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Guide

Self-Experiment Productivity Tracking

A practical workflow for running personal productivity experiments without confusing random variation for a real improvement.

Experiment design checklist
Change one main variable at a time
Use labels so the condition is queryable later
Compare similar weekdays or time blocks
Review coverage before judging the outcome

1. Define the experiment before you start tracking

A productivity experiment should answer a narrow question. Examples: longer morning focus blocks, reduced meetings before noon, or a new break cadence. If the change is vague, the conclusion will be vague.

2. Label the intervention period

Labels make experiments queryable. Instead of asking “did that thing help?”, ask “compare labeled experiment days vs baseline days over the same weekday pattern.”

Useful experiment prompts

  • "Compare my labeled experiment days vs baseline days for active minutes and fatigue."
  • "Summarize whether the experiment changed session consistency, including coverage limits."

3. Treat weak evidence as a signal to collect more data

A weak result is not a failed experiment. It often means the effect is small, the window is too short, or coverage is inconsistent. Ask the AI what extra data would improve confidence before changing your routine again.

FAQ

Related guides

Compare Work Patterns Week Over Week
A week-over-week comparison workflow for work sessions, active minutes, and fatigue using stable baselines.
Fatigue Tracking for Knowledge Workers
Track fatigue patterns during desk work, reduce noisy conclusions, and build a reliable baseline.
How to Measure Focus Patterns
Measure focus using sessions, activity signals, and consistent comparison windows instead of guesswork.
Start your first experiment

Track a 1–2 week change, label it, then run a baseline-vs-experiment comparison with coverage details.