You’ve tried the Pomodoro technique. You’ve tried time-blocking. You have even tried the classic analog to-do list. But, you still aren’t able to be productive enough. There’s just something missing.

If that sounds like you, perhaps it’s time to tap into the power of gamification on productivity.

What is Gamification?

According to Gartner, gamification is “the use of game mechanics and experience design to digitally engage and motivate people to achieve their goals”.

Some of the best gamification examples are Pokemon go, Starbucks Rewards, or Nike+ Run Club. Other popular apps that gamify learning are Duolingo, Memrise, Yousician, and Tinycards.

However, it’s important to note that gamification doesn’t have to be digital. For example, when you go to a cafe and collect stamps on a loyalty card in order to get a free beverage, you are experiencing gamification that is not digital.

What are Game Mechanics?

The key to gamification is using game mechanics to help amplify motivation and become more productive.

Here are some examples of game mechanics in gamification:

Goals - the task that needs to be completed in order to receive the reward

Status - a rank or level that is achieved by users as they complete activities. Often leaderboards list the ranks of users, which inspire users to work harder and rank higher.

Community - groups of users that work together to achieve an outcome.

Rewards - something the user receives to fuel the user’s motivation. Rewards can be in the form of points, badges, discounts, coupons, or gift cards.

How to Gamify Learning for yourself

While gamification sounds complicated, it can be quite simple to gamify the goals in your life.

All you need to do is set specific tasks and ensure you receive some sort of reward once you achieve your goal. For example, if you want to get better grades, you can gamify learning. Set a specific goal, such as reading a chapter a day. Then, give yourself a reward for achieving this goal, like 5-minutes of Youtube watchtime.

Why does Gamification work?

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Gamification taps into both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. For example, if you want to write a book to feel accomplished, gamification helps you focus on your goals and feel accomplished, while also offering external rewards along the way to keep you motivated.

Makes Achieving Success Addicting

Another reason gamification works so well is because it makes achieving your goals addicting. Every time you receive a reward, your brain releases dopamine. Dopamine is the ‘feel good’ hormone that is highly addicting. Hence, achieving your goals, whether it is working out every day or reading 10 pages of a new book, becomes increasingly easier.

Makes Learning Fun

Rather than staring at drab textbooks or trying to make sense of endless black-and-white text, gamification makes learning fun. This motivates learners to engage with the content and absorb the content a lot faster and deeper than otherwise.

Conclusion

Let’s face it, working towards any goals is not easy. It requires mental energy, and it can often be tiresome. By offering extrinsic motivation through rewards, and by making learning and working fun, gamification has an edge over other productivity techniques. So the next time you feel like you are in a slump, try gamifying your to-do list! You might be surprised at the power that a little fun has on your productivity levels.