Pokémon Go and the Power of Fun in Wellness

Last week my family and I surrendered to our curiosity about Pokémon Go. After dinner, we downloaded the app… just to take a look. In less than a minute, we all had our shoes on and were out the door, hunting Pokémon.

Nobody twisted our arms — no one paid us to head outside to walk and run or threatened to fine us if we didn’t. We didn’t even think of it as exercise; locating Pokémon and outrunning each other trying to nab them has been just plain fun.

Intrinsic Intrigue

It’s no secret that people are naturally drawn to playful, pleasing activities and adventures, from hobbies and sports to travel and outdoor recreation. When something sparks our imagination, makes us feel like a kid again, and offers a shared experience, it’s irresistible… and we tell everyone we know. A few things to think about as you design your next wellness initiative:

• Make wellness fun, and people will sign up because they want to… without bribes, penalties, or prizes. After all, enjoyment is its own reward.
• Build in a meaningful social component for peer support and a shared experience.
• Include plenty of on-the-ground, live, in-person opportunities to get participants off their devices and into the real world.

If your program is truly fun, word will spread fast; employees will recruit coworkers and family members to sign up — and chances are good they’ll come back for more.

Community Connections

Pokémon Go may not have been designed as a wellness app, but its clever features are getting a lot of people moving, connecting, and perhaps even getting more fresh air than they have in a long time.

Stories are unfolding on Engadget and other news outlets of people with depression and anxiety finding symptom relief from getting outdoors and interacting with others at local Pokéstops and Pokégyms. A Forbes post highlights how workers are taking active breaks and connecting with each other because of Pokémon Go. And since the game’s launch, makers of step tracking devices and apps are seeing a big spike in daily exercise.

A big part of the Pokémon Go appeal is participating in an activity everyone’s talking about. It’s powerful to have people everywhere playing at the same time. There’s a feeling of local and global camaraderie, a coming together in person or in spirit for a positive reason — not out of grief, horror, or anger due to tragedies or terrorism.

Game On

Yes, Pokémon Go is just a game. But the lighthearted sense of esprit de corps is so refreshing and it’s making so many people smile these days that it feels more like a phenomenon. Who knows how long the buzz will last? For the past week, my family has been springing up and scrambling through the neighborhood after dinner, getting more exercise without even trying, as well as laughing and having a great time together. And that’s good enough for me.