So the quantified self (QS) community has been existing for a while. Just as bodybuilding groups should be excellent test beds for what kind of exercises and chemicals will yield high results, the QS community should yield a preferably small, low-cost set of measures you should determine about yourself. Do these exist? Can be any blood measure, rhythm, time, psychological value, net worth …
Basically it turns out that it’s really hard to get people to measure specific stuff and it’s often a lot more useful if people measure value that they care about.
Agreed. QS seems most helpful for providing people tools to attack problems they are having (sleep, weight, etc.) rather than make a normal person superhuman.
I wouldn’t frame it that way. Talking of “problem” indicates that you compare yourself to the average person. There no reason why you have to do that. You can also track a variable where you are already above average and work on improving on that variable.
On the other hand you have to care about improving on that variable.
I think that Quantified Mind provides some high-value tests. So long as you’re willing to sit down and take a test, you can get data on:
Reaction Time
Visuo-spacial memory
Executive Function
Working Memory
Verbal learning
Motor function
Also, looking at what Gwern tracks, it seems helpful to have long-run data on subjective mood and energy. I randomly sample myself on that with PACO. PACO can allow you to poll yourself on any kind of thing you can imagine, like whether you’re sitting, standing, or walking, or whether you’re in public or private.
So the quantified self (QS) community has been existing for a while. Just as bodybuilding groups should be excellent test beds for what kind of exercises and chemicals will yield high results, the QS community should yield a preferably small, low-cost set of measures you should determine about yourself. Do these exist? Can be any blood measure, rhythm, time, psychological value, net worth …
There’s no standardized list.
Basically it turns out that it’s really hard to get people to measure specific stuff and it’s often a lot more useful if people measure value that they care about.
Agreed. QS seems most helpful for providing people tools to attack problems they are having (sleep, weight, etc.) rather than make a normal person superhuman.
I wouldn’t frame it that way. Talking of “problem” indicates that you compare yourself to the average person. There no reason why you have to do that. You can also track a variable where you are already above average and work on improving on that variable.
On the other hand you have to care about improving on that variable.
I think that Quantified Mind provides some high-value tests. So long as you’re willing to sit down and take a test, you can get data on:
Reaction Time
Visuo-spacial memory
Executive Function
Working Memory
Verbal learning
Motor function
Also, looking at what Gwern tracks, it seems helpful to have long-run data on subjective mood and energy. I randomly sample myself on that with PACO. PACO can allow you to poll yourself on any kind of thing you can imagine, like whether you’re sitting, standing, or walking, or whether you’re in public or private.
Edit: Added detail on QM.