“Big brain genius”: Gamer finds the ultimate “lazy” hack to trick himself into going to the gym
TikToker and content creator Max Balegde has found a way to turn his self-proclaimed laziness into motivation.
In a now-viral clip, Balegde revealed that he brings his Nintendo Switch to the gym so he can play games while walking on the treadmill—his only reliable method for getting his steps in.
“At first I was embarrassed about it,” he said in the Oct. 29, 2025, TikTok video. But then he realized, “I’m double, triple multitasking, brev—catching Pokémon, fighting crimes,” and working out all the while.
The clip started a conversation that revealed Balegde isn’t the only one incentivizing himself to work out by bundling the activity with a more pleasurable one. People replying to the post said in addition to gaming, they watch shows, shop online, read books, or scroll social media while they get their reps in.
Balegde’s habit of playing Nintendo Switch while logging time on a treadmill is a perfect example of what productivity experts call “temptation bundling.”
The term, also known as “activity bundling,” describes a strategy for completing tasks and increasing willpower by pairing a harder, “should-do” task with a more pleasurable one.
In fact, a behavioral therapist who replied to the post gave Balegde’s hack the stamp of approval in a comment that read, “pairing a preferred activity with something you hate is a great idea.”
“Get on my level, brev!”
Balegde’s video has over 400,0000 views and 50,000 likes on TikTok. “I’m so unbelievably lazy, that the only way I’ve managed to persuade myself to go on the treadmill at the gym is by bringing my Nintendo Switch,” he said.
“At first I was embarrassed about it,” Balegde admitted. “But now I just think I’m a big, fat, doubledecker, big brain genius.”
@max_balegde Get on my level!!!!!
♬ original sound – Max_Balegde
Commenters shared the tempting activities that enable them to clock hours at the gym. Just be careful, the trick has its limits. @simk1d wrote the hack works… “except for when you can’t play Animal Crossing anymore because it reminds you of work 😂.”
“I started watching Grey’s Anatomy for the first time and I’m only allowed to watch on the treadmill. It’s a good thing every freaking episode is a cliffhanger.”
“I manage 2 hours on the stairmaster thanks to TikTok.”
“This is something I do actually 😅 I have a walking pad and I force myself to to only play video games if I’m also walking too.”
“That’s so real tho cos who is doing cardio without a little movie?”
Max Balegde did not immediately reply to the Daily Dot’s request for comment via TikTok.
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