I’m in the best shape of my life, and I owe it all to video games.
To most people reading this that probably sounds ridiculous. Playing video games and working out seem antithetical, but the two things meld together better than you might think. I have come to believe that in the not too distant future gyms will look like arcades.
Gamers know that video games can be addictive. We have all had that experience where you start up a game and next thing you know, it’s tomorrow. That’s why we dedicate 50+ hours of our lives to beating bosses, finding collectibles, competing with strangers online, and unlocking every item, even the useless ones.
Part of what makes the game so addictive is the sense of accomplishment you feel from progressing through it. It’s fun. There’s nothing like completing every single thing a game has to offer and reaching the fabled 100%. Which is ironic, because in most cases, with all that time, you haven’t really accomplished anything.
How does that relate to exercise? It is all about the motivation. People everywhere are struggling to get in shape. You pay for the gym membership but never go. You read the blogs about the latest diet craze or new exercise programs. Maybe you try them out for a while, but you don’t stick with it. You say this is the day/ the month/ the year that I start getting in shape. You might even pay for a treadmill or some other equipment or program, but the treadmill becomes a place to hang clothes. The problem isn’t the treadmill or the efficacy of the diet craze, it is your motivation.
The solution is to make fitness a game. Use the same addictive elements from video games to motivate yourself into working out. This way, you are not just motivated to get in shape in the future, you’re motivated to have fun by playing the game in the present. Game-makers have already had this epiphany. Over the past decade or so fitness-themed video games, like Ring Fit Adventure, have become a more accepted part of the industry. Likewise, the fitness industry has started to incorporate elements from video games into their programs. Spin classes have high score leaderboards. Fitbit has badges you unlock by reaching certain milestones. Modern fitness machines keep track of your long term statistics the same way a game does.
This is only the beginning. Both industries are just waking up to all the possibilities. In the meantime, take advantage of what’s available or your own creativity to turn fitness into a game. This concept changed my life, and I think it can work for you too.
Here are a few games to get you started.