There’s a reason cooperative play became one of the premier features in triple-A games from around 2007 onwards. It became a lot more believable to take on impossible odds with a team that’s greater than the sum of their parts — whether you’re an Army of Two, a squad holding out in Horde Mode, or just putting two heads together as ATLAS and P-Body in Portal 2.
GlaDoS may have been cruel, but she knew how to motivate; the team of ATLAS and P-Body, both cursed and blessed to run through Aperture Science’s puzzles for all of eternity, worked because they were a team.
GlaDoS herself craved companionship — despite the popular meme, the cake was not a lie.
Life is much the same. With buddy power, you’ll get a lot more done in the real world too. There’s much to learn from gaming’s best dynamic duos, and hopefully, it’ll inspire you to set up one of your own.
Buddy Up Like Your Health Depends on It
Your absolute best shot at keeping to a healthy habit is to involve someone else. We don’t mean shooting your goals out into the ether; announcing to social media that you’re on a new health kick.
We mean a person, who you can go to the gym with, partner up for a walk or even just to talk to about progress. Someone to hold you accountable and joke around with. It’s a lot harder to snooze the alarm clock when your friend is waiting downstairs for the morning run. It’s one thing to share goals. It’s another to find someone who actually shares your goals.
Virtual tools can certainly help with accountability too. The first step towards improvement is measurement, and many apps for logging workouts, meals, and even just daily steps are either free or included on iOS/Android phones.
Accountability not only increases motivation, it makes everything more enjoyable. Part of the charm of ATLAS and P-Body is that despite the (somewhat) evil machinations of GlaDoS, these two robo-buddies look like they’re having fun.
How far do you think Gears of War’s Marcus Fenix and Dom would’ve got without each other? The partnership works because they literally pick each other up when they’re down. They’re more than the sum of their gears, and you can be too. Even Kratos needed help from the “boy” Atreus in God of War. Hell, without Navi pestering Link to wake up, the adventure in Ocarina of Time might never have happened!
We do better with a buddy. It’s one of those things we intuitively know, yet don’t always act on. So what’s stopping you from sending out a handful of messages to see who might be keen to form a squad?
It’s so proven in fact, there’s a whole industry around it. People even pay good money just to get someone to shake them out of bed, blow a loud whistle, and start the no-nonsense workout. This can be your third accountability tool – a professional helper.
A physical trainer can be crucial in the early stages of a workout scheme, both for targeting the right things and avoiding injury. You wouldn’t play an unfamiliar game series without doing the tutorial, and even advanced players still learn a lot from pro players on Twitch and YouTube. So it’s almost always a good idea to make sure you’re doing things the right way.
The same goes for nutrition – a nutritionist can not only help form a plan, but educate you on your specific body’s unique needs. A professional isn’t a replacement for your buddy, it can just be another tool in the toolbox – and of course, you and your buddy can elevate each other with this new knowledge, keeping each other on track every step of the way. If you can’t afford a professional trainer or nutritionist, there are lots of free apps and resources that can help set you on the right path.
Eat Like a Monster Hunter
All of this applies to eating habits too. When it comes to putting food in our body, there are things we know we should do, but often don’t. The big one here is adapting your diet to your lifestyle. In Monster Hunter games, your cat chef makes meals specifically tailored to the physical tasks ahead. So too does Link in Breath of the Wild. Why not do the same?
As ever, buddies can help you stick to this. It can be your buddy group Number Two. Maybe it’s the same buddy you exercise with, maybe not.
Try keeping to a regular catch-up routine to discuss progress and keep each other accountable. Perhaps the person who’s been slacking off or not keeping to their goals picks up the bill. But what could a suitable goal be?
It all depends on where your unhealthy habits lie, however some suggestions are less sitting more movement, reducing your sugary drinks and or alcohol, paying attention to portion sizes, and ordering healthier options when eating at a restaurant or getting takeaway. You also really can’t go wrong with adding more vegetables in your life. They’ve got vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre. That means better blood glucose levels, better digestion, and longer-lasting energy – less carb and sugar crashes!
The aim is to work up to five serves of veggies per day, with a diverse range of colours (which in turn offers different vitamins and minerals). One serve is about 75g, or one cup of mixed salad greens. If you need an even simpler rule, we’re fond of renowned food writer Michael Pollan’s succinct quote: “Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.”
You’re already gearing up for a more active lifestyle. So be like Link — head out into the cold with spicy peppers in your belly.
Your Goal Is More Than Just You
Most literature around buddy systems for motivation focus on what they can do for you. But the other side of the coin is just as important; what can you do for the people in your life? How can you make them healthier and happier?
Framing it in this way has an interesting effect on your psychology. You’ll find it more fulfilling and easier to get started. Kratos probably would’ve shut himself away forever if it weren’t for Atreus. Doing it for the other person somehow makes it more worthwhile. So show up early with an extra towel and water bottle. Make them a healthy meal with fun ingredients they’ll love, or invite them on a bushwalk in a new area or to a cool new cafe with healthy options. Each little thing helps.
And, not to make it about you again, but this does help you too. Being a good workout/food buddy shows them you’re serious, and they’ll be more likely to rise to that bar and keep you accountable.
When the task seems huge, tackling it with a friend makes it seem doable. Take it from Marcus Fenix, take it from Joel and Ellie, and take it from ATLAS and P-Body. If you’re not in the life habits you want to be, you know what to do: Start playing co-op.
If you’re looking to pivot into some healthy habits and learn all the ways better food and exercise can help you and your buddy feel healthier, why not check out Queensland Health’s new online resource here. You can also search #DumptheJunk.