Some days, even the smallest tasks feel like a mountain. Laundry, washing-up, vacuuming… you know it has to be done, but the energy is gone. Here, a simple dice can actually make a surprisingly big difference. By gamifying your tasks, that is, turning them into a sort of game, you can trick your brain into thinking the whole thing is a bit more fun.
How it works
You make a list of tasks, e.g.:
Empty the dishwasher
Fold laundry
Clear the desk
Air the room and make the bed
Wipe surfaces dry
Empty the bin
Roll a die and let it decide what you should get started on. It removes decision fatigue and makes the whole thing a bit more playful. Do you have more energy afterwards? Roll again and take on a new task.
That is why it works
When you gamify tasks in this way, something happens to your motivation. It is no longer you against the task, but you against the dice. And it feels more like a challenge than a chore. Plus, it can give you a little dopamine kick every time you tick something off.
How you can use it in your journal
Create a dice page in your journal or planner. Draw a simple layout with six boxes matching the sides of a die, and fill them with your everyday tasks. You can also use stickers to make it more fun and/or give yourself a reward when all boxes are completed.
You can even have different pages for different types of days: one for low energy, one for tidying up, one for creative tasks, etc.
A small change that makes a big difference
It doesn't need to be advanced. Just adding a die can change the feel of your tasks. It makes the whole thing much more manageable.
Deep clean dice
My version of dice gamification is called “Deep clean dice”. Here I have divided the house into six rooms and given each room a number from 1 to 6.
The first roll decides which room I'm going to start with. The next roll determines which task I have to do in that room. That way, cleaning becomes more manageable and a bit more fun.
