Glossary

Subjective Proxy

Updated February 28, 2026

A subjective proxy is a self-reported metric used to track physiological or psychological states that are difficult to measure directly with consumer hardware, such as perceived energy, deep focus, mood, or joint comfort.

In Unfair's tracking system, subjective proxies are essential for evaluating the success of nootropic, adaptogenic, and quality-of-life supplement stacks where blood tests or wearable data cannot capture the primary outcome.

Best practices for subjective tracking

Because subjective proxies are vulnerable to placebo expectancy and daily mood fluctuations, consistency is key:

1. Standardize the scale: Use a consistent 1-5 or 1-10 rating system every time you log.
2. Standardize the timing: Log the subjective state at the same time every day (e.g., rating "morning energy" strictly at 9:00 AM).
3. Use anchors: Clearly define what a "1" vs. a "10" means for you personally to reduce rating drift over time.

While objective data is preferred, systematic tracking of well-defined subjective proxies over a 4-8 week window is the most reliable method for evaluating cognitive and mood-targeting stacks.