Do you think you have been lazy in achieving your goals? Do you have a guilty conscience? Don’t be afraid! You are not alone. We’ve all experienced this situation: staring at a blank screen, unmotivated or simply unwilling to complete tasks. All these things are considered signs of laziness.
Laziness is a common obstacle that reduces productivity and prevents us from achieving our goals. However, the Japanese have a wealth of wisdom and techniques that can help us overcome laziness and get back on track. In this article, we review 8 common techniques in Japanese culture to overcome laziness:
- Ikigai: Find your purpose
- Kaizen: Embrace small improvements
- Pomodoro Technique: Manage your time
- Hara Hachi Bo: Practice moderation in affairs
- Shushin: Cultivate a beginner’s mentality
- Wabi-Sabi: Find beauty in imperfections
- Shinrinyoko: Reconnect with nature
- Kekibo: Take control of your finances
1. Ikigai: Find your purpose
One of the most powerful ways to deal with laziness is discovery Ikigai Or it is your existential mission. When you have a clear goal, motivation and passion to do things becomes easier. Take time to reflect on your strengths, interests, and needs in the world around you. What makes you feel alive and satisfied with life?
A great example of someone who found their Ikiga is Teiichi Igarashi. He was an employee but left his corporate job! What did he want to do? He wanted to learn the traditional art of Japanese paper making. He moved to a small village in the mountains and devoted his life to preserving this ancient art. Igarashi tasted the satisfaction of life by working towards his mission. How do you feel happy?
2. Kaizen: Embrace small improvements
The Japanese concept of Kaizen, or continuous improvement, teaches us that big changes come from small, continuous steps. Instead of trying to completely change your life all at once, focus on small daily improvements. For example, you can wake up a quarter of an hour earlier in the morning and meditate, you can read a few pages of a book at night before going to sleep, you can walk for a few minutes after lunch. Small changes may seem insignificant, but they have dramatic effects in the long run.
Toyota, the Japanese automobile giant, is famous for using kaizen in its manufacturing process. By encouraging employees to suggest small improvements and consistently implementing them, Toyota has become a leader in efficiency and quality.
3. Pomodoro Technique: Manage your time
Technique Pomodoro It is one of the simple and effective methods for time management that can help you maintain your focus and not overwhelm you with fatigue. Work in 25-minute intervals followed by a 5-minute break. After completing four Pomodoros, you can take a longer break, about a quarter to half an hour.
Do you know why this technique works? Because you break big tasks into smaller parts. With this seemingly simple but very important action, you can manage difficult tasks in the form of small actions and complete them. The method is also a great way to overcome initial resistance when starting a project. Once you’ve completed a Pomodoro, you’ll often find yourself motivated to keep going.
4. Hara Hachi Bo: Practice moderation in affairs
The concept of Hara Hachi Bo means in Okinawa, eat only until you are 80% full. This concept can be applied in many aspects of life. This concept reminds us that we should observe moderation in everything and avoid excesses, because excesses can cause fatigue and laziness.
In the workplace, this concept can mean avoiding the temptation to take on too many projects or work long hours without a break. By practicing Hara Hachi Bo, you can maintain a steady pace so you don’t get tired.
Many business leaders and senior managers who oversee multiple projects and teams often work long hours. They take on more responsibility than they can and because of this, they ignore their personal life.
Is this situation familiar to you? How can you apply Hara Hachi Bo to your work life?
First, start by assessing your current workload and identifying where you may be overcommitting yourself. Instead of saying yes to every project that comes your way, start practicing moderation. You can do this by evaluating each opportunity based on how well it aligns with your company or team’s goals, whether it will fulfill the company’s mission, and whether you have the personal ability to do it. If a project doesn’t meet these criteria, learn to delegate or reject it.
Second, make sure you prioritize your tasks and focus on the most important ones. Set realistic deadlines and communicate them clearly to your team and stakeholders. This will help you avoid the temptation to work too long to meet unrealistic deadlines.
You can encourage your employees or team members to practice Hara Hachi Bo. The easiest way to do this is by leading by example. Promote a culture of work-life balance and self-care by making sure your employees take regular breaks, use their vacation time, and don’t work late when they don’t have to. By practicing moderation and balance, you will ultimately improve your performance and that of your team.
5. Shushin: Cultivate a beginner’s mentality
Shushin, or beginner’s mind, is a Zen concept that encourages us to approach tasks with an open and curious mind, free of preconceptions and expectations. When we let go of the need to be perfect or have all the answers, we are more open to learning and growing.
This mindset can be especially helpful when faced with new or challenging projects. Instead of being overwhelmed by the work, approach it with a sense of curiosity and a desire to learn. You might be surprised at how much easier you can improve.
Steve Jobs, one of the founders of Apple, was known for his ability to think differently and face problems with a beginner’s mind. He once said: “The beginner’s mind has many possibilities, but the expert’s mind has little.” By maintaining a sense of curiosity and openness, Jobs was able to innovate and create products that revolutionized the technology industry.
