http://www.actionlogr.com/are-you-logging-enough-sleep-action/ Are You Logging Enough Sleep Action? infographic at actionlogr
-
I posted to distributedresearch.net
http www actionlogr com are you logging enough…
http://distributedresearch.net/status/http-www-actionlogr-com-are-you-logging-enough/
March 7 2012, 6:33am | Comments »
-
I posted to actionlogr.com
Are You Logging Enough Sleep Action?
http://www.actionlogr.com/are-you-logging-enough-sleep-action/
There are various gadgets which attempt to help you log your nocturnal actions while sleeping, some better than others. But why is it so important to get enough quality sleep? This dramatically named “Sleep or Die” infographic examines the the dangers of not getting enough sleep:
Lack of sleep indeed affects both body and mind. Key points made were:
lack of sleep makes you crave salty, fatty foods lack of sleep can make you drive like a drunk lack of sleep makes you more likely to get diabetes, have a heart attack, or increase risk of death
Click the image above for a slightly larger version at: YourLocalSecurity.com
March 6 2012, 12:56pm | Comments »
-
I posted to actionlogr.com
Action Logging Requirements
http://www.actionlogr.com/action-logging-requirements/
Moving Towards an Action Logging Spec An example of the kind of thing that will be helpful for logging actions comes out of a more general discussion about tracking more general events. The sort of thing we may be looking for would allow anyone to track general events such as actions taken, exercise done, food eaten, measurements made or steps taken towards goals. These may be some of the desirable features in any kind of software developed:
Records or data points can be entered via any mobile device App, iPhone or Android etc but also from a desktop or laptop via a web browser. On entry, data types can be selected from a drop down list of previously entered or suggested event types Each event type may have different fields specific to that type. For example, if a button is clicked to enter a ‘running event’, this presents the user with fields to fill in such as distance covered, start time, end time, etc. For a heart rate reading, fields are presented to select after exercise or relaxed plus the pulse rate reading. Users can add their own event types, depending on what types of actions and events they wish to log. Users can then add different types of fields to event types The whole process must be optimised to be as frictionless as possible when logging events. The user’s own data remains theirs and can be exportable in a format which may be used by other apps.
The above outline towards a spec is strongly biased towards the active data collection methodology, with the user having to stop what they are doing and make a positive decision to type or somehow enter data into a device, whereas some people have suggested that passive data collection is the only way to go. Passive data collection may be possible for monitoring some physical attributes which can be detected by sensors, but many types of events of the kind which need to be monitored require the subject to do a certain amount of intellectual interpretation of the event before it can be entered, so there may well be a perpetual need for this kind of database entry approach to action logging.
There’s also going to be a trade-off between flexibility and design for purpose, with the actionlogr app needing to be tailored towards the particular philosophy behind the idea, rather than trying to become an all-purpose event tracking process, but where we end up along that spectrum does not need to be decided at this stage.
- Tags:
- software
- Action
- log
- Philosophy
- Android
- laptop
- Action logging
- Actions
- Logging
- ActionLogr
- logging events
- methodology
- passive data
- sensors
- web browser
December 3 2011, 6:34am | Comments »
-
I posted to distributedresearch.net
ActionLogr User Story Andy http actionlogr co uk…
http://distributedresearch.net/status/actionlogr-user-story-andy-http-actionlogr-co-uk/
ActionLogr User Story Andy http://actionlogr.co.uk/user-story-3-andy/
- Tags:
- andy
- Action
- log
- story
- status
- Logging
- Action Logr
- ActionLogr
November 27 2011, 3:23am | Comments »
-
I posted to actionlogr.com
Action Logging October
http://www.actionlogr.com/action-logging-october/
I’ve been catching by reflecting on my own Action Log for the month of October 2011. Following the trusty old Gibbs Model of Reflection, I gathered the data in and answered the six prompts in order, using a private and distraction-free text editor. We’ll be returning to Gibbs in future posts no doubt but for now here are the rough headlines that structure the reflective model:
What happened? Describing the data How do you feel about it? Deal with the emotions What do you make of it? Analysis What are the implications? Conclusions What next? – Make an Action Plan
