Needfinding
This post is about user experience related to Personal Health Data in which tracking fitness goals was studied interviewing 3 students (One student from Emory University, One student from Georgia Institute of Technology, One student from Georgia State University). I want to thank them all for their patience, and agreeing to be a part of my interview (This post was all thanks to you 3 students).
Summary
The interviews revolved around tracking fitness goals, and exercises that the interviewee participants did in their day-to-day life, and how their expectations changed when it came to fitness as a kid vs now as a University student. The chosen students in the interviews all had varied levels of involvement with different sports covering sports such as Tennis, Rowing, Rock Climbing, and Dance to name a few of their interests. If you were to read just this one paragraph of this post, I want you to take the following sentence following this as the major takeaway from all the interviews I have had with the 3 students. As a kid, fitness was not really the goal of us when we were playing sports, we played them because it was fun, and made us happy, however as we’ve grown up, at one point we did feel the need to track our fitness day-to-day by counting calories we took in, or calories we burned when we exercised but soon realized this made us unhappy, restricted our freedom to be free in living the way we wanted, and then we formed a healthy relationship with ourselves, and fitness and said goodbye to tracking fitness day-to-day, and being obsessed over it. The following parts of this post delves into the details of the interviews with the 3 students, and their current views on fitness tracking goals.
Introduction/Motivation
The main reason that I chose tracking fitness goals as my interview topic is because of the following, Now-a-days everything around us is connected to the internet, and Social media became a natural part of our lives, but with this also came the pressures associated with social media especially when the topic we’re talking about involves fitness. Social media at some point of our lives has an impact on ourselves (the way we look compared to our social group, or other people on social media, and it sometimes creates an unhealthy relationship with ourselves, and our bodies when it comes to fitness). This unhealthy relationship with fitness can affect our day-to-day well being mentally, and physically which is something that we need to take into account very seriously.
General Outline of the Common Questions asked
How important do you think is fitness, and exercise in our day-to-day life in this fast paced world?
How did your point of view change in regards to fitness, and exercise when you were a kid vs now as a University student?
Is there any exercise that you’ve continued doing it since your childhood?
Does your school have good fitness centers?
How do you feel about the fitness tracking devices, and did you ever measure your fitness tracking goals?
(For students having somewhat negative opinion on fitness tracking goals, and devices, the following follow up question was asked)
When did your point of view change when it came to fitness tracking goals?
If given a chance, Is there anything you’d like to change about these fitness tracking goals, and devices?
How is your relationship right now with fitness, and yourself?
Student 1
Student 1 is a student at Emory University studying medicine, we were asked to maintain the confidentiality of the students involved in the interview, so, only a voice recording of the interview took place. The interview was conducted at Clairmont Reserve, I’m attaching the following picture as to where the interview was conducted.
Student 1 was recruited at the apartment I live in, He was a very interesting person, plus studying medicine made Student 1 as an interviewee much more memorable in the interview that followed. He was chosen as I asked around every person I was able to find at my apartment if they’re open for an Interview, and he was kind enough to accept the Interview.
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The interview started with asking student 1 about the importance of exercise in our day-to-day life leading to fitness. Student 1 was of the view that exercise is an important aspect of our day-to-day life, as it makes us feel happy, and also gets us to being in good fitness. He played Tennis as a kid, and also continued playing it until now, Tennis is something he really enjoys, and tries to play it at least 3–4 times a month with his friends at Emory. He also did Rowing, and still continues to do it till today, talking to him for a few minutes I understand that He really values fitness, and exercise in his life a lot. He loves that Emory has 2 well equipped fitness centers, at Woodpec, and Saac that he loves to use them time to time with his friends, and something that makes him happy.
Surprises in the Interview
The following were the surprises that I encountered while interviewing student 1, When asked about if there was any significant difference when an exercise which is less strenuous that is done in a consistent way when compared to a more strenuous sport such as tennis when it comes to fitness, he mentioned that as long as it’s done in the right way, it’s more or less the same. When asked about if he uses any fitness tracking app, or fitbits, he mentioned that he doesn’t use them because the numbers, and the calories burned, or consumed that was tracked by fitness apps would inversely increases the stress (Fitness through exercise should make you happy, life is already stressful, why add another stress through these fitness tracking apps). He also mentioned that as long as he has a general idea of what he is consuming, and how long he has been working out, he is more than happy with his fitness.
Contradictions in the Interview
Although he was of the view that fitness tracking apps were bad, and that it increases the stress, or negative feelings looking the numbers, he did mention that he looks at the steps taken daily (but that was because his Iphone keeps track of the steps taken, and it is not something as serious as counting every single calorie, so I guess a minor contradiction). Although he did mention that tracking fitness isn’t really helpful everyday, he said it’d be an exception for athletes, or someone who’s too invested in the fitness field.
