Fitness Trackers: Empowering Accurate Self-Assessment

Accuracy of Tracking Devices

Data reliability varies widely, and some brands excel over others. Not all metrics are equally easy to quantify. For instance, heart rate and step count data tend to be dependable, while other measures, such as calories burned or movement velocity, may have substantial margins of error.

When Is Tracking Beneficial?

Fitness trackers offer a wealth of data, but it's crucial to find the sweet spot where a moderate amount of information enhances decision-making without overwhelming with irrelevant details.

Consider these factors to determine if tracking is helpful:

• Increases wellbeing and performance: If tracking positively impacts your mental and physical well-being, continue utilizing it.
• Decreases stress and validates methods: Tracking can provide reassurance and alleviate anxiety by objectifying subjective assessments.
• Provides clear feedback that enhances motivation: Trackers serve as prompts to elicit actions and guide behavior.

Signs Tracking May Not Be Beneficial

• Increases stress or negatively affects performance: Data can be counterproductive if it causes excessive anxiety or impedes recovery.
• Decreases motivation or ability: If data collection overwhelms you or distracts you from intrinsic goals, it may be hindering your progress.
• Makes you lose touch with your own senses: Over-reliance on data can disconnect you from intuitive bodily feedback.

Improving Self-Assessment Accuracy with Trackers

Fitness trackers can aid in calibrating and improving your ability to accurately sense bodily signals. Consider these techniques:

1. Check in with yourself before reviewing data: Reflect on your own assessment before comparing it with tracker outputs. This helps you calibrate your self-assessment.
2. Develop mental shortcuts: Use objective measurements to train your estimation skills. For instance, try estimating the number of repetitions you can lift.
3. Cultivate your sensory awareness: Regularly attend to your senses and sensations. Trackers can enhance this process, but you possess a vast network of sensory information that technology cannot fully capture.

References

Sources:

• Francis C. Speed Trap: Inside the Biggest Scandal in Olympic History (1990)
• Fitbit's accuracy has a dark-skin problem (2019)
• Want to make better decisions? Ask for less information, not more (2023)
• Behavior Model (2024)
• Fogg, B. J. Tiny Habits: Small Changes Change Everything (2019)
• Bradshaw, Emma L., et al. "A Meta-Analysis of the Dark Side of the American Dream: Evidence for the Universal Wellness Costs of Prioritizing Extrinsic over Intrinsic Goals" (2023)
• Hagan, John E., Jr, et al. "Elite Athletes' in-Event Competitive Anxiety Responses and Psychological Skills Usage under Differing Conditions" (2017)
• Self-Determination Theory (2024)
• Teixeira DS, et al. "Individualized pleasure-oriented exercise sessions, exercise frequency, and affective outcomes: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial" (2024)

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