Unlock Daily Success: How Gamification Beats Procrastination

Author

Carlos Patino
April 11, 2024

Hey there,

Struggling with procrastination? Discover the mindset and framework that transformed my approach to daily tasks.

The Mindset

When I was little, I loved visiting my grandparents' house, after the meet and greet I would head to the yellow living room to play Nintendo, one of the first consoles. They had a game that was three-in-one: Duck Hunting, Olympics, and a favorite of mine—Mario.

Not until recently did I understand that life is about how we decide to show up, in other words, play the game of life. We can look at life as something to get through, day by day, living 'good enough,' or we can enjoy it as if we were playing Mario on a console.

The Concept of Gamifying

Gamifying life involves applying elements of game playing, such as scoring points, competing with others, and following rules, to everyday activities to make them more engaging and enjoyable. This approach taps into our natural desires for competition and achievement, turning routine tasks into exciting challenges that keep us motivated and focused.

The Framework: Breaking It Down!

It's not about finding Princess Peach the first time you play the game. I had to play for years (I visited my grandparents once a week for a few hours) to reach the 8th level and finally face Bowser.

The secret is noticing what happened during all those years of play? I developed skills, learned where I could find secret passages to skip directly to levels 2, 3, and 4, discovered where to find the extra lives and the stars, and most importantly, I became an expert in beating one level at a time, starting with the first one and continuing to the later levels.

This journey is similar to tackling big projects or goals in life. Here's how you can start beating procrastination right now by applying the same concept:

The Action Steps:

  1. Define the End Goal: What is your ultimate objective with the task at hand? Set a deadline and work backwards.

  2. Divide the End Goal into Objectives: Break down the goal into tasks or objectives that are required to be met before achieving the goal.

  3. Create Micro Milestones for The Objective: Identify the smallest steps you can take that will lead you toward your end goal. Each should be a tiny, manageable chunk, think no more than 20 minutes.

  4. Assign Deadlines: Give each micro goal a realistic but firm deadline, plan enough time for each Micro Milestone. With practice, you get really good at this!

  5. Celebrate Wins: Each micro Milestone achieved deserves recognition, no matter how tiny.

Here’s a real example from a client using the framework: His goal was to raise $250,000 investment for his apparel company.

End Goal: Secure a $250,000 investment.

Objectives:

  • Research potential investors.

  • Draft the investor pitch and deck.

  • ...

  • Schedule meetings with potential investors.

  • Follow up after meetings.

Micro Milestones: Choose the objective or activity - drafting the investor pitch.

  • Outline the main points of your pitch. (04-20)

  • Write the first draft of your pitch deck. (04-21)

  • ...

  • Review and revise the pitch deck.(04-24)

  • Practice your pitch with a colleague.(04-25)

Deadlines are set for each task, ensuring a steady progression towards your goal. (Check the parenthesis above)

Celebrating Wins: Completing the outline, finishing the first draft, each revision—these are all milestones worth recognizing.

Breaking down daunting tasks into micro milestones helps us manage our time and tasks without feeling overwhelmed. Once you complete one small step, you'll find the momentum to tackle the next, building confidence and progress as you go. This approach not only eliminates procrastination but also helps you discover your most productive self.

Join Me!

Don’t wait! Take control of your life today. Join a free workshop on "How to Beat Procrastination and Mental Fatigue" on April 30th at 17:00 PST / 20:00 Quito / 20:00 EST, and for our friends in Asia, May 1st at 8:00 AM.