Look, I’ll be honest: I used to hate productivity tips. They all sound like they’re written by robots who’ve never cried over a spreadsheet or accidentally sent a Slack message to the wrong person (“Hey team, here’s my cat’s vet bill… wait, NO—”).
But last month, I discovered something wild: Turning chores into games actually works. Not the creepy corporate “team-building” kind. The “I bet I can finish these emails before my microwave dings” kind. Here’s how I tricked my brain into liking productivity—and how you can too.
1. Pretend You’re in a Video Game
(Yes, Even if You’re 40 and Your Kids Roast You for It)
Your brain loves rewards. So give it stupid ones.
How I do it:
- Laundry Level-Up: Every sock folded = 10 points. Hit 100 points? Treat yourself to a cookie.
- Boss Battle Emails: Imagine your inbox is a dragon. Slay 10 “email monsters” before lunch.
- Side Quest Groceries: Race the store’s elevator music. If you finish before Careless Whisper ends, you “win” ice cream.
My win: I cleaned my bathroom in record time by pretending Clorox wipes were magic potions. Judge me.
2. Bet Against Your Bestie
Everything’s better with a little shame.
Try this:
- Fitness: Text your friend, “First to 8K steps today buys margaritas.” (Spoiler: You’ll both lose and go anyway.)
- Work: Challenge a coworker to finish a task first. Loser wears a dinosaur hat in the next Zoom.
- Life: Host a “Productivity D&D Night.” Roll a dice to decide if you adult or nap.
True story: My friend Dave owes me tacos because I “beat” him at doing taxes. He used Comic Sans. I won.
3. Collect Dumb “Badges”
Channel your inner 8-year-old Scout.
Badge ideas:
- Inbox Zero Hero: Delete 50 spam emails. Reward: 15 minutes of cat videos.
- Laundry Wizard: Fold clothes without swearing. Reward: Skip folding underwear. Nobody cares.
- Grown-Up Gold Star: Call the dentist. Reward: A sticker. (Yes, adults can like stickers.)
My collection: “Didn’t Cry at the DMV” and “Ate Salad Without Googling ‘Can Pizza Be a Salad?’”
4. Use Apps That Don’t Feel Like Work
Your phone’s not the enemy—if you cheat right.
My faves:
- Habitica: An RPG where your avatar dies if you skip workouts. Harsh, but I’ve never jogged so much.
- Forest: Grow digital trees by ignoring TikTok. Murder a tree? Feel instant guilt.
- Zombies, Run!: Jog while escaping zombies. Nothing motivates like fake death.
My stats: 3 zombie escapes. 12 dead trees (RIP). 1 email addiction kinda cured.
5. Reward Yourself Before the Task
Yes, before.
Why it works: Your brain’s a toddler. Bribe it.
Examples:
- Eat the chocolate first, then open your laptop.
- Watch one trashy reality show, then tackle laundry.
- Buy the latte, then adult.
Science-ish reason: Dopamine now = motivation later. Also, chocolate.
Your Turn: Start Small
This week, try ONE thing:
- Race your microwave timer while washing dishes.
- Text a friend: “Bet I’ll nap better than you today.”
- Reward yourself before you “adult.” Cake first, emails later.
Remember: If you “fail,” you’re winning. The game resets every morning.
Why This Works
Life’s too short to take productivity seriously. Make it silly. Make it personal. And if you finish your to-do list by pretending you’re a wizard? Who cares. You finished it.