User blog:LynaeraTheWise/The Fight Against Procrastination- How I Habitually Win at Habitica

So, I'm really bad at procrastination.

Blame the internet, with its ever-stimulating stream of information and entertainment. The allure of idly browsing typically trumps any mundane chorse or task that I have to complete, leading me to stall on goals that I've reserved in my "things I'd love to do" mental file cabinet.



To help with my almost obsessive addiction to wasting my own time with intangible pings of dopamine, I joined Habitica, to engage my interest in gaming and RPGs with the productivity I sometimes wish I could find, outside of work. What I didn't know however, is when I challenged myself to stick to my habits in a real way, my life would change as a result.

With Habitica, I started super slow. There's a few work-flavored goals that I had some months out that I wanted to accomplish, and some daily habits that I thought were nifty, so I added those first. The 5 Habits that I found myself gaining early streaks on were those that were first really unnatural to my day- meditating for 10 minutes, making it a point meaningfully connect without electronics, watering my plants. After I gained confidence (and streaks!), I leveled up to add more To-Dos and Dailies that were nagging, and found myself itching to do them, if only for the pet drops and XP.



Now, with a number of 100+ day streaks running and numerous positive habits established, I feel confident that I can not only achieve goals and set manageable habits for my day, but that I can exceed them. I think the absolute best thing about using Habitica has been the engaging way in which I'm encouraged to complete my tasks- the excitement of beating a boss or collecting a coveted pet slays my Procrastination Monster every time, and in the moments where the couch seems to swallow me whole, Lynaera The Wise calls out to deliver a final Burst of Flames to vanquish the next baddie in her adventure.

So while I felt I was really bad at procrastination, Habitica has given me the tools to slay the inner sloth and quest through life's adventures. For that, this adventurer will be forever grateful.