# How Games Can Improve Your Workout **By Aviron · Published October 31, 2022 · Updated April 5, 2023** Whether at work or play, humans just want to have fun. Studies show that people tend to experience more success when they enjoy what they're doing. That enjoyment can translate to higher engagement, greater commitment to a routine, and ultimately, more time working out. Aviron built a rower that delivers a truly enjoyable workout and maximizes health benefits—all in 30 minutes or less. --- ## Why Add Games to Your Workout? Finding ways to get people motivated and excited about fitness can drastically change their lives. Far from being just window dressing or the latest fitness trend, gamification of one's workout presents fundamental advantages for short-term and long-term health. A paper published by the National Institutes of Health states: *"Participating in regular physical activity is effective for the primary and secondary prevention of several chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, cancer, obesity, hypertension, osteoporosis, and depression."* The same paper continues: *"In recent years, games have been used in a variety of settings to motivate and change health behaviors. Games not only provide performance feedback to the user but can also provide incentives for achieving goals in a context that is fun, intrinsically rewarding, and easy to understand. 'Exergames,' or active video games that require physical movement while playing, have been shown to result in significant increases in energy expenditure."* --- ## How Gaming Improves Your Workout and Mood Gamification reduces focus on the negative aspects of a workout—pain and fatigue. Whether you are competitive and want to beat your high score, or prefer studying your metrics on a deeper level, the experience is designed to put you in a positive state. When studying the physical play and gaming habits of young people, it is apparent that children need to view an activity as a fun way to learn and grow, or they will be less likely to adopt it long term. In a recent study, **86.2 percent of adolescents rated "having fun" as the most important concern in their lives.** According to the American Journal of Play, the same principle holds true for older people. If a person enjoys an activity, they are more likely to adopt it as part of their lifestyle. *"Active gaming bridges the gap between the popular technology-driven games children enjoy and physical activity. These tech-driven activities require participants to move their bodies to control the game's actions,"* making them ideal for incentivizing physical activity. --- ## Improve Cognitive Function With ExerGaming The cognitive benefits of combining gaming and exercise are significant for all age groups. Gamified workouts show indicators that they can extend cognitive health and delay cognitive decline. The US Library of Medicine states: *"Human aging is associated with structural and functional brain deteriorations and a corresponding cognitive decline. Exergaming (i.e., physically active video-gaming) has been supposed to attenuate age-related brain deteriorations and may even improve cognitive functions in healthy older adults."* The combination of exercise and gaming *"seems to be equally or slightly more effective than other physical interventions on cognitive functions in a healthy older adult."* --- ## Gamified Fitness Creates Community In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, more people are craving social interaction. A JMIR research team found: *"Exergame studies demonstrated promising results for enhanced social well-being, such as reduction of loneliness, increased social connection, and positive attitudes towards others."* - The Aviron Active Community has fostered countless connections, created a sense of community and inclusivity, and motivated members to reach their goals. - *"Exergaming is a social experience which gives the players opportunities to interact with each other. This can, in turn, foster social networking and friendships among the players."* Aviron Active Community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/664875737439513 --- ## Work Out Like Your High Score Depends on It Combining games and exercise delivers benefits both mentally and physically. The impact varies from person to person, but benefits exist regardless of background. Peer pressure and recognition within a community provide extra motivation—and both can be found in the Aviron community. With gamified workouts, there is something for everyone—whether you are trying to get into shape and build a healthy lifestyle, or you already love working out and want to mix up your routine. It does not matter if you have 5 minutes or an hour; the benefits are there to claim. --- **Tags:** Aviron, Health & Fitness **Canonical URL:** https://www.avironactive.com/rowing-101/how-games-can-improve-your-workout/