A Little Competition Goes a Long Way

Apparently, a little friendly competition is a pretty good way to get me out the door.

I've been working on being more active and hitting a daily walking distance. Rain, cold, heat. So far, I'm hitting that goal just about every day.

One of the things helping me stick with it is an app I've had early access to called Fitleaguer.

Fitleaguer is a fitness competition platform where you can create or join leagues built around activities like walking, running, and cycling. You log or sync your activity, it counts toward your league, and you can see how you're doing alongside other participants.

Depending on the league, that can mean competing with friends, working toward a chance to win a prize, or participating in a fundraiser for a nonprofit.

That's what I love about the concept. It gives people different reasons to get moving.

Maybe you want to beat your friend. Maybe a prize gives you an extra push. Maybe supporting a cause you care about makes the challenge more meaningful.

For me, it's the encouragement. An extra excuse. An extra boost. Another reason to get outside and do something I already wanted to do.

The owner invited me in and set up a walking-distance competition with a few other early users. Simple idea: see how far each of us could walk over a set period.

Can I catch the person ahead of me? Can I get another walk in today?

My reasons for getting more active were already there. Having other people in the challenge helped me keep following through.

I'm a big believer in setting goals and keeping score. Give me something to aim for and a way to see my progress, and I'm more likely to follow through. Add a little friendly competition, and apparently that works pretty well on me.

I've talked about Pokémon GO helping, too. Having a walking goal in a game gives me another excuse to move.

Here's what I've really appreciated about Fitleaguer: once I start tracking, I can put my phone in my pocket and walk. I don't feel like I need to keep looking at the screen.

That's something I want more of from technology.

Help me do the thing. Then let me get on with it.

There are plenty of days when I want to disconnect from all the apps competing for my attention. An app that helps me stay active while letting me put the phone away feels like a pretty good use of technology.

I'm looking forward to seeing Fitleaguer open up to more people. The early experience has made a difference for me.

What helps you keep showing up? An app? A watch? A friendly competition? Or a goal you're tracking on your own?

I'm always looking for ideas. Especially if they get me out the door.