4 ms·

For me, it's down to having a chronic health condition. Over the long term (say, 2 years +), it's really easy to lost context -- suddenly, the fact you've been

by frio 13y ago

For me, it's down to having a chronic health condition. Over the long term (say, 2 years +), it's really easy to lost context -- suddenly, the fact you've been to the toilet 10 times a day rather than 11 seems like an improvement, rather than indicating you probably should see your doctor. I use QS tools to define where some degree of normality is, so my simple monkey brain doesn't lie to me and I can see when I cross that line :).

MarkTee 13y ago
Agreed! I find this sort of thing especially helpful when trying new medications/treatments. It's nice to have a chart that I can look over to help give me a better idea about what's going on with my body. "Oh, ever since I started this new medication, I get headaches when I don't drink at least 4L of water." There's no way that I'd be able to keep track of my day-to-day symptoms without writing them down; the days often blur together. Oh, and doctors love it, too.
lotyrin 13y ago
Exactly. I have some depression (or maybe just standard human psychology that I have somehow failed to cope with) that will flare up horribly if I'm not eating well, exercising properly, getting enough sun, spending enough time not working, getting enough social time, and probably a few other things I have no idea about yet. Left to my own devices I'll end up eating out for all 1-2 meals a day, only move from the bed to my car to my desk, forget what sunlight looks like, pull 12 hour days and 4 hour nights of sleep (or stumble into a 48 hour cycle), IM only my closest friend every few months, get suicidal and quit another job because nothing matters and the world is cruel. For me at least, quantified self is not about trying to treat myself like a machine, it's about trying to remember not to.
- gtirloni 13y ago
  I can relate to it deeply. I'll give QS tools a shot. Thank you! Anything in particular you recommend?

by frio 13y ago

MarkTee 13y ago

Agreed! I find this sort of thing especially helpful when trying new medications/treatments. It's nice to have a chart that I can look over to help give me a better idea about what's going on with my body. "Oh, ever since I started this new medication, I get headaches when I don't drink at least 4L of water." There's no way that I'd be able to keep track of my day-to-day symptoms without writing them down; the days often blur together. Oh, and doctors love it, too.

lotyrin 13y ago

Exactly. I have some depression (or maybe just standard human psychology that I have somehow failed to cope with) that will flare up horribly if I'm not eating well, exercising properly, getting enough sun, spending enough time not working, getting enough social time, and probably a few other things I have no idea about yet. Left to my own devices I'll end up eating out for all 1-2 meals a day, only move from the bed to my car to my desk, forget what sunlight looks like, pull 12 hour days and 4 hour nights of sleep (or stumble into a 48 hour cycle), IM only my closest friend every few months, get suicidal and quit another job because nothing matters and the world is cruel. For me at least, quantified self is not about trying to treat myself like a machine, it's about trying to remember not to.

gtirloni 13y ago
I can relate to it deeply. I'll give QS tools a shot. Thank you! Anything in particular you recommend?