In 1972, Washington teacher Robert Shields began recording his life every 5 minutes; by 1997, his diary had reached 37.5 million words

For almost 30 years, Robert Shields meticulously documented every facet of his existence, utilizing six typewriters to ensure uniformity in his writing. His impressive archive comprises around 37.5 million words, which are set to remain sealed until 2057. Despite some psychologists labeling his journaling habits as counterproductive, his dedication to self-tracking is undeniable.