How to Turn Your Meditation Routine into a Video Game

Photo by Dingzeyu Li on Unsplash

Can you play video games for hours, but can't even practice meditation for 5 minutes? 

It’s a quite common problem among those who are experienced meditation practitioners.

Yet, it’s too easy to play video games for hours upon hours. 

Video games are addicting. Once you start 'em, you can't stop. They are designed to be this way.

It's easy to get lost in the game.

The worlds are fantastic and expansive. The adventure is adrenaline-pumping. You hate the guts of the villain. So you want to defeat them. The music sets the mood perfectly for each place you go. And so on.

All of these elements (and more) draw you further into the game.

You know how video games keep you hooked.

But what does this have to do with not being able to meditate for 5 minutes?

I'm glad you asked, let's find out!

Why is meditation hard?

You can't meditate for 5 minutes because you can't focus.

Your mind will flood you with potential distractions.

You know what you need to do: meditate. But it's too difficult for you to resist thinking about these distractions or stop meditating altogether.

Video games lock your focus in. The elements of the game draw you in. The rewards incentivize you to keep playing. Meditation should do the same.

The benefits of meditation should draw you in. The rewards will keep you hooked.

If you know you're going to be rewarded for your actions, then you're more likely to do them.

How to gamify meditation

Start out by meditating for 1 minute a day.

Each time you start your meditation session, you earn 50 XP.

Just showing up is a crucial skill to build. Don't underestimate it.

Each time you finish your routine without cutting it short, earn another 50 XP.

If your brain floods you with distractions, that's ok. It's normal.

If you're able to return to your breath, mantra, etc., you earn another 50 XP. You earn this XP each time it happens.

Reward yourself for getting back on track. It's an accomplishment!

When you're ready, add 30 seconds to your daily meditation routine.

You could increase your meditation daily, once a week, etc. It doesn't matter too much when you increase your meditation time.

Every 30 seconds you add to your meditation routine, add 100 XP.

Write down the XP you've earned in a journal.

For every 250 XP you earn, give yourself a small reward such as 30 minutes of video game time.

Or give yourself a larger reward for every 1000 XP such as an entire evening of video gaming.

When you hit 5-minute increments such as 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 15 minutes, etc., you earn 500 XP as a bonus.

These rewards are simply ideas to get you thinking.

Create rewards that motivate you to continue your meditation routine.

Make your meditation routine work FOR you.

Final thoughts

You'll be surprised how much easier it is to be consistent with your routine after gamifying it.

Gamifying your meditation routine will help you stick with it.

The more rewarding your routine is, the easier it is for you to continue doing it.

At the end of the day, if you can’t stick with your routine, then it isn’t the right routine for you.