The problem I had with the data from my current practice of action logging is probably a common one, that of coping with the different categories of actions. I have recognised in the past that pinning down exactly what constitutes an action for the purpose of action logging and what doesn’t, the question of definition, is something that is inevitably loose and constantly changing. Whatever definition you try to abide by will just have to be revisited on a semi-constant basis. Well the bad news is that the same goes for sub-categories of actions. Over the course of just one month I found that some categories had fallen into disuse, while one or two new ones had popped up mid month. Not only that but my practice of assigning actions to categories had shifted around a fair bit as well. So it is with subjective data. Every morning when I quickly update my action log for the previous day, I may be feeling a greater or lesser sense of urgency, my optimist/pessimist meter may have swung from one side to the other overnight and any judgments that I make on the fly will be swayed by these and other factors. But this is the real world we are working with, and one thing to marvel at in some ways, is the fact that I did manage to keep at it for yet another month, so at least I do have this messy, subjective data of limited accuracy rather than none at all or just a hopelessly skewed impression from medium term memory. I took the three main categories, relating to three quite separate life goals, and reflected on them individually, using the first two as a warm up exercise for the third really, which is the Action Log proper. I’ll try not to bore you with the details but I did pretty well on the fitness front, taking exercise on 29 out 31 days. Yes, I do actually muddle in some basic exercise records alongside my publishing actions, it suits me to do that. I wondered if I should have taken slightly more complete rest days than 2, but I know little about these things at present. I wrote a bit of a reflective splurge about it all too, which makes interesting reading looking back, with a few insights I need to keep at the forefront next month, so I’ll need to extract them from out of the private reflection document and put them somewhere more enduring. Music is on the back ring for a few weeks, but still bubbling away. It’s important to me to keep an eye on that one too, in time for January. =October Action Log=
1) Description Describe as a matter of fact just what happened during your critical incident or chosen episode for reflection.
I continued to record an action log every day during October. It's on the wiki. Mostly I did this in the morning, pertaining to the previous day. As well as Actions - pieces of content published - I also tracked Exercise, Music, and some other URLs to bookmark. I recorded these categories and some others into Joe's Goals as well. The definitions and categories tend to creep as the weeks pass. DATA: 77 actions of one type or another. Self criticising, I would ask - how many are really genuine articles of original content published?
I think 20. So out of 26 working days, only 20 articles. But out of 31 days, 77 actions of some type. 2) Feelings What were you thinking and feeling at the time?
At the time I was mostly feeling that I wasn't getting enough done, but I enjoyed the ritual of updating my action log each morning. Rituals, good habits that stick, are to be nurtured. 3) Evaluation List points or tell the story about what was GOOD and what was BAD about the experience.
It's good to keep it up for a whole month. Good to try to categorise actions, to revisit definitions. But bad to let it slip.
Bad that I still can't count easily the exact number of genuine tight definition actions that have been taken, or unique top quality articles shipped. Bad that I haven't progressed the main project much.
Good that the number 77 is actually higher than I thought it would be. 4) Analysis What sense can you make out of the situation. What does it mean?
It's still hard, I'm struggling with it, but I have by no means given up. The data is sloppy, there's still plenty of potential to become a lot more productive, way more. 5) Conclusion What else could you have done. What should you perhaps not have done.
I could have taken more actions by avoiding the distractions better.
I could have stuck to a strict definition of Actions Taken instead of letting the definition drift.
I shouldn't have introduced the T=Trivial code.
Are URLs and Actions getting mixed up when they shouldn't be, as a result of trying to dual purpose the action log?
Dual purpose as in recording Actions for Action Logging, while also bookmarking URLs for link posting? 6) Action Plan If it arose again, what would you do differently. How will you adapt your practice in the light of this new understanding?
I shall continue Action Logging for November, revising the category codes and the dual purposing ASAP.
- Tags:
- Wiki
- Action
- log
- progress
- habit
- Action logging
- exercise
- Actions
- Gibbs
- gibbs model of reflection
- Goals
- Logging
- Plan
- Rituals
- WriteRoom
November 9 2011, 10:54am | Comments »
-
I posted to actionlogr.com
What is an Action Log?
http://www.actionlogr.com/what-is-an-action-log/
Action Log Back in 2008, I came up with the idea of starting an Action Log. The idea was simply that I would jot down on a daily basis, a list of the actions I had taken. I had it in my mind that by actions, I meant visible external steps, intended to have a positive effect. Something that adds to a movement in the direction I’m headed. For example, publishing a blog post, joining a forum and posting an introduction, tweaking a theme or plugin to improve usability, uploading a picture, publishing a video, leaving a useful comment somewhere, these are all considered to be actions for the purposes of Action Logging. On the other hand, doing google searches, reading RSS feeds (without responding), learning and observing are not considered to be actions. Read more: http://distributedresearch.net/blog/2008/04/29/keeping-an-action-log-for-1st-person-research
May 30 2011, 12:55pm | Comments »
1
