Skip to Navigation

How to Play Pokémon Go at Work

Bookmark and Share

Photo Credit: Vox-cdn.com

Photo Credit: Vox-cdn.com

In case you haven’t heard, Pokémon is back and about to surpass Twitter’s active daily users. Whether you are on the Poké Ball bandwagon or not, the fact that Pikachu is relevant again is inevitable. While my inner child is giddy about this new app, my adult, 9-to-5, working-self needs to get it together. So, I felt I needed to address the most current, pressing question, “How do you play Pokémon Go at work, and still maintain an upstanding work ethic?”

What You Need to Know

The most recent Google search of Pokémon Go features an article by USA Today that states:

Last week, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company launched Pokémon Go, a game for iPhones and Android smartphones featuring the classic video game franchise where players catch and train special creatures called Pokémon.

What makes the game special is its use of augmented reality, where Pokémon will appear as if they’ve been spotted in the real world.

You can read the full article here.

3 Ways to Play and Keep Your Job

I would argue that the best feature about this game is the fact that the player has to get outside and walk to find new Pokémon. However, what do you do in the unlikely scenario that you have the great fortune misfortune of being surrounded by interactive features at work? (Nashville readers, the AT&T building is a lure and basically all of Broadway is a slew of Pokestops.)

1. Lunch Breaks Have Never Been More Convenient

This article by Forbes highlights the health benefits behind being a part of the Poke-phenomena. Use your lunch breaks to get outside and walk; find what different Pokémon you can catch today. Finding the same ones every day? No problem. I have recently collected about 15 Zubats, but in my frustration, I learned about transfer options and the rewards that come with it.

2. Walking After Work

While some office locations lend themselves to be active after work more than others, finding a Poke Gym near you is always a good excuse to pack those tennis shoes in the morning. The weather is warm and the possibilities are endless, invest your free time exploring new parts of your city. Pokémon Go does recommend being aware of your surrounding and staying safe, above all.

3. Make it a Relevant Topic

Maybe you are the social media coordinator at your current position, or maybe you know who writes the blogs for your company. Maybe you have nothing to do with gaming at all and work for a nonprofit that promotes business ethics. Find a creative way to incorporate this new hobby into your routine. Keeping your brand’s content relevant is a key strategy to developing shareable content. Hopefully, you’ll be able to show your boss some ROI by being creative! How can you position your mission statement using this hot topic?

Whether Pokémon Go is here to stay or not, it is clear that it has swept our country with wildfire traits. Fun fact: while the game was launched globally, servers could not keep up with the high demand of users and has temporarily confined its programming to the US and Australia until they can solve server issues. All child fantasies come true aside, it is inspiring to see what this game is doing for a demographic that would otherwise not be engaging in physical activity.

Subject matter experts at Vanderbilt University commented on the fact that it will be fascinating to see what the health numbers read like in a couple of years if this augmented reality gaming feature prevails.

Happy catching, Poké Fans! May your will power be strong and your catching be fruitful.

Remember, Ethics DO Matter.

Alexia Kammer
Business Development Specialist, NASBA Center for the Public Trust