An Essay on The evaluated self

Innholdsfortegnelse
Thesis
Reasons for quantifying
Everybody behaves different
Who quantifies themselves
Replacing the doctors
Conclusion

Utdrag
Bob Troia, a 41-year-old Caucasian man, is dedicated to maintaining excellent health. He strives to present his best self not only for his companions but also for his personal well-being.

He takes pleasure in sharing his knowledge of fitness and overall health. Bob meticulously monitors various aspects of his life, including the quality and quantity of his sleep, his blood pressure, and his stress levels, among other things.

This routine is part of his daily life. In a video we observed, there was a leaderboard displaying the distances covered by Bob's friends in their runs.

This motivated him to increase his running efforts to maintain a leading position on the leaderboard. Such leaderboards can lead individuals to either question their own achievements or feel compelled to push themselves harder to showcase their accomplishments to their friends.

Consequently, some may feel pressured to keep up with their peers. While this approach can be beneficial for maintaining one's health, it may inadvertently set unrealistic expectations for others.

Thesis
What motivates individuals to quantify themselves, and what are the benefits of doing so? In my thesis, I propose that most self-tracking is driven by concerns about potential health issues, making it a sensible practice to monitor one's personal well-being.

Reasons for quantifying
I can't help but ponder the impact on mental health when one adopts a lifestyle and health regimen similar to that of Bob Troia. Are these efforts primarily aimed at impressing loved ones, or is the motivation primarily self-driven?

Additionally, if individuals possess the means to monitor their health comprehensively through such devices, does this negate the need for regular doctor's visits, even though they have a clear understanding of their well-being? What are the underlying factors that drive people to engage in self-quantification practices?

Everybody behaves different
Bob Troia is a meticulous observer of every aspect of his daily life. He utilizes advanced technology to gain detailed insights into his sleep patterns, wearing a device on his head that provides precise data about his periods of deep sleep, REM sleep, and light rest.

Throughout the day, he can check his phone to gauge his level of focus, relying on metrics such as his heart rate, sweat levels, and skin temperature.