Are You Tracking Life or Living It? Finding Balance in a Data-Driven World
When I was still working as a consultant, I remember the countless occasions when we needed to create a “tracker of trackers” to manage our projects, a result of having so many trackers that we had to set up a tracker just to keep track of all the other trackers. It became a running joke.
This work situation reminds me of today’s world, where technology offers us countless ways to track every step and action we take. Nowadays, we have watches that monitor our goal of hitting 10,000 steps per day, remind us to stand up, track our sleep patterns, and even analyze when we sleep best. We have water bottles that show us how much we need to drink, devices that log our calorie intake, apps to track meditation and mindfulness practices, and other tools to monitor vitamin intake, running speed, and distance covered—just to name a few. (What else have I missed?)
Sometimes, just like when I was a consultant, I feel like I need a tracker just to keep track of all these trackers in my personal life. This raises the question of whether we are able to live anymore without constantly monitoring every step we take. Does the increasing reliance on these tools genuinely benefit us, or does it add unnecessary complexity and stress to our lives? Are we losing the ability to simply live in the moment, without the constant need for data and analysis?
I believe that this newfound need to track every aspect of our lives can be overwhelming—and maybe even counterproductive. While supposedly designed to help us, these tools can also create a sense of pressure and anxiety. It is therefore worth considering whether the benefits of these tracking technologies truly outweigh the mental load they place on us.
Since I started this newsletter with the idea of exploring ways to bring people closer to peace of mind, I’ve come to realize that this over-reliance on tracking might actually be contributing to our lack of peace. How do you feel when you don’t hit 10,000 steps in a day? When you don’t drink that gallon of water? When you miss your daily dose of vitamins, fall short of 8 hours of sleep, or eat more calories than your app suggests you should? The first thoughts that come to mind likely aren’t congratulatory; instead, they might be critical or even self-reproachful.
While these measures can help identify habits and routines that need improvement, and also assist us in taking action to address them, I believe that, ultimately, what truly matters is balance. We don’t need to monitor every single moment of our day-to-day life. Applying a degree of common sense goes a long way. In fact, by stepping back from constant monitoring, we can start to rediscover the joy of simply being present. We can reconnect with ourselves in ways that technology, for all its benefits, can never replicate. The goal shouldn’t be to live life according to a series of metrics but to live fully, with intention and awareness.
Let’s not let our lives become a series of checkboxes to be ticked off. Instead, let’s strive to live with purpose, not perfection—allowing ourselves to experience the richness of life, unmeasured and unmonitored.
