Gamification is all the rage because it works. Turn just about anything into a game with decent rewards, and you’ll be able to convince anyone to do just about anything. And this is all because we really, really, really like playing games.

Gamification, to put it simply, is the use of an app or some other external service to reward you for completing tasks. Some of these rewards are tangible, but others are just there for bragging rights. There are tons of apps out there to gasify your daily task list, your gym visits and even your involvement with political campaigns. All of these apps exist because gamification actually works.

On a psychological level, humans respond much better to positive reinforcement than negative deterrents. We would rather be rewarded when we do something right than punished when we do something wrong. This is because when we are rewarded for something, our brains produce dopamine. This chemical is what appears when we experience pleasure of any kind, including praise for a job well done. Gamification works because you are even more motivated to complete a task when you know there is a reward at the end waiting for you.

One example of real-world gamification is the productivity app Forest. This app keeps you from using your phone while working by planting a virtual tree. It grows while you’re working and if you use your phone for any reason during that time, the tree dies. But if you complete the set amount of time without using your phone, you’re rewarded with a fully grown tree and a few coins you can use to unlock different plants.

Another more surprising use of gamification is in politics. During the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton’s campaign had its own app that rewarded users for sharing messages from the campaign on social media and with your friends. Similarly to Forest, users received coins for completing tasks and could spend those coins on in-game items. The app’s creators said the design was intended to encourage supporters to help out the campaign by making involvement seem less intimidating.

And an unintended consequence of the success and popularity of Pokémon Go is the gamification of exercise.

However, it is important to keep in mind that gamification won’t solve all of your productivity problems. Rewards like these work best when you already have some motivation to complete the task. If you have none to begin with, working for a cute digital badge or coin is probably not going to change your mind. Could you imagine any conservatives or Trump supporters opening the Clinton campaign app daily? But if you are already set on completing the task, having a small reward at the end might be enough to push you forward.

So how do you get started with gamification? If you’re having difficulty staying off your phone at work, try out Forest. For more general productivity, you can use Habitica or Beeminder. Have a big project or goal you want to complete? SuperBetter is your gamification pal. And a great way to motivate the family to complete household chores is Chore Wars.

string(3718) "
Gamification is all the rage because it works. Turn just about anything into a game with decent rewards, and you'll be able to convince anyone to do just about anything. And this is all because we really, really, really like playing games.
Gamification, to put it simply, is the use of an app or some other external service to reward you for completing tasks. Some of these rewards are tangible, but others are just there for bragging rights. There are tons of apps out there to gasify your daily task list, your gym visits and even your involvement with political campaigns. All of these apps exist because gamification actually works.
On a psychological level, humans respond much better to positive reinforcement than negative deterrents. We would rather be rewarded when we do something right than punished when we do something wrong. This is because when we are rewarded for something, our brains produce dopamine. This chemical is what appears when we experience pleasure of any kind, including praise for a job well done. Gamification works because you are even more motivated to complete a task when you know there is a reward at the end waiting for you.
One example of real-world gamification is the productivity app Forest. This app keeps you from using your phone while working by planting a virtual tree. It grows while you're working and if you use your phone for any reason during that time, the tree dies. But if you complete the set amount of time without using your phone, you're rewarded with a fully grown tree and a few coins you can use to unlock different plants.
Another more surprising use of gamification is in politics. During the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton's campaign had its own app that rewarded users for sharing messages from the campaign on social media and with your friends. Similarly to Forest, users received coins for completing tasks and could spend those coins on in-game items. The app's creators said the design was intended to encourage supporters to help out the campaign by making involvement seem less intimidating.
And an unintended consequence of the success and popularity of Pokémon Go is the gamification of exercise.
However, it is important to keep in mind that gamification won't solve all of your productivity problems. Rewards like these work best when you already have some motivation to complete the task. If you have none to begin with, working for a cute digital badge or coin is probably not going to change your mind. Could you imagine any conservatives or Trump supporters opening the Clinton campaign app daily? But if you are already set on completing the task, having a small reward at the end might be enough to push you forward.
So how do you get started with gamification? If you're having difficulty staying off your phone at work, try out Forest. For more general productivity, you can use Habitica or Beeminder. Have a big project or goal you want to complete? SuperBetter is your gamification pal. And a great way to motivate the family to complete household chores is Chore Wars.
"

By Massimo Tornambe Updated: November 26th, 2025 Scott Disick has spent much of 2025 rethinking his living situation, especially after briefly considering a move to New York with his eldest son, Mason. In a November episode of The Kardashians, Scott said Mason told him he “can’t actually move,” which led Scott to reverse course and

Mention the word “infidelity” and the usual images are conjured up:  secret encounters in sordid motels, callers who hang up when the wrong person answers the phone, tears and harsh words when the truth comes out. A less dramatic (but increasingly common) form of betrayal is making waves: financial infidelity. What is financial infidelity? Financial

TL;DR: One of the biggest money red flags in dating? When your partner simply won’t talk about money. According to financial therapist Erika Wasserman, that’s the #1 issue to nail down if you want to know whether your potential future partner and your financial IQs are compatible. Why “Not Talking Money” Is More Than Awkward

Update: November 7th, 2025 TL;DR TikTok’s favourite tradwife just had another baby, moved into a new house, and reignited the Internet’s gender-war discourse — again. Here’s what’s new with Nara Smith, why the “tradwife” trend still won’t die, and what it really says about 2025’s obsession with curated domesticity. The Tradwife Era Isn’t Over —

This article includes affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, with no extra cost to you. Growing up, most of us didn’t get a solid financial education. Some of us ended up figuring things out the hard way — juggling bills, credit card debt, or realizing too late we should’ve

Even if you don’t know the first thing about collectables, you know Funko POPs. Funko Everyone does. They’re absolutely everywhere, from comic book shops to big box stores to movie theater concession stands. Many people think Funko POPs are cute, with their big black eyes and uniform features. Others think they’re creepy for pretty much

Trying to cancel your gym membership can be more tiring than actually attending that kickboxing class you keep skipping. Getting out of your gym contract can be so tough that people are going to great lengths to avoid paying any penalties. After going into debt living a lifestyle she couldn’t afford, this woman forged fake

The Momager May Be Worth More Than You Think… Kris Jenner is a pop culture icon for many reasons. While you may have watched her meteoric rise to fame on Keeping Up with the Kardashians — which originally debuted on E! — she’s actually been a fascinating figure in the public eye for ages.  As

AI’s in the workplace. Whether it’s auto-generated emails, chatbots, or predictive analytics, AI’s here to stay. Plain and simple. Plain, perhaps — but not simple. With its promises of greater efficiency and increased productivity, employers love AI. From the employees’ point of view, AI is a decidedly mixed blessing. But it’s killing workers’ motivation and

Taylor Swift is a megastar singer-songwriter known for her narrative songwriting, catchy pop tunes, and versatility across genres like country, pop, and indie folk. She breaks every music record with ease, partially thanks to her die-hard Swiftie fans who follow her with vigor and buy out every single show. And with Taylor Swift’s net worth