## While our forebears depended on their senses to judge their well-being, we increasingly turn to gadgets.

Nowadays, if you have enough curiosity, you can track your heart rate, step count, exercise intensity, and sleep quality—often all on one sleek device.

In the best scenarios, these devices create a connection between what you feel subjectively and what you can measure objectively. This is generally a really impressive and fascinating development.

Our subjective feelings and evaluations are significant, but they’re not always the most trustworthy. We humans simply lack the ability to quantify our experiences and behaviors with cold accuracy.

Consider, for instance, a colleague of mine. He thought he was eating within a tight caloric range, but through diligent tracking, he discovered he was consuming an extra 500 Calories daily—in barbecue sauce. However, some individuals are better at this than others.

Ben Johnson, the Canadian sprinter, was said to estimate his 100 meter time within a tenth of a second of the stopwatch reading.

That’s exceptional performance, to clarify, but it still leads to pondering:

### How skilled are you at self-assessment?

And, how can you enhance your precision through the smart use of technology—such as fitness trackers—to make better health decisions?

In the subsequent article, we’ll explore the above, and we’ll delve into:

– **How accurate are data trackers** in the first place?
– **When is tracking beneficial?** (And when is it not?)
– Can you train yourself to **assess things more accurately by feel?**

Let’s dive in.

## First, how precise are data trackers, really?

**Not all data is equal.**

Some brands create superior products than others. This involves not only hardware but also the quality of their software and datasets.

Moreover, not all metrics are equally straightforward to quantify.

For instance, heart rate and step-count statistics are typically reliable, but many other outputs—from calories burned to movement speed—have considerable margins for error.

The chart below illustrates the reliability of various tracking devices.

(If you’re interested, we discuss the accuracy of different progress indicators in greater detail here: **[Are Fitness Trackers Worth It?](https://www.precisionnutrition.com/are-fitness-trackers-worth-it)**)

## Next, when is tracking genuinely useful?

The positive aspect: Tracking devices provide us with more data regarding our behaviors and bodies than ever before.

The negative aspect: Tracking devices provide us with more data regarding our behaviors and bodies than ever before.

“What’s particularly striking,” remarks Samantha Kleinberg, a computer scientist who investigates decision-making, “is that even a small amount of extra information can significantly hinder our decision-making.”

That’s the irony of tracking: **Insufficient detail complicates making the right choice, but excessive detail does too.**

This can be represented as an inverted U, with the optimal point at the peak of the curve.

### Nowadays, it’s surprisingly easy to have an overload of information.

Consider the analysis paralysis you experience after reviewing countless ratings from various taco joints in your area. (All you wanted was a good *el pastor*, but now you’re uncertain which *taqueria* to choose!)

Finding just the right amount of information to drive good decisions is an art—especially in health and fitness, where it appears everyone is attempting to outshine one another in providing more science, more customization, and more intricacy.

But when all that data begins to merge without a clear direction, what’s the next step?

To begin with, you can pose a straightforward question to yourself:

**Does tracking enhance my wellbeing and performance?**

If the answer is a definitive yes or no, you know how to proceed. (Either continue tracking as before, or abandon the gadget and move on.)

If you’re somewhat unclear, here are three indicators to observe that can help you determine if tracking is advantageous—or not.

## Sign #1: Tracking is alleviating your stress and affirming your method(s).

When Zak’s coach extolled the virtues of zone 2 cardio, it seemed rational. But when Zak hit the pavement, he questioned everything. Zak took pride in his ability to push through, and simply didn’t believe that something that *felt* effortless could also be effective.

However, the data proved otherwise. As weeks passed, Zak witnessed his resting heart rate decrease—along with his recovery time from intense runs. Armed with that reassurance, Zak started to relax about the process—and his resting heart rate continued to drop.

Zak hadn’t believed his feelings, but he *did* trust the data from his heart rate monitor.

By utilizing a tracking device, Zak was able to adjust his perceptions so they aligned more accurately with reality.

If you’re a coach with a client like Zak who’s high performing but