Life is a video game, here’s how you play it.

You know, I used to think that life was just about getting through it. But then I realised that it's a game – a game we can choose to play on our terms. By focusing on our health and well-being, we can make it a fun and rewarding game.

I hope you'll take this to heart.

Imagine waking up twenty years from now, realising you've missed out on so much because you didn't take care of yourself.

It's a scary thought, isn't it? Let's make sure that doesn't happen to us.

Now, imagine your life as a thrilling adventure game, where you're the main character and the stakes are high: your health and well-being.

Just like in a video game, you have the power to shape your journey, make choices, and level up your character.

If you’re serious about your health & well-being, then let’s enjoy the game rather than feeling like we're always playing catch-up. 

Creating Your Character

The first step in this game of health & well-being is to create your character. 

Think about who you want to be. Do you want to be a fitness enthusiast, a mindful meditator, or a nutrition expert? Your choices will determine the path you take.

And seriously, you are more than your role in a job. 

Choosing Your Playstyle

Just like in a video game, you have different playstyles. Are you a solo adventurer who prefers to tackle challenges alone, or do you thrive in a team environment? Your playstyle will influence how you approach your health and well-being goals.

Learning New Skills

As you embark on your health and well-being journey, knowledge is power. Learning new skills, such as cooking healthy meals or practicing yoga, can equip you to overcome challenges. What about considering also becoming more knowledgeable about health screening markers, different nutrition requirements and basically just taking a proactive approach to your health.

Embarking on Quests

Your journey will be filled with quests, each one a unique challenge to overcome. These quests could be anything from losing weight to quitting smoking or reducing stress. The key is to approach each quest with a sense of adventure and a positive attitude.

Leveling Up Together

While you can certainly level up alone, joining a guild (or community) can make the journey more enjoyable and rewarding. Connecting with like-minded individuals can provide support, motivation, and a sense of belonging.

Game’s Challenge: Breaking free from the status quo

One of the biggest challenges I've faced in this game of life is breaking free from the old ways of thinking and doing things. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut, to cling to familiar beliefs and habits. But I've learned that this can limit our potential for growth and change. It's like being trapped in a video game level, unable to progress because we're refusing to try new strategies. And in this context, we cease to learn about our health & well-being (i.e. health and wellness topics, such as nutrition, exercise, and disease prevention).

We often identify so strongly with our jobs, beliefs, or past experiences that we forget we have the power to shape our own story. We become complacent, believing that we're set in our ways and unable to learn new things.

We often use age as an excuse to our complacency and laziness.

Until we start noticing signs of troubled health or run in to health scares, for that matter.

But the truth is, we can always grow, always improve, always level up.

Now that you have the overall structure of viewing your health & well-being as a game, we can go deeper. Let’s discuss how you can create maximum enjoyment while playing the game of health & well-being.

Maximum game enjoyment

Sit down and think of the vision for your health & well-being. This helps you expand your awareness to notice opportunities that fuels your vision.

Let’s say you want to shed belly fat and lose 5kg, sleep better and feel more energetic. 

In order to achieve this, you have to come up with a game plan which is where we frame every situation you find yourself in to be a micro game.

A game within a game.

• Create the first iteration of your vision

• Create a 10 year, 1 year, and monthly goals

• Have a place for weekly direction and reflection

• Align your daily priority tasks with those

Of course when you play the game, unavoidable feelings that surface are anxiety and stress. Hence, we need rules & mechanics that reduce these feelings.

1. Rules

Think of your life as a game with its own rules. These rules aren't strict regulations, but rather guidelines that help you stay focused and achieve your goals. Your values are your personal rules, the things you believe in and prioritise. When your actions align with your values, you feel more satisfied. To play the game effectively, you need to focus and eliminate distractions.

Applying rules to your health & well-being goals:

Say you hate controlling your food intake but you are aware that this is the hardest component for you to manage on your weight loss journey.  

So, what you can do is:

• Set a goal for that situation, like lose 1kg per week

• Create rules to gamify it, aim for a continuous exercise streak, even if it's just a short workout.

• Take the action of least resistance - begin with small, manageable changes to your diet and exercise routine. Even small steps can make a big difference over time.

• Track your progress - download a food diary or fitness tracker to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement

You just created rules or boundaries in a what-used-to-be mundane situation.

Goal > Rules > Straightforward Action.

1. Mechanics

Every game has its unique mechanics and strategies, it takes practice to master them. At first, you might struggle with the controls, mess up your moves, and feel overwhelmed by the more experienced players. Especially relatable if you are a beginner at a sport.

In sports, it's called building that mind-body connection.

In communication, it's how you express yourself and interact with others.

In problem-solving situations, it's the approaches that you take to solve problems. I could go on and on. All of this is to say, with dedication and practice, you can level up and become a pro.

It's about how you see the world, how you think, and how you act. Your perspective and actions matter.

To improve your gameplay, you need feedback.

Just like a video game gives you hints or rewards, life provides opportunities for learning and growth. Pay attention to your results, identify areas for improvement, and adjust your strategy accordingly.

How do we improve our mechanics while playing a game?

By practice. This leads us to the idea of habit formation. 

If you can automate the decisions you make, you can free up mental energy and focus on the bigger picture.

Winning the Game of Life

How do you see yourself in the grand game of life? Whether you realise it or not, you're playing the game of life. You can choose to be a non-playable character, or you can step into the spotlight and become the hero of your own story.

Your success in life depends on how you see the world, how you think, and how you act. 

Set clear goals.

Take the right actions.

Go create the life you want.