Hey Designer,

You’re staring at your task list.

You know exactly what you need to do…
But instead, you open YouTube. Or Discord. Or Reddit.
You binge, and the guilt sinks in...

It’s like you’ve hit a wall of resistance.

But here’s the thing:

Procrastination isn’t about laziness.
It’s just bad game design.

Game designers know that players hate friction.
So they remove it.

They design their games so that players can jump in instantly,

get small wins fast, and stay hooked for hours.

Yet, when we try to work on real-life goals, we do the complete opposite.

We stack friction.
We make it hard to start.
We make our tasks feel boring.

No wonder we procrastinate.

How Game Designers Trick You Into Taking Action Instantly

Ever noticed how in games, you don’t just sit around thinking about playing?

You boot up the game and you’re already in the action.

A tutorial gives you instant progress.
A quest log gives you direction.

Game designers eliminate friction.

So if you want to stop procrastinating, you need to design your tasks like a game.

4 Steps to Slay Procrastination

🔥 1. Reduce the Start-Up Friction

Game Design Insight: In games, the tutorial is instant.

Your Fix: Make your first step so easy, it’s impossible to fail.

➡ Example: Want to write? Open the doc and type one sentence.
➡ Want to work out? Do one push-up.

🎯 2. Create Instant Wins

Game Design Insight: Games hook you with early wins.

Your Fix: Build momentum with a small victory.

➡ Example: Before the real task, complete an easy sub-task.
➡ Studying? Write out the page title.
➡ Cleaning? Pick up one item.

💡 3. Make It a Quest, Not a Chore

Game Design Insight: Players don’t “work”—they complete quests.

Your Fix: Turn your task into a mission with a clear outcome.

➡ Example: Instead of “Do work,” say “Find & fix 3 mistakes in my draft.”
➡ Instead of “Study,” say “Answer 5 practice questions.”

⏳ 4. Use Time Warp Mode

Game Design Insight: Games create time pressure to keep you engaged.

Your Fix: Set a timer—but make it short.

➡ Example: Use a 5-minute timer to “just start” the task.
➡ You’ll probably keep going.

Your Anti-Procrastination Quest

💀 Lvl 0 Doomer:

Keep avoiding your tasks.

Scroll endlessly. Stay stuck.

You know the rest.

🕹️ Lvl 1 Player:

Pick just ONE step and try it right now.

Set a 1-minute timer and start the task you've been avoiding.
Move your phone out of reach for the next 10 minutes.
Open your to-do list and write down ONE priority.

🎮 Lvl 2 Pro Designer:

Stack all steps together for a powerful start.

Use a "Focus Anchor" → Pair the task with music, a drink, or a comfy setup.
Set up "distraction blockers" → Phone in another room, notifications off.
Use "Quick Wins" → Start with an easy part of the task to build momentum.

🚀 Lvl 3 Ultra Designer:

Master procrastination-proof habits.

Turn your task into a mini-game → Reward yourself for each milestone.
Use "session-based focus" → 25-50 minutes of deep work, followed by a break.
Gamify your progress → Track wins, reflect, and refine your system weekly.

📢 Drop into the Discord and share what level you hit today!

Tell us what worked, what didn’t, and what’s next.

🎮 Post Your Level up in our Discord Community!

What’s Next?

Tomorrow, I’ll show you how to find your purpose in life using game design.

Design a day you're excited to play!

Love from Michael 💙

🚀 Start Living Life By Design

0 comments

😲 1 MORE DAY!!! LGD Ultra Beta 3/4 🚀

✨ 2 MORE DAYS !!! LGD Ultra Beta 2/4 🚀

✨ LGD Ultra Beta Launch 1/4 🚀

LGD Beta Release Update 3/4 😃

LGD Ultra BETA Release Update 2/4

See all posts from Michael Davis