This episode on gamifying your habits will be short, but I think it could make a big difference if more of us tried this. I’ve been experimenting with ways to apply a mix of habit stacking and gamification to my own routines—some of these are business-related, others are personal. I’ll share a few “random rules” I’ve made for myself.
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Table of Contents
1. I Can Spend As Much Time As I Want On Social Media… If I’m Actively Engaging
The first way to start gamifying your habits might resonate: I can spend as much time as I want on social media—but only if I’m actively engaging. I’m naturally a lurker; I rarely comment, though I might occasionally “like” a post.
I’ve tried limiting my screen time, like many of us have. Recently, I posted on Threads about my Instagram usage being only 30 minutes a day, which still feels high to me—especially since I struggle to even respond to DMs. Honestly, I’m probably the worst Instagram engager on the planet.
One reason I get burnt out on Instagram is that my feed is so business-heavy. TikTok, on the other hand, is my “turn my brain off” space—no business content at all. I do want to manage that kind of screen time more carefully.
But when it comes to Instagram and Threads, I can justify them as business tools. My rule is: I can spend unlimited time there, within reason, as long as I’m leaving comments, responding to DMs, and initiating conversations. The truth is, after all my years online, I don’t have as many close connections as I’d like—and this rule is my way of changing that.
I have a few solid connections, but I’d love to have more conversations. That’s why I often end episodes inviting you to DM me—but that puts the ball in your court. I want to take it back into mine and start initiating those conversations myself.
Part of my hesitation to engage is that so much of my feed feels like rage bait, and I don’t want to be part of those discussions. Still, I catch myself reading the comments anyway. I’m not going to start responding to that kind of content—absolutely not—but if I start engaging with the posts I do enjoy, I think it’ll not only help me connect with more people, but also naturally prune my feed into something I want to see more of.
2. Every time I Buy a Random Decor Item, I Have To Put An Equal Amount in Savings
This one’s a little random on a list of gamifying your habits, but it’s tied to the fact that we just moved into a new house and I’m having so much fun decorating. My rule is: every time I buy a random home décor item, I have to put an equal amount into savings.
This isn’t making me rich or more productive (like the other ways you can start gamifying your habits), but it is making me think twice before buying. If I see a cute decorative bowl for $50, I have to ask myself, “Do I really want to spend $100?”—because even though it’s not technically the same as spending $100, it feels that way when the money leaves my account.
I’m not saying you should do this every time you buy something fun or frivolous. This might not make sense on YOUR list for gamifying your habits. For me, it’s just a way to curb my home décor splurges. I still enjoy buying the things I love—but I also enjoy seeing my savings grow. This little rule forces a pause before I swipe my card. A fun way to start gamifying your habits!
3. If I Do Something Education-Related, I Need To Spend An Equal Amount Of Time Implementing The Thing
Number Three: This way of gamifying your habits applies less to me now than it used to, but I know a lot of people struggle with it, so I wanted to share. If I do something education-related, I have to spend an equal amount of time executing—either implementing what I’ve learned or doing the thing I’ve been avoiding that led me to seek out that education in the first place.
So if I watch a free one-hour webinar, I spend at least one hour afterward applying what I learned or tackling that avoided task. This can be tricky—especially if you’re multitasking, like watching a webinar while cleaning your kitchen—but if I’m investing my brain space in it, I need to follow it with action.
I have a similar rule in my home life. When I buy something for the house, I have to put it up right away. That slows down impulse purchases because if I don’t want to deal with it immediately, I won’t buy it. For example, I painted my office white and want to add a pop of wallpaper inside the closet. But I haven’t bought the wallpaper yet because I don’t actually want to install it right now—so the rule stops me from spending unnecessarily. It’s kind of a silly way to start gamifying your habits but it works!
For me, these rules are a way of gamifying productivity: If I do this, then I get to do that. Or, if I get the “treat” first, I have to follow it with the less appealing task.
4. Adding Numbers to Things To Stay Consistent (My Fave Way to Start Gamifying Your Habits!)
And while this next one might not technically be gamifying your habits, but it’s a way I keep myself consistent and motivated—because, let’s be honest, entrepreneurship is such a mental game.
Earlier this summer, I created a “summer marketing plan.” I haven’t stuck to it perfectly, but I’ve been sending out my newsletter, The Kara Report. I label each one: “TKR #1,” “TKR #2,” and so on. I just sent number four and thought, Wow, I’ve already sent four of these. Seeing the numbers grow is a simple, visual reminder of my consistency—and it’s surprisingly motivating, like adding another notch to my belt.
I know numbering won’t work for everyone, but for me it’s been a game changer when it comes to gamifying your habits. I think it’s one of the reasons I’ve been so consistent with the podcast. Weekly drops are important, but seeing “Episode 86” or “Episode 87” is wild—it’s such a tangible reminder of progress. These little tweaks make life and business more fun, because here’s the truth: if you’re not getting things done, it’s usually not fun. Unless you’re intentionally pausing to rest, the lack of progress just feels frustrating.
5. I Schedule Emails I Feel Anxious About
My last “hack” isn’t exactly a rule, but it’s worth sharing as we are talking about gamifying your habits: when I get an email I feel anxious about replying to, I respond immediately—but I schedule it to send later. It sounds small, but if you get paralyzed by emails, you’ll understand.
I schedule emails for lots of reasons:
- I don’t like sending outside business hours.
- I hate when I reply to a bunch at once and instantly get flooded with responses—it feels like nothing got done.
But specifically for those “ugh, I’ll deal with it later” emails, I write the reply now and schedule it for tomorrow, or even just an hour later. This gives me a buffer to revisit it if I change my mind. Most of the time, I forget I even scheduled it, which means it’s off my mental to-do list. The recipient still gets a timely response, and I’m not sitting there overthinking it.
It’s such a small tweak to start gamifying your habits, but it works for me—maybe it’ll work for you too. And in case you can’t tell, I really believe in gamifying your habits so find rules that work for you and just try!
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