I’ve been using nike fuelband for about 5 months now, and I love it. However, I am starting to loose momentum. The goals start to be more of a stretch, and I start wondering what the purpose is to begin with? And then I remember why I got it and what the real purpose of the fuel band is.
Self Awareness to Intention.
I find the key to maintaining your momentum for any digital sport program is finding the right balance between rewarding mediocracy and relying too much on goals. The beauty of the fuelband ( besides being an awesome watch ) is that is constantly makes you aware of the intention to be physical. Not based on the numbers alone, but the fact that you have put on a badge that you are going to try and stay in shape. It becomes part of your identity.
From an analytics perspective, having your personal data is very valuable. You cant track and trend your habbits, optimize your schedule, and engage with yourself to become 2.0. Although we are all athletes in a way, the bigger question is what kind of athlete do you want to be – and do the goals and constant pings help propel you to the next level, or do they serve as a reminder for something you want to avoid. Goals can either motivate or demotivate depending on the scope. Gamification can help, but it can also serve as a distractor to the idea that people need to individually set their goals, or have the power to select what auto setting goals are appropriate for them.
Thus, as I look down at my nike fuelband, and note that I am 1/3 of my daily quota, I remember that every day I am more active then I was a year ago. I am self aware and I strive to do better. 2000 fuel points is not too far away. Thus awareness moves to intention.
-pd
Good vs Better 