Episode

#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
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1:38:31
Published: Tue Jul 28 2015
Description

Jane McGonigal (@avantgame), PhD, is a senior researcher at the Institute for the Future and the author of The New York Times bestseller Reality Is Broken: Why Games Make Us Better and How They Can Change the World. Her work has been featured in The Economist, Wired, and The New York Times. She has been called one of the "top ten innovators to watch" by BusinessWeek and one of the "100 most creative people in business” by Fast Company. Her TED talks on games have been viewed more than ten million times. In this conversation, we dig into everything from recovering from head trauma to how you can use Candy Crush Saga to lose weight. Not enough? How about using Tetris to prevent PTSD, or using Call of Duty to increase empathy? Her latest book is SuperBetter, which offers a revolutionary (science-based) approach for getting stronger, happier, and more resilient. I’ve been testing it, and it works. Not only am I feeling better, but I’m having more fun. As adults, we often lose track of play. My hope is that this episode will help you to reclaim it. It’s not frivolous; it can help you get a lot more done with less stress. In this episode we discuss: Examples of real world problems that are solved with games or by gamers How Jane climbed herself out of the hole of suicidal thoughts Action steps for using gaming lessons and applying them to real life How to build a quest into your life The health effects of Candy Crush Saga On the use of psychedelics to simulate traumatic experiences And much more... Links, resources, and show notes from this episode can be found at http://fourhourworkweek.com/podcast This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. I get asked all the time, “If you could only use one supplement, what would it be?” My answer is, inevitably, Athletic Greens. It is my all-in-one nutritional insurance. I recommended it in The 4-Hour Body and did not get paid to do so. Get 50% off your order at Athletic Greens.com/Tim This podcast is also brought to you by 99Designs, the world’s largest marketplace of graphic designers. Did you know I used 99Designs to rapid prototype the cover for The 4-Hour Body? Here are some of the impressive results. Click this link and get a free $99 upgrade. Give it a test run... Enjoy!***If you enjoy the podcast, would you please consider leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts/iTunes? It takes less than 60 seconds, and it really makes a difference in helping to convince hard-to-get guests. I also love reading the reviews!For show notes and past guests, please visit tim.blog/podcast.Sign up for Tim’s email newsletter (“5-Bullet Friday”) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Interested in sponsoring the podcast? Visit tim.blog/sponsor and fill out the form.Discover Tim’s books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss YouTube: youtube.com/timferrissPast guests on The Tim Ferriss Show include Jerry Seinfeld, Hugh Jackman, Dr. Jane Goodall, LeBron James, Kevin Hart, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Jamie Foxx, Matthew McConaughey, Esther Perel, Elizabeth Gilbert, Terry Crews, Sia, Yuval Noah Harari, Malcolm Gladwell, Madeleine Albright, Cheryl Strayed, Jim Collins, Mary Karr, Maria Popova, Sam Harris, Michael Phelps, Bob Iger, Edward Norton, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Strauss, Ken Burns, Maria Sharapova, Marc Andreessen, Neil Gaiman, Neil de Grasse Tyson, Jocko Willink, Daniel Ek, Kelly Slater, Dr. Peter Attia, Seth Godin, Howard Marks, Dr. Brené Brown, Eric Schmidt, Michael Lewis, Joe Gebbia, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jordan Peterson, Vince Vaughn, Brian Koppelman, Ramit Sethi, Dax Shepard, Tony Robbins, Jim Dethmer, Dan Harris, Ray Dalio, Naval Ravikant, Vitalik Buterin, Elizabeth Lesser, Amanda Palmer, Katie Haun, Sir Richard Branson, Chuck Palahniuk, Arianna Huffington, Reid Hoffman, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Rick Rubin, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Darren Aronofsky, and many more.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Chapters
Tim Ferriss introduces his email newsletter called “Five Bullet Friday” which sends subscribers five bullet points every week on the coolest things he had found that week, including apps, books, documentaries, supplements, gadgets, and more.
00:00 - 01:02 (01:02)
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Email Newsletter
Summary

Tim Ferriss introduces his email newsletter called “Five Bullet Friday” which sends subscribers five bullet points every week on the coolest things he had found that week, including apps, books, documentaries, supplements, gadgets, and more.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Tim Ferriss provides insights on deconstructing world class performers as well as utilizing games to help reduce stress.
01:02 - 06:57 (05:55)
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Tim Ferriss
Summary

Tim Ferriss provides insights on deconstructing world class performers as well as utilizing games to help reduce stress. Athletic Greens is mentioned as a tool to easily obtain necessary nutrition with their all in one formula and travel packets.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Researcher Jane McGonigal discusses unique strengths found in people who spend a significant amount of time playing video games and suggests that these cognitive, social, and imaginative strengths can be utilized for real world problems.
06:57 - 12:13 (05:16)
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Gaming
Summary

Researcher Jane McGonigal discusses unique strengths found in people who spend a significant amount of time playing video games and suggests that these cognitive, social, and imaginative strengths can be utilized for real world problems. She also talks about incentivizing game development to address larger scale problems.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker shares their experience dealing with the impact of a concussion, including suicidal thoughts, and how they turned their recovery into a game to stay motivated.
12:13 - 20:59 (08:45)
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Brain Injuries
Summary

