Gamify!
An under-considered key to motivation and productivity
If you’re having trouble motivating yourself, want to try gamifying? After all, that’s why the AppleWatch gives eye-candy rewards for achieving goals from steps to sleep.
Examples:
How much of that report can you finish by lunchtime?
How long do you estimate it will take to clean that corner of your messy room or desk? Set a timer. Can you beat the clock?
You know you should call that person but you procrastinate. Do it and you give yourself a healthy or not-so-healthy treat.
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Want to spend less and save more? How about reducing this month’s credit card bill by, say, $50 and then buying a share of your favorite stock? Watch it go up…hopefully.
Want to lose weight? How about, without increasing portion size, this coming meal, leaving one bite on your plate, next meal, two, and so on? Want to chart it, whether for yourself or your friends, perhaps on social media? Or for each day you lose a half-pound, put a mini sticker on your wall calendar?
Want to cut down on your substance use, alcohol or otherwise? Let’s say your danger time is after work but before dinner. Each time you make it to dinner without being under the influence, give yourself something, for example, listen to your favorite song.
Want to get to bed earlier? How about having something pleasant waiting for you in the bed? Yes, it could be a person but it could be something that doesn’t require cooperation, for example, that book, magazine, or mail-order catalog you like.
You want to improve your basketball shooting. Want to see if you can make 7 of 10 free throws, opposite-handed layups, or jump shots from 15 feet? Or commentate: Pretend you’re in the last minute of a big game, you imitate your favorite announcer doing the play-by-play and you’re the star who’s doing the aforementioned.
As always, nothing works all the time but is there at least one of those gamifiers you’d like to try or, if you already use one, use more often?
I read this aloud on YouTube.
Marty enjoys gamifying. Currently, he’s seeing if he can relax more when driving by saying “oops” to himself, each time he unnecessarily makes driving more stressful — like driving more than 10 miles over the limit. You can reach career and personal coach Marty Nemko at mnemko@gmail.com
