Jane McGonigal's idea is to treat challenges and habits the way gamers treat games: as something you choose to play, where obstacles teach you something and failure means another try. Here is how that works for habits.
Who is Jane McGonigal?
McGonigal holds a Ph.D. and has studied the psychology of video gamers. After a debilitating concussion, she used what she knew about games to recover. She turned her life into a game, and that gave her the motivation and strength to work through it.
The gameful mindset
A gameful mindset means facing challenges with enthusiasm and a willingness to keep growing. It has four parts.
Treat habits as games. Think of your habit goals as games you've chosen to play. That puts you in control of your actions and motivations. Be playful and curious about it, and see yourself as the main character in your own story of growth.
See obstacles as chances to learn. Gamers treat obstacles as part of the game. You can treat habit setbacks the same way, as material for improvement. Each one is a chance to level up.
Bounce back from failure. In a game, failing isn't the end. It's a reason to try again with a different strategy. Come back to your habit after a miss with fresh determination, because each setback teaches you something about what works.
Aim for excellence. Gamers don't just finish a game; they chase the high score or the top of the leaderboard. Do your habits as well as your circumstances allow. High standards drive progress.
Applying it to your habits
Three steps help make work feel more like play.
1. Commit to an epic quest. Commit fully to your habit journey. Treat every completed quest, however small, as an accomplishment that earns experience points (XP). Use checkpoints and celebrate milestones. That builds momentum and confidence for bigger challenges.
2. Activate your power-ups. In games, power-ups give an immediate boost. Find activities that lift your mood, energy, and well-being. They can be physical, emotional, social, or mental. Build them into your routine to stay motivated, strengthen your willpower, and make healthy habits more enjoyable.
3. Face the "bad guys." Say "I don't" instead of "I can't" when you talk about your habits. Focusing on what you don't do reinforces your sense of control. This small change in wording can help you push through hard moments and stay on track.
Not a joke
A gameful mindset doesn't make light of serious problems. It's a way to face them with determination and resilience, and to look for what you can learn.
Conclusion
Treat your habits as a game: start the quest, use your power-ups, and handle the "bad guys." Setbacks then become part of the process of growing.
McGonigal holds a Ph.D. and has studied the psychology of video gamers. After a debilitating concussion, she used what she knew about games to recover. She turned her life into a game, and that gave her the motivation and strength to work through it.
The gameful mindset
A gameful mindset means facing challenges with enthusiasm and a willingness to keep growing. It has four parts.
Treat habits as games. Think of your habit goals as games you've chosen to play. That puts you in control of your actions and motivations. Be playful and curious about it, and see yourself as the main character in your own story of growth.
See obstacles as chances to learn. Gamers treat obstacles as part of the game. You can treat habit setbacks the same way, as material for improvement. Each one is a chance to level up.
Bounce back from failure. In a game, failing isn't the end. It's a reason to try again with a different strategy. Come back to your habit after a miss with fresh determination, because each setback teaches you something about what works.
Aim for excellence. Gamers don't just finish a game; they chase the high score or the top of the leaderboard. Do your habits as well as your circumstances allow. High standards drive progress.
Applying it to your habits
Three steps help make work feel more like play.
1. Commit to an epic quest. Commit fully to your habit journey. Treat every completed quest, however small, as an accomplishment that earns experience points (XP). Use checkpoints and celebrate milestones. That builds momentum and confidence for bigger challenges.
2. Activate your power-ups. In games, power-ups give an immediate boost. Find activities that lift your mood, energy, and well-being. They can be physical, emotional, social, or mental. Build them into your routine to stay motivated, strengthen your willpower, and make healthy habits more enjoyable.
3. Face the "bad guys." Say "I don't" instead of "I can't" when you talk about your habits. Focusing on what you don't do reinforces your sense of control. This small change in wording can help you push through hard moments and stay on track.
Not a joke
A gameful mindset doesn't make light of serious problems. It's a way to face them with determination and resilience, and to look for what you can learn.
Conclusion
Treat your habits as a game: start the quest, use your power-ups, and handle the "bad guys." Setbacks then become part of the process of growing.
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