6 Ways to Gamify Your Tasks and Get More Done

Races, point systems, and sticker charts aren’t just child’s play

Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images

When I’m hiking, I secretly race people. I find a fellow hiker, try to beat them to some imaginary finish line, and then either celebrate or sulk at the outcome. My “competitors” are never the wiser.

Before I became obsessed with productivity, I would have thought this was plain weird. Now I recognize that when I create these imaginary races in my head, I’m utilizing gamification to get the most out of my workout.

According to Investopedia, gamification describes “the incentivization of people’s engagement in non-game contexts and activities by using game-style mechanics.” That means making your productivity fun actually helps you get more done.

Gamification can apply to any endeavor: investing, business, parenting, entrepreneurship, and yes, motivating myself on a hike. Here are six ways to use it to get more done.

• Race the clock. I like to see if I can empty the dishwasher in less than five minutes. I set a timer and go to town.
• Create a point system. Did you work out today? 50 points! Did you complete that project for work? 200 points! Keep track, rack them up, and try to beat yesterday’s total. It works for parenting as well. My son earns television minutes for helping out around the house.
• Race yourself. If you know how long it takes you to do something, how’s about trying to do it a little faster the next time. Can you hack your way through emails in record time like a machete-wielding hero of Isle of the Dead?
• Create a reward system. Some car sales companies offer a monetary bonus to the employee with the highest sales of the month. You can follow suit. If you’re working from a point system, you can create a reward system as well. Earn 1,000 points? You get ice cream! 2,500 points? A long, hot bath!
• Challenge a friend. One of my friends is participating in a workplace-wide step challenge. The top three people who log the most steps in a week win a prize. You can do this as well. Ask a friend to old-school-style challenge you to a productivity duel. Or, better yet, put up $20 each and the winner takes the pot.