Boost Your Productivity with GAMIFICATION: The Perfect Reward System

Discovering Joy and Inspiration While Pursuing Your Goals

Introduction to Gamification

In childhood times we loved to play video games. Some of us were more fans of street games, but many boys, especially when accessing a computer with the installed GTA or Need for Speed games, were full of enjoyment then.

I remember those times pretty well, with tears and a smile. It was so amazing! At that time, the most exciting thing was that we had many different missions and tasks inside the game, and we accomplished them with great pleasure.

Some friends woke up one day before school to play Sims or Skyrim. But if we look closer to those games in all of them, we had some tasks and issues to solve. We didn’t need any external motivation to play them.

Later we stopped playing games and started living real life with many projects, habits, and other staff. And right now, most people are looking for motivation to continue working on their team.

Recently I have learned about gamification, the system many giant companies use worldwide to engage their employees and make the work interesting for them.

I have learned different ways and discovered articles and videos on YouTube. And we can convert our life into a game. No jokes! We can integrate the same missions with achievements into our lives and stay engaged in all processes.

I leave a short outline below to simplify the process of reading this article for you.

Outline

1. Understanding of Gamification
2. Octalysis Framework
3. Accomplishing Your Goals
4. Increasing Productivity
5. Establishing Accountability
6. Rewards System

So, let’s deep dive into it and convert our life into a game!

Understanding of Gamification

First, we must learn how games work, engage, and motivate us to accomplish all tasks we receive on the menu.

Almost all computer, console, or mobile games worldwide have the following mechanics to keep us engaged.

• Level
• Stats & Skills
• Achievements
• Points

Simply every game has a character that you play with. We associate ourselves with the character because we appear in another reality when we deep dive into the game.

At this point, the main character is our most important thing. We see its skills, achievements, level, equipment, and amount of coins to improve our hero.

If we want to be able to beat a giant monster in the game, we need to have a stronger character. After some gameplay, every game increases its difficulty, and then to accomplish any tasks, we need to boost our hero. It looks very similar to our life.

We want to try different skins, equipment, vehicles, guns, and everything else the main character can use. Because if the game allows us to use something better, why shouldn’t we do it?

That’s why we appear in the infinitive loop. We want to improve our character. If you’re going to do this, then you need to play and earn more coins, experience, open new skills, etc. And then you can get a boost. The cycle repeats again and again. And the whole story opens to you, where you can interact with everything.

Also, it’s not only what motivates us to play more. We have an exciting story where we are the main character. It’s like a movie but with the ability to make decisions. Taking risks isn’t as scary as in real life; that’s why we can try everything.

Octalysis Framework

To implement gamification into our lives, we can apply the following framework. I have recently found it in the book that you can read if you’d like to dive deep. Or just read the following paragraphs to find actions and principles you can apply.

1. Epic Meaning & Calling

The most important part of this framework is to find a broader meaning and purpose for your goal. Do you want to help humanity? Do you see a solution for some particular group of people?

Find the real purpose of your goals, projects, and habits. It will be the most valuable motivational engine during your journey.

2. Development & Accomplishment

In the games, we have quests and see their difficulties. If we have enough resources, we can accomplish them without any trouble. Otherwise, we need to finish easier ones, and then we can move forward with better skills and equipment.

The same approach works in our daily life. If you see a complex task you can’t accomplish, find resources and external help to deal with it. Otherwise, concentrate on the staff that you can do.

3. Empowerment of Creativity & Feedback

Be creative. Look for different ways to solve your problem. Even if it’s elementary, train your brain, and look for other solutions. It will help you in the future.

Also, always looking for ways to make it better, quicker, and with better quality. Can you automatize some steps and processes?

4. Ownership & Possession

Keep control over your actions. Remember that you are the main character in your game, and all decisions only rely on you.

You can upgrade your skills and get more resources. It’s all about yourself and your zone of ownership.

