Data is all around us in our everyday life and much of our decision making comes from the result of an analytical process. Of course everyone has ever collected data through text, audio recordings, photography and many more. Some people take a further step by visualizing the data they have collected to help them gain insights before making any decisions; Should I eat this? Am I running late? How much I spend my money this month? These steps, from data collection to decision making, are actually similar to what a Data Analyst does and the approach is not limited to the business world.
If you want to be a Data Analyst of your personal life, you may take a look at the following examples of data you can collect as a first step towards your Data Analyst path!
1. Food consumption
Food consumption including food consumption per day, weight, medical history, preference, also habits to help us be healthier and control our weight. You can be able to create your own pattern which can be used for other healthcare purposes. For example, you might feel less active lately and you suspect that it is caused by your diet routine. Luckily, you have been logging your diet in MyfitnessPal app for months, so you refer to your record and make a simple analysis. Together with a little research, you found out that your feeling changed because you had consumed less protein. You then can adjust your diet plan accordingly.
2. Expenditure
Perhaps you wonder where your money went, although you try your best to keep your wallet tightly closed. You’d better start recording your spending data to let you input what you’re spending. You can also sync the application with your bank account and set goals for saving money monthly. For instance, when you know category proportions on your spending dashboard of Money Lover app, you may remind yourself before making unnecessary spending and saving more money. Moreover, if you possess or plan to apply for a credit card, which usually has different promotions for different types of spending, you can use the analysis of your expenditure to decide which credit card to apply or spend that would benefit you most.
3. Transportation pattern
Have you ever felt indecisive whether to buy a package or just use a top-up travel card? And if you decide to spend your money on a package one, which package will be suitable? This question is likely to pop up if your lifestyle features inconsistent travelling patterns. Jotting down your transportation history and fare can help you decide which option worth spending your money on. Recently, many types of transportation fees are displayed on Google Map.
4. Simple workout log
There are many features on applications that let you input all the essentials about your workout such as the number of reps, the weight you lifted, the length of time you run, the calories you expect to burn a day etc. For instance, Garmin Connect can compare your physical activities, e.g. the number of steps and floors, with the daily goals to identify what types of exercises you should do more. Then it’s easy for you to adjust your workout routine.
5. Sleep cycle
If you are trying to get a better-quality sleeping cycle, you should start monitoring your sleep cycle data. It displays the total amount of slumber you achieved, average sleep time, average sleep quality, average light sleep and deep sleep and many more insights that you can set in your smart devices. A good example is sleepcycle.com. It helps you compare your sleep time and quality with the average of people around the world. Finally, you may find reasons for unhealthy sleep and become healthier.
Written by: Sertis team
Originally published at https://www.sertiscorp.com/
