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How to Structure a Spreadsheet Dataset

You're on the right track with "one row = one moment / fact / opinion / experience." The trick for non-technical folks is: don't start with "any data." Start with a tiny, universal core they can always fill in, then optional columns that depend on what kind of experience it is.

The Rule of Thumb​

Row = one entry. Columns = answers to the same questions every time.

So you give them:

  1. A required "minimum viable dataset" (always the same), and
  2. Plug-in templates (choose 1–2 based on what they're tracking).

1. Minimum Viable Dataset​

These columns are simple, low-friction, and make the sheet usable later:

  • Entry ID (number) – helps reference rows
  • Date (YYYY-MM-DD)
  • Time (optional) (HH:MM)
  • Title / Short label (5–10 words)
  • Description / Notes (free text, what happened / what you think)
  • Type (dropdown: Observation, Event, Opinion, Feeling, Decision, Idea, Question, Feedback)
  • People / Entities (who/what it involved; can be "Me")
  • Location / Context (where / situation; "Home," "Work," "Online," etc.)
  • Tags (comma-separated keywords)
  • Confidence (optional) (dropdown: Low / Medium / High — useful for "facts" vs "impressions")
  • Privacy (dropdown: Public / Private / Sensitive)

If you stop here, you already have a real dataset.

2. Template Columns​

Tell them: "Pick the template closest to your entry. If it doesn't apply, leave blank."

A) Feelings / Mood / Wellbeing​

  • Mood (1–10)
  • Energy (1–10)
  • Stress (1–10)
  • Trigger (what set it off)
  • Coping / Action taken
  • Outcome (better/same/worse)

B) Work / Tasks / Productivity​

  • Project
  • Task
  • Effort (mins)
  • Difficulty (1–5)
  • Blocker (yes/no + note)
  • Result (done/partial/stuck)
  • Next step

C) Learning / Insights / Research Notes​

  • Source (book/article/video/person)
  • Claim / takeaway
  • Evidence / example
  • Question raised
  • How I'll use this
  • Importance (1–5)

D) Customer/User Feedback​

  • User type
  • Channel (email/call/app store/etc.)
  • Problem described
  • Severity (1–5)
  • Frequency guess (rare/sometimes/often)
  • Requested change
  • Quote (optional)

E) Decisions​

  • Decision
  • Options considered
  • Why
  • Tradeoffs
  • Decision owner
  • Revisit date
  • Confidence (1–5)

F) Experiences/Events​

  • Event start / Event end
  • Purpose
  • Highlights
  • Low point
  • Cost (optional)
  • Would I do again? (yes/no + why)

3. Spreadsheet Layout Tips​

For non-technical people, you'll get much better data if you:

  • Put required columns first (left side)
  • Put optional modules to the right
  • Use dropdowns for anything that repeats (Type, Privacy, Severity, etc.)
  • Encourage short text in Title + longer text in Notes

A practical instruction you can give:

"If you don't know what to put, fill Date, Title, Notes, Type, Tags. Everything else is bonus."

4. Column Decision Tree​

  1. What kind of entry is this? (Type dropdown)
  2. If Feeling → fill Mood/Energy/Stress If Feedback → fill Severity/Frequency/Request If Decision → fill Options/Why/Tradeoffs etc.
  3. If it doesn't fit → just use core columns + Tags

This avoids the "blank stare" problem.

People won't choose from 20 templates. A good set:

  1. Universal Experience Log (the core)
  2. Mood/Wellbeing
  3. Task/Work log
  4. Learning/Research notes
  5. Feedback log
  6. Decision log
  7. Event/Meeting notes

6. Advanced: Wide + Long Pattern​

If you truly want "any data," teach them one extra technique:

  • Keep the core sheet as the main log (one row per entry)
  • Add a second sheet called Attributes with columns:
    • Entry ID
    • Attribute name (e.g., "SleepHours", "Price", "Symptom")
    • Attribute value
    • Unit (optional)

That lets them capture weird one-off fields without constantly inventing new columns.