I’m a collector. If you know me at all you know I like having order and collections. I also really love data about myself. Over the years I’ve kept a meticulous iPhoto library. Not of just every single snap of the camera but of the moments I want to remember. The good shots. The important ones. Those I want forever. My library is in chronological order with carefully fixed dates and captions to go with them. This is important to me so that I can later sit down and recall and relive.

I also journal using DayOne. I’ve had various journal endeavors over the years but am really loving DayOne. I’ve even gone back and added every single one of my old entries into the app. Did you think for a second I wouldn’t?!

Why do I do these things? Keep a daily journal? Spend great time and effort in chronicling photos in this way? It’s not to just do it. It certainly is not “fun”. Instead, it’s what gets me through the rough days. I can look back and see that “I can make it”, or “it wasn’t that bad”. Of course enjoying past moments of happiness is great too. Between my iPhoto library, DayOne, and TimeHop, I’ve got a great flow of information about my past that helps me daily. Gives me strength, and is a tool I couldn’t be without.

Lately I’ve taken things even further. I jumped on the wearables bandwagon very early. I loved the idea of tracking myself and having this data to compare. I’ve used all the Jawbone UP versions, FitBit, Withings Pulse, Fuelbands, tracking apps like Argus and Moves, a wifi scale for tracking weight, apps and connected devices for keeping tabs on heart rate and blood pressure, I’ve received the Kinsa smart thermometer for logging temperatures and to see local and personal trends, the Automatic Link for the car, and have a very big log of data to use regarding my life and lifestyle over the time I’ve used these.

Why do I want this information? To see my trends. I look back at days when my body felt horrible and compare that to my movement for the day, my heart rate, etc. I see what foods I ate and piece together a picture of my health for the day. Using this data and my DayOne journal, iPhoto library, and TimeHop, I get insight into what caused my issues. It allows me to understand myself better and take future precautions.

Does this mean these trackers and apps and wearables make me “fit”? No. Does it mean they motivate me? It depends. The motivation to better yourself can only come from within. No app or device can make that happen. However, if the desire and determination are there, apps and devices can bring context and personal goals into a more clear view. It’s easy to fall behind or give up on exercise routines. I’ve done it many times. It’s easy to fall off the wagon when dieting. I’ve done that too. However, if you can see your trends and have a little whisper telling you, “hey, only 5 more minutes of exercise today and you’ll meet your goal for 50 straight days…you can do it”, then this relationship starts to form. There becomes trust and admiration and satisfaction between you and this tool.

I use all the above things to help me understand my life a little better. To make it through the bad, depressing, anxiety filled days that rip my world apart. I’m just one person, but these technologies have impacted my life greatly. It’s a collection I find very worth having.

Read more on my personal site: www.casuallynorm.com