A Hundred Days Of This - Day 15

I do not remember how I came across this game but right now I am spending a lot of my time on Gossip Harbor. It is one those games that seem to trick you into coming back for more but there is nothing that you are actually winning.

Is it just me or do you think even Duolingo works exactly the same way? At least you are learning the language on that app. Aren't you? After a point it seems like a race to win points and tournaments rather than mastering the language. Gamification is nice but I am here for learning the rules of Swedish grammar not compete with some Marco trying their hand at Spanish. It surely does help me with being consistent but it also makes me feel guilty for not finishing the daily tasks and earning XP.

What if I use the same gamification methods to make life interesting for myself? Today I tried what I used to practice as a child. You could call it a delayed gratification experiment too. While going through my notes for an upcoming exam I set a goal to either sip water or try a Wasabi rice cracker after every page I finish reading. I get to eat 2 crackers after every 5 pages. Including a snack treat for completing tasks is how I got through the preparation for Board exams. Did you ever do something similar like this before?

Maybe I will include this when I sit down to plan my journal for 2026. I know it is early but I did start thinking about the new year already. Plans, goals, vision boards, blah blah blah. This time around I plan to get a bit more creative and for God's sake finish the Goodreads Challenge. Not just for the sake of it but for truly going back to the phase of reading books like my life depends on it. What else can I add? A sleep tracker? Gift myself a cute Echeveria for averaging about 8 hours of sleep? Or a step tracker? Or a 30 day doodle challenge? Or a spinoff on Inktober? The possibilities are endless. And in 2026 we will discover what silly challenges we can come up with and how far we can push ourselves to earn those rewards. Keep coming back to this space if you would like to see what is going into my journal for the next year.

And that's Day 15 for you!