Gamification – the process of adding games or gamelike elements to something (such as a task) so as to encourage participation(Merriam-Webster).
Life is full of different games and challenges, some fun, some hard. But the feeling of winning or overcoming and conquering a challenge is always motivating. So why not incorporate that into your workouts?
There’s a reason games are so addictive: the gratification from winning is immediate. This same feeling can also easily be applied to a workout. How? Start by adding small attainable goals like running until you hit the next 10-minute mark, or maintaining proper form and challenging yourself to complete one more rep than the last time. This can help keep you going and make working out more fun.
Using apps or fitness technology are also great ways to get moving and crush goals. If you have friends and family using the same products, you get the added benefit of built-in competition. Having a visible scoreboard that ranks everyone’s progress can be very motivating for many people. Competition against yourself is just as motivating, so even using a program that’s only tracking you, or just logging your workouts in a journal lets you see how you can better yesterday’s you.
If the gratification doesn’t work or you find it hard to stay on track when you’re only reporting to yourself, you might need to get a little tougher and find a way to be accountable. Some may find that using social media is a great way to stay accountable, as you can choose your support system so you know you have positive reactions. You can post your goals along with your action plan to ensure you follow through. Having to post on your weekly or daily goals will also allow you to reflect on your progress and what you can be doing differently.
Adding gamification to your workout is a great way to get and stay motivated, but may take some work to figure out what kind of motivation works best for you. Remember to make short and long-term goals for yourself that are attainable.