The hedonic treadmill is an idea that people quickly return to a stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative changes in their lives. For example, if you win the lottery, you might feel very happy at first. However, over time, you get used to the new wealth, and your happiness returns to its previous level. The same happens with negative events. After a while, people adapt and their happiness bounces back.

In gamification, this means that users might initially be excited by rewards and achievements, but over time, they get used to them, and their excitement levels off. To keep users engaged, focus on creating meaningful and varied experiences, such as challenges, interactive storylines, social interactions, and personalized feedback. These varied experiences help maintain long-term user interest and satisfaction.