How to Make Boring Things Fun

Aug 3 (edited) in Self Improvement & Motivation

The secret to sustainable productivity is making the things we're trying to do a little more fun. Think about it, when we’re having fun, productivity takes care of itself! We don't have to worry about forcing ourselves with discipline, grit, or willpower, those things only come into play when we’re not enjoying what we’re doing.

The problem is that some things are just inherently boring. We all have stuff we have to do, even if it's not exactly a thrill ride. But what if we could make even those boring things fun? That’s where gamification comes in.

Now, gamification isn’t just about slapping points and badges onto everything. It’s been around for a while, and companies like Amazon use it to get their workers to, well, work more. But there’s a way to use gamification to make our lives more fun, especially when it comes to those tasks we’d rather avoid.

Think about video games, nobody has to play them. Yet people spend hours upon hours leveling up their characters, completing quests, and building virtual empires. It’s crazy! Even after a long day of school, we’ll choose to play video games instead of relaxing or, you know, doing homework.

So, how do video games manage to make boring stuff so engaging? That’s the question Yu-kai Chou, a gamification expert and author of Actionable Gamification, answers with his Octalysis Framework. He identified eight core drivers that video games use to motivate players, and if we understand these drivers, we can reverse-engineer them and apply them to our own lives!

1. Epic Meaning and Calling

This is all about feeling like you’re part of something bigger than yourself. Imagine playing a game where you’re the chosen one, destined to save the world. Pretty motivating, right?

Think about the stories in epic games like "The Legend of Zelda" or even "Fortnite." We get hooked because we feel like our actions have meaning, like we're on a mission to achieve something awesome.

In real life, this could mean connecting your schoolwork to a bigger purpose. Like, yeah, studying for a history test might seem boring, but what if you’re learning about the past so you can create a better future? What if you’re studying political science so you can be a leader who makes a real difference?

Yu-kai says, "Epic Meaning & Calling is the core drive that is in play when a person believes they are doing something greater than themselves and/or were 'chosen' to take that action."

Challenge: Think about the ONE thing you wrote down earlier that you want to incorporate into your life. How can you connect it to a bigger purpose?

2. Development and Accomplishment

We love that feeling of progress, that sense of achievement that comes from leveling up our skills. Video games are masters at this, think about the satisfaction of gaining experience points, unlocking new abilities, or conquering a difficult challenge.

This translates directly to real life! Authors track their word count, artists track their progress on a painting, and even athletes track their performance at the gym. They’re making their progress visible and celebrating those small wins along the way.

I’m a big fan of to-do lists for this reason. It’s weirdly satisfying to cross something off my list, and it helps me stay motivated when I’m facing a mountain of homework.

Here's how Yu-kai describes it: "Development & Accomplishment is our internal drive for making progress, developing skills, achieving mastery, and eventually overcoming challenges." The key word here is challenge, a meaningless trophy isn't going to motivate anyone. It's about pushing ourselves and seeing the results of our efforts.

Challenge: Think about that one thing you want to start doing. How can you make your progress more visible? What tiny milestones can you celebrate?

3. Empowerment of Creativity and Feedback

Think about the games that keep you engaged for hours, they often involve creativity and feedback! They let you experiment, try new strategies, and figure things out on your own. It’s about feeling empowered, not just following a set path.

Games like Minecraft, Elden Ring, or even those puzzle games. They can be creative and see the results of actions instantly.

We can use this in school too. Maybe flashcards work for one subject, but for another, you need to create mind maps or teach the concepts to a friend. Experiment! Find what works best for you, not just what the textbook says.

Remember that one thing you want to stop doing? Often, it’s something we procrastinate on because we don’t see the immediate rewards. Shorten those feedback loops! Test yourself regularly, create challenges with friends, or ask for feedback from teachers. The quicker we see the results of our efforts, the more motivated we’ll be.

Yu-kai calls this “Empowerment of Creativity & Feedback”. He says, “People not only need ways to express their creativity, but they need to see the results of their creativity, receive feedback, and adjust in turn. This is why playing with Legos and making art is intrinsically fun.”

Challenge: How can you shorten the feedback loops in your studies? How can you get creative with your approach to learning?

4. Ownership & Possession

There’s something satisfying about owning something whether it’s a cool pair of shoes, a tricked-out car, or even a hard-earned achievement in a video game. But ownership doesn’t have to be about material things!

