6 Ways Japanese technique that can motivate you and enhance your productivity

Think about it: how many times have you delayed getting started on that pending task? Or finally signing up for that course you love?

Sometimes, laziness, fear of not doing it perfectly or apathy keep us from doing a lot of activities, or we put them off so much that we end up losing valuable time that we could be enjoying.

There are many reasons that can lead us to this. But there are also solutions.

To do this, the Japanese have a lot of techniques that can help us overcome laziness and find motivation. Here we tell you about them.

Ikigai

Without a direct translation from Japanese, this term represents the idea of ​​the happiness of living. It is, essentially, the reason why you get up every morning.

For those in the West who are more familiar with the concept, it is often associated with a Venn diagram with four overlapping qualities: what you love, what you are good at, what you need, and what you can be paid for.

Ken Mogi, a neuroscientist and author of “Awakening Your Ikigai,” says ikigai is an ancient and familiar concept to the Japanese, which can be translated simply as “a reason to get up in the morning” or, more poetically, “waking up with joy.”

And Japanese psychologist Michiko Kumano (2017) has said that ikigai is a state of well-being that arises from devotion to activities one enjoys , which also brings with it a sense of fulfillment.

In short: find something that motivates you every day, that is a reason to move. It can be anything from having a small space with plants, taking care of a pet or learning something new every day.

Kaizen

The Kaizen philosophy is based on making small changes and constant improvements in all areas of life.

This goes against the idea of ​​wanting to master something from day one. Something that, besides being impossible, generates a lot of frustration and can make us abandon what we set out to do.

The way to do this is to set small daily goals and focus on small improvements. The secret is to commit to taking at least one step that will get you closer to this.

These small steps will help you overcome inertia and create a steady momentum toward productivity. And also find the details to improve little by little.

This technique dates back to the post-war period in Japan and, for example, on the website of the well-known company Toyota they recognize this system as one of their basic principles of the production system.

The translation into Spanish is, roughly speaking, continuous improvement . “Kai” means “change” and “zen” means “for the better.” It is a philosophy that helps ensure maximum quality, the elimination of waste and improvements in efficiency, both in equipment and in work procedures.

Pomodoro Technique

When a task is difficult for us to do, either because it is tedious or because it requires concentration, this technique can help us.

Although the technique was invented by Italian Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, it is widely used in Japan to increase productivity and make daily tasks more enjoyable. It is known as “pomodoro,” in reference to tomato-shaped devices used to count the minutes.

Matthew Bernacki, an associate professor at the School of Education at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in the United States, tells the BBC that this technique, using blocks, is good for avoiding distractions.

For example, set 25 minutes on the clock and, during that period, dedicate yourself exclusively to studying a content or doing a task , whether intellectual or physical, and disconnecting from all distractions.

Afterwards, you have five minutes to reward your brain with a distraction , such as having a snack or checking your messages. And then you come back for another 25-minute block of studying.

This technique helps not only to avoid wasting time on distractions, but also to keep the brain motivated with the prospect of a “reward.”

Hara Hachi Bu

“Do not put in your stomach -Hara- more than 80% of what you would like to eat (Hachi Bu).”

That’s more or less what this technique means, which basically consists of not stuffing yourself with food until you are full.

So what does this have to do with productivity and laziness? Just think about how you feel after a big meal, where you’re left feeling stuffed. You feel like taking a nap, right?

The solution would be this technique, which originated in the city of Okinawa, where people use this advice as a way to control their eating habits .

Psychologist Susan Albers, PsyD, says this approach is helpful because it tells you to stop eating when you feel just barely full.

When you look at your plate, the Cleveland Clinic explains, decide how much would make you feel full, and then figure out what 80 percent of that would look like. Maybe that’s two-thirds of the food on your plate. Try to feel satisfied and not hungry, rather than feeling full.

Shoshin

This concept comes from Zen Buddhism and means “beginner’s mind.”

This idea comes from the monk Shunryū Suzuki, who wrote: “In the mind of the beginner there are many possibilities. But in the mind of the expert there are few.”

This technique is about approaching everything we do with an open attitude, without prejudices or preconceptions, regardless of the level of experience we already have in that subject. Exactly as a beginner would do.

This, on the one hand, allows us to accept that we do not know everything. Several scientific studies have shown that this posture of modesty is very beneficial for the person who adopts it, according to Forbes India.

Why? Because approaching something with curiosity and an open mind also leads us to persevere in something, be innovative and dare.

Wabi Sabi

The term wabi-sabi is not only untranslatable, but is considered indefinable in Japanese culture.

It is a term that originated in Taoism during the Song Dynasty in China (960 -1279) and was later transmitted to Zen Buddhism.

Initially seen as an austere and restrained form of appreciation, the term today encapsulates a more relaxed acceptance of the transient, nature and melancholy, making room for the imperfect and incomplete in everything from architecture to ceramics to floral arrangements.

“As we strive to create perfect things and then struggle to preserve them, we deny their purpose and miss out on the joy that comes with change and growth,” writes Lily Crossley-Baxter in an article for BBC Mundo.

And when it comes to focusing on productivity or doing a task or hobby, it’s about embracing imperfection instead of stressing about the details. Or, in other words: “Perfect is the enemy of good.”

Because while we strive to make something perfect, paying attention to every little detail, we are probably wasting precious time.