I Track My Health Data in Markdown: Lessons in Digital Longevity
I’ve spent years tracking my sleep, diet, and exercise with apps and wearables. But here’s the problem: when an app gets discontinued or stops syncing, the data—and all the insights—disappear. That’s why I’ve adopted a “file over app” philosophy for health tracking. Instead of relying on apps, I save everything in open, accessible formats like Markdown or CSV. These files are local, portable, and universally readable—ensuring my data outlives any app or platform. Here’s how I do it: • Workouts, meals, and sleep logs go into plain text notes. • Trends and averages (e.g., weekly sleep hours) are calculated in Google Sheets. • Files sync to the cloud (Google Drive) and back up locally. For example, my sleep log might look like this: ### Sleep Log (December 2024) - 12/01: 7.5 hrs (11:00 PM - 6:30 AM) - 12/02: 6 hrs (12:30 AM - 6:30 AM) - Felt tired, adjusted bedtime. - 12/03:
Why it failed
I’ve spent years tracking my sleep, diet, and exercise with apps and wearables. But here’s the problem: when an app gets discontinued or stops syncing, the data—and all the insights—disappear. That’s why I’ve adopted a “file over app” philosophy for health tracking. Instead of re
- Kind
- startup
- Status
- Shut down
- Inventor
- biohackerking
- Ended
- 2024
- Source
- hackernews