that applies specifically to them.
Devices and Gizmos
Technology lies at the center of the quantified self movement. Multiple tracking devices compete for you business, all carefully tracking and monitoring you every breath. Most are rugged, waterproof devices intended to be worn on an ongoing basis.
Some track external as well as internal trends. For instance, some monitor air quality. I’m a little confused by those which track mood — I like to think I can identify my emotions without assistance. Still, I suppose mood trackers could help detect frequent depression or anxiety issues.
Helpful Aid or Anchor?
While I can see the appeal of the quantified self movement, I’m not sure I’d want every aspect of my physical and emotional functions always on display. The movement, like my scale, comes with the risk of obsession.
Oh lord, I only walked 9,999 steps today, and yesterday I walked 10,100! My exposure to poor air quality is up 5 percent! I was upset 0.34 percent less than last week — could I be apathetic? I can see myself becoming caught up in the data, rather than living to my fullest.
Still, the quantified self movement would work for the right person, and we’re primed to accept it into modern life. We’re already obsessed with life-logging on social media. Posting our heart rate and blood pressure just seems like the next logical step.
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