Interesting points in the Interview
As a student studying medicine, he did mention that being fit, and doing different sports, it helps release of good hormones like serotonin that makes us feel good, but if we’re too stressed or obsessed with the fitness tracking goals all the time, what good a fitness goal does when it’s mixed with constant anxiety over how many calories we burnt, and how many we consumed every moment of our everyday life.
Tensions in the Interview
The major tension was, Is fitness tracking goals good, or bad for an individual, and student 1 opinion depends on the individual we are talking about. It could be good, or bad the way an individual sees it, and interprets it in their life. He tried to strike a right balance by trusting his instincts on when to exercise, when to stop, and not worrying too much about the calorie intake and having a good judgment on things he did.
Inferences from the Interview
Student 1 has a healthy relationship with fitness, and his body (physical, and mental well-being), and that he knows when to stop exercising (not pushing too far, and stopping when his body says no), and also knows when to have a delicious meal without having a care about calorie count once in a while.
Conclusions
I really enjoyed this interview a lot, It made me see, that even as a student studying medicine, fitness tracking goals have more or less the same impact on their day-to-day life as ours.
Empathy Map
Student 2
Student 2 is a student at Georgia Institute of Technology, we were asked to maintain the confidentiality of the students involved in the interview, so, only a voice recording of the interview took place. The interview was conducted at the library of Georgia Tech. He was with his friend from Georgia State University when I asked them both for an interview. He was recruited when I was asking every student if they’re free to give an interview at Georgia Tech Library, and around it’s neighboring areas. I’m attaching the following picture as to where the interview was conducted. He was chosen because he was kind enough to agree to the Interview (I had asked upwards of 10 students by this point, most of them said they were busy, or have a class to attend, or they’re going out with their friends, and those who did agree backed out when I mentioned the time that It’d take for the Interview).
Student 2 was of the view that exercise is not only important for physical fitness, but it’s most important benefit is of mental health, especially for students who feel stressed, and exercise can be a way to make us active, not just for fitness, but mentally as well. When asked about if he enjoys going to gym for fitness, he mentioned that gym can sometimes be boring for him, saying that one week or two, it’s fine, and after that it become the same thing over and over again, so, he prefers Rock Climbing to be a better substitute to gym for his fitness. When asked about the sports he played as a kid for fitness, he mentioned, he played Football, Diving, and Track, and then he transferred to a school where sports was not a big thing, and as a University student, he didn’t really involve himself a lot when compared to as a kid.
Surprises in the Interview
Even though the Student was most involved in sports for fitness as a kid, he still enjoyed doing exercises for fitness whenever he has a chance to as a University student. Even though he agreed that tracking fitness might not be a good idea, and that social media has a negative impact on sometimes making an individual feel this way about fitness, he still sees fitness tracking apps as the way they’re supposed to be without any contradiction.
Contradictions in the Interview
When asked about tracking fitness through apps, or fitbits, the student mentioned that he doesn’t like the whole idea behind these numbers, and tracking calories. He mentioned doing that kind of decreases his motivation to do an exercise for fitness, but however he did mention that seeing his apple watch fill out the rings for different physical activities when he does them makes him feel happy. Even though he felt that keeping track of fitness was not good for oneself especially to appease others, he still thinks that tracking fitness isn’t necessarily a bad thing for some students if exercise is the one that they care about the most (It’s a different case for them those who wants to exercise more for fitness).
Interesting points in the Interview
He mentioned that he got rid of most of his social media apps in the recent weeks since it was effecting him a little in a negative way. He also mentioned that Georgia Tech has very good facilities for exercises for fitness, the University has a Olympic sized swimming pool, diving (which he still loves to do but not as often as he did as a kid), and rock climbing as well. He said that his perspective on exercise changed as he grew older, in his childhood, he was into exercise a lot as it was a happy thing for him to do, but as a University student, he doesn’t really have that much of a free time to do exercise for fitness since classes, and other responsibilities take his priority, but still manages to do it often and consistently whenever he can since it helps with his mental health. He tries to switch exercises for fitness to not get himself bored with the same exercises over and over again, he loves rock climbing now a lot because it has many different routes and it’s interesting to solve them.
Tensions in the Interview
The major tension revolved around social media apps (He said he deleted them as they negatively impacted a little in his life), but he did mention that although fitness tracking goals could be bad in one way in his life, maybe for other individuals, it’s not the same case as him.
Inferences from the Interview
Student 2 despite his busy schedule of classes at Georgia Tech still enjoys fitness, and tries to hit the gym whenever he can for his fitness.
Conclusions
He’s still learning to build a routine to integrate exercise in his day-to-day life for his fitness because of his busy schedule as he is about to graduate, but once he has more free time, he’s going to do it more often I believe.
