Gamifying your fitness is a term that refers to turning your workout into a game. This practice may sound silly, but it’s getting great results. In fact, a growing number of studies are showing that by using this technique to turn your workout into a game, many people are more likely to succeed in meeting their goals.
When you really think about it, it makes sense. After all, when you turn your workout into a game, it becomes more fun, you have goals to reach for and your workout motivation is higher. The greater your motivation level, the more likely you are to actually complete your workout and give it your best performance.
How Effective is Making Your Workout Into a Game
The short answer? Very! Consider how popular various types of fitness challenge are on social media. Think about all the different trackers and apps there are out there to collect data on virtually everything you do. All these are used for goal setting and achievement to help you to get a better understanding of how you’re doing and where you are now compared to where you want to be.
This is very important because the average American has a lower level of motivation to regularly exercise than ever before. By turning your workout into a game, you may be able to break yourself free of the statistics.
How Sufficiently Active Are We?
Most Americans aren’t getting nearly enough exercise. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a report in June that showed only 23 percent of U.S. adults met the minimum recommended guidelines for both aerobic exercise and strength training workouts. The hope is that by turning your workout into a game, you will join that active minority.
The Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Foundation issue an annual report called “The State of Obesity.” The most recent issue showed that 45 percent of American adults aren’t moving around enough to experience the health benefits they require from physical activity. Moreover, $117 billion is spent in healthcare costs every year relating to conditions linked with inadequate physical exercise.
Break Away and Turn Your Workout into a Game!
Turning your workout into a game can mean using a gaming console, or it can be much simpler. Many apps provide challenges you can try to follow and beat. These can be made even more fun, complex and motivational when they are linked with fitness trackers.
Look for activities, games and challenges with a social component, points system or ways to beat your personal best. These are often the most motivational way to turn your workout into a game.