Why Stopping Doing Something Doesn’t Mean You Give It Up

You can always switch to another project game and then come back

I love writing books, especially when I reach the advanced level of this game while writing the later chapters of a book, where the whole concept comes together.

But even then, I realize there are times when I need to take a break from this game and do something else. Once, it was to attend to my then four-year-old daughter’s needs, who has had to stay home from kindergarten with a cold.

Just like when playing fun games, we might be reluctant to do these other things when we are in the flow and enjoying what we are doing. This fight, and thoughts like “I don’t want to do that, I’d rather stay where I am and continue doing my favorite thing” takes you — probably against your expectations — out of your game.

Seeing that without judgment is priceless.

All those various activities in your life, both expected and unexpected, can be both separate self-motivational games and a part of your day-long self-motivational game.

If something unexpected comes up or you notice yourself growing tired of the activity at hand, switch to another game. This other game might be taking a break, looking out of the window, moving around, or doing something completely different.

You can always come back to your — at this point in your life — favorite game. Observe how recharging these smaller games can be, whether they are intentionally planned or come unexpectedly — such as my daughter entering my little home office and asking me to readjust her hairpin.

When switching from one project to another, should you not know what to do next, the following question can help: “Which project or activity game do I want to play now?”

Thank you for reading! This article is a briefly modified excerpt from Self-Gamification Happiness Formula: How to Turn Your Life into Fun Games.

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