Sticking to new habits isn’t easy. You know what I mean—starting that gym routine, reading every night, drinking more water. We set these goals and, let’s face it, they often fade after a week or two. But what if you could turn building new habits into a game? Gamifying your routines might sound like something straight out of a self-help book, but trust me, it works.
I’ve used it to make everything from working out to keeping up with projects actually fun, and it’s completely changed the way I approach goals. Here’s how you can make any new habit a game and actually start enjoying the process.
Why Gamifying Habits Works
So, why does gamifying work? It’s all about tapping into that reward-driven part of our brains. According to experts, the process of gamification uses our brain’s love for rewards to build habit loops, simple sequences of trigger, routine, and reward. Think of it like this: when you know you’re going to get something out of doing the thing you don’t really feel like doing, it’s easier to follow through.
Take Duolingo, for example. Miss a day, and you lose your streak. But every time you log in, you’re collecting points, advancing levels, and earning badges. This setup makes it feel less like a chore and more like something you don’t want to break. When I realized I could apply this same system to my own life, things started to click.
Step 1: Set Up Your Habit “Game” with Triggers and Rewards
First things first, let’s talk about setting up your own habit game. Pick a new habit you want to form. Whether it’s working out every morning, reading before bed, or even something like drinking more water, decide on one habit to focus on.
For example, let’s say you want to start reading every night. Your trigger could be setting a specific time (like right before bed) or a place (your favorite chair), and your reward could be giving yourself a few points or “leveling up” each time you finish a chapter. It might feel silly at first, but stick with it—you’ll be surprised how powerful these little rewards can be.
Step 2: Start Tracking Progress to Keep You on the Hook
Here’s where the fun part kicks in—tracking your progress. Keeping score, so to speak, can give you that extra motivation. Think about it like a fitness tracker. I use mine religiously to close those activity rings. It might seem small, but seeing those rings close each day makes me want to keep going. Treating each day as a quest to complete feels satisfying and gives you something to aim for.
Pro Tip: Set up a simple point system. Give yourself points for completing your habit each day, and maybe even a few bonus points if you exceed your goal. If your goal is to drink 8 glasses of water, give yourself a point for each glass. By the end of the day, you’ll be motivated to hit that 8/8 score and keep your streak going.
Step 3: Use “Power-Ups” When Motivation Is Low
There are always days when sticking to a routine feels impossible. That’s when “power-ups” come in handy. It’s a concept I picked up from Gary Hemming, a finance guy who used power-ups to stick to his daily tasks. When he’d feel tired or unmotivated, he’d let himself use a “power-up,” like a longer break or a treat at the end of the day. Think of it like a cheat code you can use when you need that extra push.
I started doing this with my workouts. On days when I don’t feel like running, I give myself a “power-up” and go for a walk instead. It’s a compromise that keeps me moving without totally abandoning the habit. The key is to use these power-ups sparingly, so they actually feel like a reward.
Step 4: Introduce Random Rewards to Keep It Interesting
One trick I love is using random rewards. It’s like getting a mystery prize—you never know when it’s coming, which keeps things interesting. I started this by creating a “reward jar” where I’d toss in little prizes, like a night out, a new book, or a treat. When I completed a streak of my new habit, I’d pull out a random reward. That surprise element makes it way more exciting.
Imagine this: You’re sticking to your reading goal every night, and after a week, you pull a reward from your jar and it’s a movie night. It sounds simple, but it breaks up the routine and keeps you engaged in a way that’s a lot more fun than just checking boxes.
Step 5: Break Down Goals into “Levels”
Building a habit can feel daunting if you’re only focused on the end goal. This is where “leveling up” comes into play. Think of your habit as a game with multiple levels. Let’s say you want to exercise daily. Start with “Level 1,” which might be a short walk each day. After a week or two, bump it up to “Level 2” and add in some strength exercises. By gradually leveling up, you’re making progress without overwhelming yourself.
I’ve found this approach to be a game-changer. When I wanted to start journaling daily, I didn’t go all in from day one. I started by writing just one line each morning. After I got used to it, I leveled up to writing a full paragraph. Each level felt like a little win, which kept me motivated to go further.
Step 6: Make it Competitive with Friends (or Just Yourself)
For those who thrive on a little friendly competition, adding a competitive element can make habit-building way more fun. I did this with a friend when we both wanted to hit 10,000 steps a day. We’d check in every evening to see who hit their goal, and whoever won for the week got a small prize, like a coffee or lunch.
If you don’t have a friend to join you, compete against yourself! Set a target for the week and challenge yourself to beat it. You can even reward yourself if you “win” against your previous best. Trust me, it’s a lot more motivating when there’s a little prize at the end.
Step 7: Use Visuals to Track Your Wins
There’s something satisfying about seeing your progress in a visual way. I’m a big fan of charts and trackers for this reason. Apps like Habitica let you turn habit-building into a game with quests and progress bars, or you can go old-school and use a calendar or chart. Mark off each day you stick to your habit, and you’ll start to see a chain of success you don’t want to break.
I personally love using a physical habit tracker. Every day I complete my routine, I check it off. Over time, those little marks on the page add up, and it’s motivating to see a streak build up.
Step 8: Join a Community for Accountability
Let’s face it—going at it alone can be tough. That’s why joining a community can be incredibly helpful. Whether it’s a group of friends, an online community, or even just sharing your progress on social media, having people to share your journey with adds a layer of accountability. When I wanted to get better at reading, I joined a book club. Knowing I’d be talking about the book with others kept me on track way better than going solo.
Apps like Strava for fitness or Goodreads for reading make it easy to join others who have similar goals. You don’t want to let your group down, and they can encourage you when motivation dips.
Step 9: Give Yourself Measurable Wins Every Day
Breaking your habits into smaller, measurable wins makes each day feel like a victory. For example, if you’re building a habit to drink more water, give yourself a point for each glass. It’s simple, but tracking those wins feels rewarding. Before you know it, you’ll find yourself reaching for that next glass just to hit your “high score.”
I started doing this with my goal to read more. I’d give myself a point for each chapter I finished, and it quickly turned into a competition with myself to see how many I could complete in a week. It sounds small, but these little measurable wins add up and make you feel like you’re getting somewhere.
Make Habit-Building Fun
At the end of the day, gamifying your routines is all about making habit-building fun and less of a chore. By introducing rewards, tracking your progress, and creating levels, you’re tapping into that reward-driven part of your brain that loves to feel accomplished. You don’t need complicated tools or a huge amount of time—just a few small tweaks to make the process more enjoyable.
So, if you’ve got a habit you’ve been meaning to start but just can’t seem to stick with, give gamifying a try. Set up your rewards, track your progress, and maybe even pull in a friend or two for some friendly competition. You might just find that turning it into a game is the secret weapon you needed to finally make it stick.