6. Wabi-Sabi: Find beauty in imperfections
Not to be confused with wasabi! The Japanese aesthetic of wabisabi celebrates the beauty of imperfection, simplicity, and ephemerality. By adopting this mindset, we can let go of the need for perfection and focus on what really matters.
In terms of overcoming laziness, Wabi Sabi teaches us to prioritize progress over perfection. Instead of getting bogged down in the details, focus on action and incremental improvements. Remember that it’s better to do something partially than not do it because you’re afraid it won’t turn out great.
The concept of WabiSabi in business is often applied to the development and launch of new products or services. Reed Hoffman, one of the founders of LinkedIn, said: “If you are not ashamed of the first version of your product, you launched it too late.” This quote suggests that it’s better to embrace failure and iterate quickly than to wait until you have a completely perfect product.
The idea of launching a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) embodies the Wabi Sabi philosophy. An MVP is a version of a product with enough features to satisfy early customers and provide feedback for future development. By launching an MVP, businesses can test their assumptions, gather user insights, and make improvements based on real-world data.
Embracing Wabi Sabi in the workplace encourages experimentation, learning from failure, and continuous improvement. By adopting this mindset, business leaders promote a culture of innovation and agility.
7. Shinrinyoko: Reconnect with nature
Shinrinyoko, or forest bathing, is a practice of immersing yourself in nature to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase overall health. Studies have shown that spending time in nature can have a profound effect on our mental and physical health.
When we’re feeling lazy or unmotivated, taking a break to connect with nature can be a powerful way to recharge and refocus. Whether it’s a short walk in the park near home or a weekend hike in the mountains, take some time to enjoy the magic of nature.
Dr. King Lee, a Japanese physician and researcher, has studied the effects of Shinrinyoko on human health for more than a decade. His research has shown that forest bathing can reduce stress hormones, improve immune function, and even increase creativity and mental clarity.
8. Keke Bo: Take control of your finances
Finally, the Japanese method of budgeting kekebo can help you take control of your finances and reduce financial stress, which can be a major factor in laziness and procrastination.
Kekebo includes tracking income and expenses, setting financial goals, and reflecting on spending habits. With clarity over your finances, you can make more informed decisions and feel more focused on pursuing your goals.
Keikebo is a traditional Japanese method of budgeting that helps people manage their finances more carefully. The word Kike Bo means home financial office.
This method was popularized by Hani Motoko, Japan’s first female journalist, in the early 20th century and encourages people to approach their consumption and savings in a manual and reflective way.
This process begins with setting financial goals at the beginning of each month. These goals usually revolve around how much money you plan to save and how much you plan to spend in different categories such as food, entertainment, transportation, etc. Write down all your projected expenses and income to get a clear picture of your financial situation.
Throughout the month, carefully record every expense, even the smallest, in your Kike Bo notebook. This exercise will make you aware of your spending habits and help identify areas where you can save. At the end of each month, review your spending, reflect on your financial decisions, and evaluate whether you’ve met your savings goals.
The key principles of Kekebo include the following:
- Spend less on non-essentials.
- Reflect on purchases and their value in your life.
- Prioritizing savings for future goals.
Kekebo’s goal is to empower people to achieve financial stability and create a more conscious relationship with money by cultivating careful spending habits and regular reviews. The simplicity and efficiency of this method has made it popular all over the world.
Fumiko Chiba, a Japanese journalist and author of Kekibo: The Japanese Art of Saving Money, used this method to get out of debt and build a solid financial foundation. By tracking her spending, setting clear financial goals and reflecting on her purchase decisions, Chiba was able to regain control of her money and feel more empowered in her life.
are you lazy Learn from the Japanese!
Laziness is a universal challenge that we all face at some point in our lives. Feeling unmotivated, procrastinating, or struggling to find the energy to take on responsibilities is a natural human tendency, whether you’re the CEO of a multinational company, a student, or anyone in between. However, it is necessary to know and be aware that laziness is not an obstacle that cannot be overcome, and there are effective strategies to do so.
So, if you find yourself in a period of laziness and lack of motivation, the first step is to admit it without shame. Laziness does not define your worth as a person or your potential for success. Instead, see it as a temporary situation that you can change.
To overcome laziness, it is important to understand its root causes. Laziness can be caused by a variety of factors, such as lack of purpose, unclear goals, too many tasks, fear of failure, or even exhaustion. By identifying the specific reasons behind your laziness, you can develop targeted strategies to deal with them.
This is where the wisdom of Japanese culture comes into play. The eight techniques discussed in this article provide a comprehensive approach to overcoming laziness and unlocking your full potential.
Incorporating these Japanese techniques into your daily life can create synergy and help you overcome laziness and reach your goals with renewed energy and focus. However, remember that change takes time and practice. Be patient with yourself, celebrate your progress, and embrace your personal growth journey with open arms.
Which of these methods have you already tried to overcome laziness? Do you know another effective technique? Share your experiences with us.
Barriers to progress Know yourself and make success your permanent habit.
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