The Flip Side of Gamification

An unintended consequence of gamification: I had been exercising daily since December, and until I became aware of how the Apple Watch tracks my Move, Exercise, and Stand rings, I wasn’t overly concerned about missing a day or two.

But once I discovered the streaks and saw the month view with all the rings closed, I realized how much the gamification had shifted my original intention behind exercising. What began as a simple desire to feel good through exercise turned into an obsession with maintaining the streak.

While gamification can be a powerful motivator, it only takes a small slip-up to break the momentum. I felt this firsthand when I forgot to wear my Apple Watch after charging it, which meant I missed my Stand goal. In that moment, I was tempted to give up on exercising for the day, because without that recorded achievement, my perfect streak was lost.

But this experience also reminded me of an important lesson: we should use these tools to support our goals, not let them dictate our actions. It’s crucial to reconnect with the original intention and not let the dopamine rush of gamification take control.

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