Video games give us this sense of ownership in a virtual world. It's our character, our progress, our achievements! It’s like we’re in control of our little world.

We can apply this to real life too. It’s about taking ownership of our actions, our choices, and even our beliefs!

In Actionable Gamification, Yu-kai writes: "When a person feels ownership over something, they innately want to increase and improve what they own. Besides being the major core drive for the desire to accumulate wealth, it deals with many virtual goods or virtual currencies within systems."

Think about how much time gamers spend customizing their avatars or building elaborate bases. It's not just about the outcome; it's about the sense of control and ownership.

Let’s look at how we can apply this to our studies:

Ownership of the Outcome: Take responsibility for your own success, even if you don’t love the subject. You’re not just trying to please your teachers; you’re building your own knowledge and skills!
Ownership of the Process: Find ways to make the process your own, even if you’re told what to study. Create unique study guides, experiment with different learning techniques, or find ways to make it more enjoyable!
Ownership of the Belief: This is about the mindset with which you approach your work. Do you believe you can learn and grow? Do you believe your efforts matter? This kind of ownership can make a huge difference in your motivation.

Challenge: How can you take ownership of your learning journey? How can you make the process more enjoyable for yourself?

5. Social Influence & Relatedness

We are social creatures. Video games take advantage of this by incorporating social features multiplayer modes, guilds, social interactions. There’s something motivating about doing things with other people, even if it’s just chatting while you play.

In real life, this could mean finding ways to make our work more social. Studying with friends, forming study groups, or joining clubs related to our interests can transform a tedious task into a fun experience!

Even though you’re working on your own things, it’s motivating to know that someone else is working alongside you! It’s almost like playing a co-op video game.

Yu-kai says, "Social Influence & Relatedness incorporates all the social elements that motivate people, including: mentorship, social acceptance, social feedback, companionship, and even competition and envy.”

Challenge: Think about ways to incorporate social elements into your studies. Who can you collaborate with, learn from, or even compete against in a friendly way?

6. Scarcity & Impatience

This is where things get a bit darker. Video games often use scarcity, limited-time offers, and even the fear of missing out to get players hooked. They create urgency and a sense that we need to act now!

Think about those limited-edition items in games or events that only happen at a specific time. They make us want what we can't easily have! This driver can be effective, but it's important to use it ethically and sparingly.

Yu-kai calls this a “Black Hat” driver because it can feel a bit manipulative if overused.

Challenge: Think about ways to use scarcity ethically in your own life. Maybe you put a timer on your phone to avoid endlessly scrolling, or create deadlines for your projects to increase your focus.

7. Unpredictability & Curiosity

This is all about the element of surprise, the "what's going to happen next?!" feeling that keeps us glued to games. Think about slot machines, loot boxes, or even those games where the levels are randomly generated, we’re hooked because we don’t know what’s coming!

Yu-kai describes it like this: "Unpredictability is the Core Drive of constantly being engaged because you don’t know what is going to happen next. When something does not fall into your regular pattern recognition cycles, your brain kicks into high gear and pays attention to the unexpected.”

Challenge: Think about ways to introduce unpredictability in your studies. Maybe you create quizzes for yourself, mix up your study routine, or even explore new subjects that spark your curiosity!

8. Loss & Avoidance

This driver taps into our fear of losing something. It’s that "I have to log in today or I'll miss out!" feeling that keeps us playing games even when we’re tired or busy. Think about those games that have daily rewards, limited-time events, or even the threat of losing progress if you don’t play for a while. They make us want to avoid those losses!

Again, Yu-kai considers this a “Black Hat” driver because it plays on our fear, and it can feel pretty manipulative if used too often.

Challenge: How can you use this driver ethically in your life? Maybe you commit to a friend that you’ll finish a project by a certain date, or imagine the negative consequences of procrastinating.

Mastering the Game of Life

Gamification is about more than just hacks or tricks, it’s about understanding what drives us as humans and using that knowledge to create a more enjoyable and fulfilling life! We can make our studies more fun, our work more meaningful, and our habits stick by understanding the psychology of motivation.

Remember, it’s not about turning your whole life into a video game, it’s about using these principles to make those unavoidable tasks a little more enjoyable!

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So, what are you going to gamify today? Think about those challenges I posed throughout the post!

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