There are three types of ownership:

• Ownership of the outcome
• Ownership of the process
• Ownership of the belief

The first one we can ignore. Not totally, but let me explain why. We can’t control the outcome of our actions because it depends not only on us. Too many different factors can affect it.

For two other points, we have the whole ownership over the process. We can control our actions and all decisions.

On the other hand, we also have the same level of control over our thoughts and beliefs. Only we make decisions and actions, and the whole wheel starts spinning around.

5. Social Influence & Relatedness

We will be more motivated if other people are engaged in this process. The more other people take action on something more we see value for ourselves. And again, same as in the first point, we need to be able to help other people and see the broader purpose.

If your friends visit a sports club, it is much easier for you to join them. Same works in many other areas. So, if you are alone in some action, enter your friend.

6. Scarcity

Discover the precise value of the daily results you receive. First, we must understand that we get more experience and learn new things.

If we do sports, our bodies receive better shapes and become healthier. Find unique values in outcomes from your actions.

7. Unpredictability & Curiousity

Often we are afraid of this feeling. But when everything is clear, and our days look similar, we lose the sense and scent of life.

Be open to everything that your life gives to you. I have found one great piece of advice you can also apply. Instead of saying I have to, say I get to. You got an opportunity to read this article, but you don’t have to do it.

8. Loss & Avoidance

Remember that your actions bring you results and outcomes. At the same time, if you do something, you will retain all the opportunities and results you could receive.

If you are afraid that your action will bring you to loss, remember that any action will give you experience and knowledge, and it’s the most valuable thing in your life.

If you want to understand this framework better, watch the following video.

Accomplishing Your Goals

There are different tools and ways to implement gamification into your life. And if you already have some particular goals, then you take the following steps to accomplish them faster.

1. Define your goals and establish several points for each one
2. Attach small missions to your larger goals
3. Set up a to-do list with various daily “challenges”
4. Track and record your progress
5. Set up checkpoints to measure your progress
6. Reward yourself once you reach a set number of points

To summarise this method, you must split your goal or task into smaller chunks and add them to your daily to-do lists. Then set the difficulty and number of points for each job you will receive after accomplishing it.

Set checkpoints when you understand that you have already passed 10%, 20%, and 50% of your road. And record all your progress, and take advantage of every chance to increase your points.

Then you can (you must) reward yourself. Write a list of gifts, or any time you have accomplished something, make a small party for yourself. Make whatever you think will make you feel happy.

Increasing Productivity

Sometimes we have another situation. We already have a detailed plan, but we get into trouble with our productivity because of procrastination or lack of motivation.

You can apply the following steps to deal with this problem.

1. Makeup “mini-games” while you do your chores
2. Install gamification apps to make mundane tasks fun
3. Collaborate with others instead of working against them
4. Add “loading screen” games to your life

For example, when you see an advertisement on TV, do some push-ups or squats. Or, if you are moving to your work, listen to audiobooks on your phone.

To make gamification easier, you can install the following mobile apps.

Some of them are listed below:

• Habitica
• Mind Bloom
• Chore Wars
• Mood Mission
• Pact

Establishing Accountability

Now we are responsible for improving your habits, skills, progress on your project, etc. And to make this process easier, we need some external help. Our friends, relatives can play a significant role in this.

By the way, we can engage them in our entertainment if they want. Otherwise, ask for help and set some conditions if you fail or leave your road, then what you must do.

You can apply the following steps to establish accountability.

1. Encourage a friend to gamify their life with you
2. Check-in with your friend daily
3. Set up rewards or punishments based on your set goals
4. Engage in healthy competition with your friend

Rewards System

It’s the most essential part of this topic. Remember to feed your inner monkey, especially if you are the most productive person in the world!

Buy some gifts, clothes, and gadgets for yourself. Because if you have accomplished something big, earned money, got a great shape. Remember who you need to say thank you to!

You can apply a significant portion of discipline for yourself. But remember that as an employee, you need special treatment as well, and your soul and body wait for the bonuses the same way people wait for them in big companies for their effort.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. We highly recommend watching our video and reading our guide on gamification.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.