Over the weekend, I came across a ted talk video by Mark Rober, where he talked about the Super Mario Effect. As I was listening, I realized how underrated and fascinating the concept was. It was one such concept like the halo effect that I had seen in my daily life without knowing its existence.
After researching for days about this effect, I got to know that there were many like me, who had never heard about this concept. So, I decided to share my learnings and write an article about it.
What is it?
Well by looking at the name, you must have realized that this concept is based on a very popular video game of the 2000s: Super Mario. I’m sure most of you out there know and also probably have played this fantastic game, but for people who were born after 2010, let me give you a glimpse of this game. This game is all about the character Mario, an Italian plumber, trying to get through all the levels to save a princess, named Peach.
The main goal of this game was to save the princess through all the obstacles faced by the character, with the difficulty level increasing at each step. The key to winning this game was very simple, it was to never give up. No matter how many times Mario fell in the pit or was bit by those strange-looking animals, the game was all about making mistakes, again and again, learning from them and performing better the next time until you complete that level.
This attitude towards failing and learning from them to perform better in the next round is what Mark describes as the Super-Mario effect.
But, how do I apply it in my daily life?
Chances are some of you are already applying this technique in some way, but have never realized it. But to apply it efficiently in your daily work, and achieve your goals effectively, here are three habits that can guide you to do so:
Create a Routine
Have you ever heard about how if you do something consistently for 21 days that will stick with you forever? Well, no lies, that’s actually true, that’s the power of having a routine. Start with small habits first which do not require much of your energy, and slowly and steadily build a schedule for the things you want to do.
Say, if you want to be fit, start by drinking at least 3-4 cups of water a day for a start, and increase that number from 4-8 when that becomes a habit.
In this way, slowly and steadily you will reach your goals, just like Mario, who goes through those pitfalls, one by one.
Source- Forbes
Think before you set a goal
As said by James Clear, the author of the book, Atomic Habits, people can sometimes set an unrealistic goal in their heads without even thinking about it. So, make sure that your goals are not extremely unrealistic and think carefully about what you want to achieve by next week or next month.
Sometimes when you keep way too high expectations from yourself it can pressurize you and can reduce the quality of your work. So, the next time you set a goal, whether it is to get good grades or get fit or whatever, make sure it does not act as a burden on your shoulders.
Don’t worry about failing
The Super Mario effect emphasizes the growth mindset rather than a fixed mindset. It is about learning from the failures and not focusing on them. Even though in the game when you fail a level, you try to win again and again, without worrying about your failures. The same thing should be applied in your life.
Bottom Line
Rober suggests this kind of life gamification is extremely helpful for students and professionals. He believes when a person starts to treat challenges like video games, it naturally keeps him engaged because it becomes fun and removes the fear of failure in the mind that person. This makes the person treat challenges in a positive way.
This concept is something which I believe every student should apply in their lives. Students face great pressure and burden to succeed. They may even experience mental health problems. The Mario effect will help them reduce this pressure and can let them have a positive outlook on the challenges.
Written By- Paridhi Aggarwal
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