Forming Good Habits

[pdlloyd]

A few days ago, heleninwales mentioned that she uses HabitRPG to help keep her on track with getting things done. Knowing that I'm someone who enjoys games and finds the types of rewards found in games motivating, I have sometimes wondered if there was a way to apply those types of rewards to my real life. Well, it turns out that HabitRPG does just that; it

Comments

[heleninwales]

LOL! I was going to suggest that your post would be perfect for that challenge, but you already know about it. :)

I've been using Habit for 10 months now and it's still working for me. Logically, being able to earn some virtual gold to buy a virtual pixelly sword or click off a task and have some food drop so you can feed a virtual pixelly creature shouldn't have much effect. But I find that it can just tip the balance between saying, "Oh, I can't be bothered, I'll do it tomorrow," and actually taking the few minutes necessary to get the task done.

[pdlloyd]

LOL back at you! I wouldn't have gone public with my decision if it weren't for the challenge, at least not this early in the scheme of things.

I really don't like admitting to my imperfections in public, but dang it, I'm not perfect. Far from it. My difficulty in keeping up with all the things I'm committed to has become a real thorn in my side. On one level, maybe I'm trying to do too much, and if so, having some documentation of this will help me to figure out what needs to go. (*wails* If anything can!) Or, maybe I've just gotten too self-indulgent and it's time to admit it. (Well, yes, I suspect this is true, whether or not I'm trying to do too much.)

As for logic, we aren't logical. As a teen watching Star Trek, I kept wanting to scold Spock for being illogical because he wasn't willing to admit that emotions drive people and denying the obvious is illogical. All those little acknowledgements we get from games are motivators. It's built into by evolution. Do something right, get a prize (you get to eat, or sleep in a cozy

[wild_heart]

I've got some local friends who used Habit for a while and loved it. One move on to more fitness-centric stuff. Not sure about the other.

Whatever works, right? Well done on finding something that works for you!

[pdlloyd]

Thanks! Right now, the only fitness-centric stuff I want to focus on is being consistent about my physical therapy (I have joint problems), but absolutely, whatever works.