Empathy Map
Student 3
Student 3 is a student at Georgia State University, we were asked to maintain the confidentiality of the students involved in the interview, so, only a voice recording of the interview took place. The interview was conducted at the library of Georgia Tech as well, She was with her friend from Georgia Tech when I asked them both for an interview. She was recruited when I was asking every student if they’re free to give an interview at Georgia Tech Library, and around it’s neighboring areas. I’m attaching the following picture as to where the interview was conducted. She was chosen because she was kind enough to agree to the Interview (I had asked upwards of 10 students by this point, most of them said they were busy, or have a class to attend, or they’re going out with their friends, and those who did agree backed out when I mentioned the time that It’d take for the Interview).
Student 3 is of the view that she mainly does exercise because it gives endorphins which makes her feel good, and does mostly for her mental health as well like all 3 of the students I interviewed, but also for the physical fitness as she wants to feel better at having a good fitness in her life. She feels like, it can sometimes be a burden to find time for fitness since as a University student, she’s more busy with her responsibilities involving her study, and work. She loves to dance as an exercise for fitness, and also that it makes her happy, and she has been doing this since her childhood and something that she loves a lot.
Surprises in the Interview
She mentioned that one of the reasons she got into fitness, and exercises is because of social media. She said that on seeing all those posts on social media, she felt like she wanted to be as fit as them as well, but realized that it’s toxic when we start comparing ourselves to other people on social media and trying to do something just because someone does it and not because we want to do it. She now feels like, not paying too much attention to numbers would be a good thing in fitness, it’s more like I want to work out, and it makes me happy doing so kind of mindset.
Contradictions in the Interview
She mentioned that she has to find time for her fitness which sucks because it either means she has to give up her mornings (getting up early isn’t really fun), or evenings, but on the other hand also mentioned that it is worth it, the sacrifice and making time for fitness in her daily lifestyle.
Interesting points in the Interview
She mentioned that when she first started working out, she kept track of her fitness, and what she was eating, the calories and count, but soon found out that it was damaging her relationship with fitness and that it didn’t work out for her keeping track of fitness. As long as she’s feeling happy, that’s the only thing that matters to her the most right now. She said her point of view on fitness changed when she became a little obsessed about it, like when she would miss a workout session, and it made her feel like she missed something important that she shouldn’t have, or when she ate food, and she was conscious of the calories she was putting in, that’s when she realized she needed to change her mindset, and to evaluate herself going forward as to what her opinion on fitness really means to her. She also feels that if a same routine is followed for fitness most days, she would feel dreadful to follow it since it kind of gets repetitive at that point in her life. If given a chance, she wants to have fitness tracking apps provide an option where users can just do exercises (like I did cardio, I ran, I did this, I did that) without having numbers associated with them.
Tensions in the Interview
The major tension revolved around being obsessed with fitness tracking goals, and how it might damage one’s happiness in the long run, and how she recognized this in her life, reevaluated her point of view and changed her lifestyle in regards to fitness tracking where she now has a healthy relationship with fitness, and herself.
Inferences from the Interview
She was once a little obsessed from the fitness tracking like most of us some point of our lives, but soon realized that a healthy relationship is what is needed when it comes to fitness, and changed her point of view from that moment on.
Conclusions
She mentioned that she’s a little shy person, and that she doesn’t want to go to the fitness center if it’s too crowded, and she’s trying to make more time for fitness in her lifestyle.
Empathy Map
Questions I had after interviewing all 3 students
Most students do like to involve fitness in one form or other in their day-to-day life, but the way they feel about fitness tracking goals differs a lot, a common negative sentiment about fitness tracking goals was found among all 3 students that I interviewed, Is it because everyone at one point in their life reaches a point where they just want to do away with the numbers associated with fitness, keeping track of calories, and just do their exercises and be happy about it?
Students that I interviewed seemed to have gone through a phase of their life where they kept track of fitness tracking goals before coming to terms with it, and having a healthy relationship with fitness and not associating any numbers. Does everyone go through this point in their life?
Two of the participants said they had a negative view of social media in particular, and that social media was one of the reasons they started being consious about what they ate, and their fitness tracking goals. Does social media, and fitness tracking goals negatively impact some students?
Initial assessment of “needs” and “insights”
The initial “needs” and “insights” I wanted to get out from these interviews were to see how the students experience was with fitness tracking goals.
The big insight was that, even though all of them agreed that fitness is important in one’s day-to-day life, the way they tracked their fitness goals was very different, It was mostly their instincts rather than numbers that they relied on from fitness apps or fitbits, they knew when to exercise, what to keep track of in their fitness for them to feel happy, and that was something they valued the most.
Overall Conclusion
I agree with them 100%, fitness tracking goals differ from person to person, and how they see it, As long as one is happy, and making right judgement (even changing their opinions once they found out that the opinion they had in the past no longer holds valid), I think it’s what matters the most, and truly makes you happy.