The speaker shares their experience dealing with the impact of a concussion, including suicidal thoughts, and how they turned their recovery into a game to stay motivated. They also highlight the common occurrence of suicidal thoughts in those with traumatic brain injuries.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The book is not about playing video games, instead it focuses on adopting the gameful mindset which can help us approach obstacles and stress in a positive manner, and then utilize these strategies in real life situations.
20:59 - 26:07 (05:08)
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Gameful Mindset
Summary

The book is not about playing video games, instead it focuses on adopting the gameful mindset which can help us approach obstacles and stress in a positive manner, and then utilize these strategies in real life situations.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Having a clear goal and being able to anticipate succeeding in that goal, that's one of the fastest ways to get the dopamine back cycling through your brain, which is key to reversing depression.
26:07 - 31:06 (04:59)
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Dopamine
Summary

Having a clear goal and being able to anticipate succeeding in that goal, that's one of the fastest ways to get the dopamine back cycling through your brain, which is key to reversing depression.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Clinical studies have shown that casual games like Candy Crush Saga can reduce cravings for food or cigarettes by 25%.
31:06 - 42:36 (11:30)
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Gaming
Summary

Clinical studies have shown that casual games like Candy Crush Saga can reduce cravings for food or cigarettes by 25%. These games can also help cancer patients take their medication consistently and increase their overall quality of life.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Playing Tetris for just 10 minutes within 24 hours after a traumatic experience could help reduce the occurrence of flashbacks, which is considered to be the hardest symptom of PTSD to treat, according to a new study.
42:36 - 46:36 (04:00)
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PTSD
Summary

Playing Tetris for just 10 minutes within 24 hours after a traumatic experience could help reduce the occurrence of flashbacks, which is considered to be the hardest symptom of PTSD to treat, according to a new study.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
People who play collaborative collective intelligence games and engage in spiritual drug taking, known as psychonauts, exhibit similarities in their experiences, leading to post-traumatic growth.
46:36 - 57:23 (10:47)
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Mindfulness and Spirituality
Summary

People who play collaborative collective intelligence games and engage in spiritual drug taking, known as psychonauts, exhibit similarities in their experiences, leading to post-traumatic growth. This growth can stem from pursuing extreme sports and other activities that allow them to see clearly what they want out of life.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker believes that she will become addicted to games when she's older due to the cognitive enhancing benefits and social connection it provides.
57:23 - 1:05:03 (07:40)
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Gaming
Summary

The speaker believes that she will become addicted to games when she's older due to the cognitive enhancing benefits and social connection it provides. However, she also cautions against playing games that are designed to be as addictive as possible.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
Playing games offer the opportunity to have micro-conversations with friends and family, and they can also build resilience, determination, and willpower that can benefit you in real life.
1:05:03 - 1:11:30 (06:26)
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Gaming
Summary

Playing games offer the opportunity to have micro-conversations with friends and family, and they can also build resilience, determination, and willpower that can benefit you in real life. Puzzle games and single player adventure games are also effective in provoking positive emotions.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker makes a conscious effort to cite women scientists in their book to avoid only mentioning successful men.
1:11:30 - 1:16:42 (05:12)
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Women in Science
Summary

The speaker makes a conscious effort to cite women scientists in their book to avoid only mentioning successful men. They also mention playing a weekly game to remind them of gender biases in other areas of their life.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
A person had a life-changing encounter with their childhood hero whom they credit with saving their life as a kid.
1:16:42 - 1:21:23 (04:41)
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Emotional impact
Summary

A person had a life-changing encounter with their childhood hero whom they credit with saving their life as a kid. Watching their hero's show every day felt like going to therapy, and they felt emotional when they met her in person.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The constant challenge in video games make them even better for your gameful mindset than other games.
1:21:23 - 1:25:37 (04:14)
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Video Games
Summary

The constant challenge in video games make them even better for your gameful mindset than other games.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker discusses using watching tennis as a way to give their brain a boost every morning and recommends taking an immersion course for a sport to enhance the benefits of watching it.
1:25:37 - 1:30:32 (04:55)
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Mental Health
Summary

The speaker discusses using watching tennis as a way to give their brain a boost every morning and recommends taking an immersion course for a sport to enhance the benefits of watching it.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The best way to start using gameful strengths in your real life is to talk about games and what those games make you good at.
1:30:32 - 1:35:37 (05:05)
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Gameful strengths
Summary

The best way to start using gameful strengths in your real life is to talk about games and what those games make you good at. By collecting all the studies that back up the idea of using games to increase gameful strengths, it helps people to understand what they can gain and benefit from playing games.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show
The speaker promotes Athletic Greens and 99 Designs on Four Hour Work Week Podcast, offering a free upgrade and 50% discount respectively, with links available in the episode's show notes.
1:35:37 - 1:38:19 (02:42)
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Advertisement
Summary

The speaker promotes Athletic Greens and 99 Designs on Four Hour Work Week Podcast, offering a free upgrade and 50% discount respectively, with links available in the episode's show notes.

Episode
#93: Jane McGonigal on Getting More Done with Less Stress and The Health Benefits of Gaming
Podcast
The Tim Ferriss Show