Carpe Diem (seize the day) | Bringing back motivation lost during these tough times

Project Team:

Icy Hu

Status:

New Idea

School/Organisation:

Methodist Ladies' College

Social Purpose

Good Health & Wellbeing

What is the problem you found?

During Covid-19 pandemic, it is easy to lose motivation and watch the days blend together. This has a big impact on our society as the pace slows down. For example, there are many working adults and students who lay in bed while listening to their zoom meetings and watch time slip away. 

What is your opportunity?

How might we be able to motivate ourselves while utilising our laziness to aid social justice?

Who is your audience?

Adults working from home and students participating in online learning

What Is Your Solution?

An App named Carpe Diem (seize the day).

Scenario:

People become aware of their laziness and inefficiency while laying in bed at night, regretting the lack of effort placed into the day. They then imagine how productive they will be tomorrow. However, tomorrow rolls around, and it is just so hard to get out of a warm bed, and once again, all motivation is lost. And then the cycle repeats itself that night.

What if there is an app which holds you accountable for your promises? What if, instead of rolling around in bed wishing you were productive, you roll out of bed and be your best self? Maslow's hierarchy of needs dictates that self-actualisation is also a need, just like shelter and food. Hence, why don't we put just as much, if not more effort into our mental needs? 

Solution:

Seize the day is an app which allows you to make pledges. For example, I pledge that: I will wake up tomorrow morning and go for a run before my class. Then I will assign a dollar figure to that pledge. If I don't fulfil my promise that money will be donated to a charity of my choice. And if I do keep my promise, I keep my money, and I gain the equivalent amount of virtual coins which can be donated (similar to tab for a cause or ecosia). Hence, it kills two birds with one stone. It incentivises the user to break out of bad habits while also contributing to society.

Extra details:

The app would be based on a trust system; however, it can also be set up so that only others (such as your family members) can approve of the completion of your promise.

The app also encompasses all the usual health app features, such as: how many steps taken today, calorie intake, sleeping habits. 

Further improvements after receiving feedback:

To record progress, there will be a trend to indicate the number of virtual coins/tokens donated to a charity per month, thus creating visual data to track personal improvements and times of will power, as well as the amount of change in the world generated. 

One of the significant challenges in this app is the involvement of a bank and financial freedom to be able to donate, which decreases the number of people who can access this app. Hence, there is a separate model for those who are not able to donate money:

Instead of pledging money, it is also possible to pledge time. For example, there will be options such a pledge to volunteer at a local Salvation Army Centre if the promise is not fulfilled. The options range and could be much simpler yet just as effective, such as saying hello and smiling and acknowledging the next person you walk past. 

 

 

 

 

Support Required

Advice

I would like some general advice and thoughts on my idea. Thanks. 

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Challenge

Coronavirus Challenge

Location

Victoria

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