Exercise motivation isn't always easy to come by. Sure, we start with the best intentions toward reaching our health or race goal. We work out three days a week, get a little extra reward as the endorphins kick in after a good session, but over time it gets harder to keep up the enthusiasm. Earndit.com wants to help you keep going by offering you rewards for your training. These are not only virtual medals; they are actual gift certificates to a variety of stores.
Why We Quit Exercising
Why do we quit exercising when we know it will help us reach our goal of a leaner, healthier body? Earndit founders reference a scientific term described by behavioral economists as "hyperbolic discounting." Hyperbolic discounting describes the way people devalue a reward that occurs far into the future, preferring the immediate reward even if it has less value. In other words, we like immediate gratification. It's why better health and a leaner body often don't motivate us enough to forgo the ice cream sundae or an extra hour of sleep.
How Earndit Works
Earndit works in conjunction with a number of apps and devices that measure your workouts. You can link your Facebook account to login to Earndit. Or, you can login using your your accounts on to other apps: Nike+, RunKeeper, Fitbit, BodyMedia/Fit, Garmin, MapMyRun (or other MapMyFitness apps), EveryTrail or Foursquare.
When you save and share a workout on one of these other apps, or synchronize your body measuring device, the information syncs with Earndit to log how active you've been. You earn points for activity; these points can be traded in for gift certificates to buy sports nutrition, workout clothing or shoes, as well as flowers and other goodies.
If you are motivated by doing good deeds, you can opt to trade in your points for charities — care packages for U.S. troops, Heifer, Rotary International and Just World International, to name a few.
When you sign up, you earn a few extra points by tweeting or posting to Facebook that you've joined Earndit. After that, you must workout to earn points, and log the workout in one of the previously mentioned apps. Each mile of an activity earns points. Log your walk, run, or hike— that is, "by foot" activities — on Nike+, Runkeeper, MapMyRun, or EveryTrail to earn 10 points per mile. Log your bike ride on MapMyRid to earn 3 points. and paddling earns 7 points per mile. You can also earn points skating or skateboarding. You can earn 15 points if you check into a gym at Foursquare. The daily limit is 60 points — 6 miles by foot, 20 miles on bike, or 4.5 miles on foot plus a gym check-in.
Earndit uses these apps because each one measures distance or pinpoints your location, so you can't guess or exaggerate to get extra points.
Win Prizes with Challenges
Earndit offers weekly challenges that earn members a chance to win gift cards worth $100 or more. You must reach a certain number of points to be entered into the drawing. But challenges are not limited to those offered by Earndit.
Earndit has a social aspect, a community of people that you click on to follow their progress. Of course, inviting your own friends can be fun. Creating a challenge with your virtual or real-life friends has its own reward. Participants either race to a certain point goal with the first one claiming the prize, or compete to get the most points in a designated amount of time. Each person has an entry fee of $10 or more that goes toward the grand prize of a Tango Gift card. The Tango gift card can be used at Amazon.com, REI, Starbucks, Home Depot, Gap, Nike, Zappos, Groupon, Pottery Barn or Target.
If the goal of a better body doesn't keep you running, perhaps a shopping spree will.
Would you be motivated to exercise if you earned gift certificates?
