How to Gamify Your Life

Co-authored by Sydney Axelrod

Last Updated: May 28, 2021 References

If you struggle to reach your goals and get everyday tasks done, try gamifying your life. With gamification, you can assign points to each task you get done and reward yourself for staying on-track. Productivity doesn't have to be boring. With systematization and imagination, you can level up from mundane to motivated!^{[1]
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Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Accomplishing Your Goals

1
Define your goals and establish a number of points for each one. Your goal should be specific and external so you know when you have reached it. Then, attach a number of points to each goal depending on how important it is to you.^{[2]
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- Instead of "lose weight," for example, you could say, "lose 12 pounds by January." You could then assign "lose 12 pounds by January" 500 points if it is a particularly important goal.
- Try to figure out the "why" behind your goal. For instance, if your goal is to lose weight, your "why" might be to feel more confident, or to feel stronger.^{[3]
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  Expert Source
  
  Sydney Axelrod
  Certified Life Coach
  Expert Interview. 30 June 2020.}
2
Attach small missions to your larger goals. These little goals will help you work towards your big ones. If you want to write a two hundred page book, for example, a daily mission could be "write 1000 words." Break up your larger goal points into increments for each small mission accomplished.^{[4]
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- Your smaller missions for writing a book in one week might be "write 1000 words," "finish the third chapter by next Tuesday," and "edit the first two chapters on Sunday."
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3
Set up a to-do list with various daily "challenges." Schedule your daily goals in advance so you can check them off and tally up your daily points results. If you don't meet all your goals in a single day, don't beat yourself up: just don't give yourself the points for that challenge.^{[5]
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- An example of a daily challenge could be "run three miles in the evening" or "eat a vegetarian meal for dinner," which you might assign twenty points each.
4
Track and record your progress. Measure how close you are to your goal. Write your daily accomplishments in a journal or log your progress in an online planner. Schedule out a time every night to track and compare your progress over time so you don't have to catch all your work up at once.^{[6]
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Set up checkpoints to measure your progress. You might use a weekly counseling session to check in on your goals or you might set some time aside for yourself each week. Compare where you are now to where you ultimately want to be and decide how comfortable you are with your current place.^{[7]
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- Brainstorm more small missions to reach your goals sooner if you are not satisfied with your progress.
6
Reward yourself once you reach a set number of points. If every smaller mission is around 20 points, you might reward yourself at 500 points. Or you might wait until you reach your ultimate goal, however many points that will take. Record your decision in advance so you know when to get the reward.^{[8]
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- Examples of rewards can include: a spa day, date night with your partner, treats from your favorite bakery, new books, fun supplies for you hobby, and so on.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Increasing Productivity

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Make up "mini-games" while you do your chores. Smaller-but-necessary tasks that don't help you accomplish major goals can still benefit from gamification. Anything can become a game if you get creative.^{[9]
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- While doing laundry, for example, you could assign one point for every clothing item you fold and put away. Or you could time yourself while grocery shopping and try finishing as quickly as possible.
2
Install gamification apps to make mundane tasks fun. Apps made specifically for gamification can help you hold to your goals and stay organized while you complete tasks. Some help you complete specific tasks (like jogging, doing chores, or mind games) while others are for general gamification. Try out several gamification apps to find the right one for you.
- Popular gamifying apps include: Habitica, Zombies, Run!, MindBloom, MoodMission, Pact, and ChoreWars.^{[10]
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Collaborate with others instead of working against them. According to the gamification mission, productivity slows the moment you start conspiring against your peers. Instead, treat life like a multiplayer game! Congratulate your friends when they're doing well and help them when they're struggling.^{[11]
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- If you are motivated by rivalry, try competing against yourself or the prospect of failure.
4
Add "loading screen" games to your life. Remember those games (like Snake or Tetris) that pop up on loading screens while you're waiting for the real game? Implement those into your daily routine. Do push-ups during TV commercials or listen to an audiobook while commuting to work. You'll accomplish so much more with your free time, little by little.^{[12]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Establishing Accountability

1
Encourage a friend to gamify their life with you. If you're having trouble with commitment, add a player two. Let your friend know about gamification and ask them if they will set goals with you. You might even set similar (or the same) goals so you can work on them together.^{[13]
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Check in with your friend daily. Set a time every day to call your friend so you both have someone you report to. Tell them about each goal you set aside for today and whether or not you accomplished them. Discuss what went well and what didn't so you can improve for tomorrow.
3
Set up rewards or punishments based on your set goals. You might establish with your friend that if either person doesn't complete their goal, the other gets to watch them do ten push-ups. Or you could say that if you both accomplish your goals, you'll go out for lunch together that week. Decide which is a better motivation and discuss whatever you choose during your daily check in.
- Rewards psychologically motivate people better than punishments in most cases.^{[14]
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Engage in healthy competition with your friend. You and your friend might find this positive reinforcement if you both have a healthy sense of ambition . Add competition to your routines and see who can reach their goals first. So long as you can build each other up and provide support while competing, this can make for compelling motivation.
- If you're both training for a marathon, for example, you could decide that first person to finish a 5K buys the other person new running shoes.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A

Question

How do I create actionable, realistic goals?

Sydney Axelrod
Certified Life Coach
Sydney Axelrod is a certified life coach and the owner of Sydney Axelrod LLC, a life coaching business focused on professional and personal development. Through one-on-one coaching, digital courses, and group workshops, Sydney works with clients to discover their purpose, navigate life transitions, and set and accomplish goals. Sydney has over 1,000 hours of relevant coaching certifications and holds a BBA in Marketing and Finance from Emory University.

Sydney Axelrod

Certified Life Coach

Expert Answer

Ask yourself 3 questions; what will you do, when will you do it, and how will you know? Get really specific and clear on what you're going to do and why you're going to do it. Then, break down your goals into manageable baby steps. Missing the mark on enormous goals can be really discouraging, while setting and achieving small goals is way more motivating.
Question

How can I get the most out of my goals.

Sydney Axelrod
Certified Life Coach
Sydney Axelrod is a certified life coach and the owner of Sydney Axelrod LLC, a life coaching business focused on professional and personal development. Through one-on-one coaching, digital courses, and group workshops, Sydney works with clients to discover their purpose, navigate life transitions, and set and accomplish goals. Sydney has over 1,000 hours of relevant coaching certifications and holds a BBA in Marketing and Finance from Emory University.

Sydney Axelrod

Certified Life Coach

Expert Answer

Try to identify why you want to achieve your goal. Get really clear on the feelings that are motivating your goal, and try to embody those feelings now. So, if you're hoping to lose weight in order to feel more confident, ask yourself what you can do now to embody that feeling of confidence as you work toward your goal.