Do you also procrastinate and put your work off until tomorrow? And then, at the back of your mind, you knew you must have done it today, but your laziness is so much engrossed within you that it didn’t allow you to get up and do it today.

Well, we all go through this moment. Mostly on weekends, when we are at home, we tell ourselves that today we should do cleaning, dusting, organizing wardrobe, and go grocery shopping, yet the day ends, and we are still left with all the to-dos that were there at the start of the day. All we did was glued to our phones or Netflix! 

So whose fault is it? No, we are not telling you to judge and criticize yourself for this mistake. However, we are here to inform you of your responsibilities and how, by following a secret weapon straight from the land of efficiency— Japan can help you promptly eliminate this laziness.

So, let’s dive in now and say goodbye to the “tomorrow trap.” Explore what these techniques are and how useful they are in overcoming our laziness. 

8 Japanese techniques to help you overcome procrastination and laziness

In this blog section, we will discuss eight traditional Japanese methods that can assist in overcoming laziness and improving productivity. These techniques have deep roots in Japanese culture, and Japanese people have been using them for many years, so they are always energetic and in high spirits. 

1.Kaizen ( Continuous improvement )

This Japanese philosophy states that you don’t have to complete all the tasks simultaneously to overcome laziness. In reality, this won’t be possible and will also exhaust you. You break your tasks into small parts and achieve them slowly by taking one step at a time. Using this technique, you make progress little by little instead of focusing on completing the task simultaneously.

Problem: It takes you at least 30 minutes to prepare lunch every morning

Solution: Set a timer for 15 minutes and prepare two items the night before. This helps reduce preparation time by 50% and creates room for additional improvements.

2. Pomodoro ( Focus and productivity )

Developed by Francesco Cirillo,  this Pomodoro technique helps you stay focused longer while taking small intervals in between. It allows you to set a timer of 25 minutes where you will focus on your particular task until the timer is turned off and take 5-minute breaks afterward. Using this technique, an individual can maintain optimal productivity while preventing exhaustion and idleness by focusing on productivity and taking small breaks for rejuvenation.

Problem: Overwhelmed with a large project with a nearby deadline?

Solution: Work on a project for 25 minutes continuously, followed by a 5-minute break. Repeat this cycle four times before taking a long break. This way, the Pomodoro technique will allow you to combat laziness while being productive. 

3. Ikigai ( Discover your purpose )

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that also refers to “finding your purpose in life” or “the reason for being.” Finding one’s purpose leads to happiness and fulfillment, so when you have attained such a level of satisfaction, you will be less likely to be lazy and stay motivated. Therefore, by discovering and pursuing Ikaigai, you can overcome laziness and stay motivated by working on something you genuinely love and care about.

Problem: Feeling lost and lacking purpose in life.

Solution: Focus on what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and how you can be paid. Integrating these areas can help you live a meaningful and content life, leaving no place for laziness. 

4. Kanban ( The visual management tool )

Kanban, originating from Japan, is a project management approach that revolves around visual signals. In this technique, a unique card on the board visually represents each task or work item. The true meaning behind this technique is to enable team members to easily track the work progress in a highly visual manner as it moves through the various stages of a workflow.

Problem: Feeling overwhelmed by a to-do list, not knowing how to move forward?

Solution: Kanbal uses a visual board with columns for organizing tasks into “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done.” It encourages limiting the number of tasks being worked on at once to avoid multitasking, prioritizing tasks, and providing a clear view of progress.

5.  Mottainai ( Waste not )

This Japanese concept focuses on not being wasteful. This technique makes you realize the value of time and encourages you to not waste time on unproductive activities. All you need to do is identify areas where you spend most of your time and energy and take steps to eliminate these bad habits. By being mindful of your time and energy, you will not procrastinate and delay your important tasks.

Problem: Too much left-over food in the kitchen

Solution: Be mindful of the situation, creatively use left-over food, and appreciate the value of all the edible items rather than mindlessly throwing them out. 

6. Wabi-sabi ( Embrace imperfection )

This Japanese philosophy allows you to embrace imperfections and always try to be perfect. Instead of worrying and stressing about every little detail, focus on completing the task without being perfect in every situation. In other words, you must accept that completing the task is much better than being perfect. So embrace your imperfection with the help of Wabi-sabi and focus on achieving your goals by no longer procrastinating. 

Problem: Feeling sad because of a damaged and broken bowl?

Solution: Use the Wabi-sabi technique, which appreciates flaws and celebrates the bow’s journey by making it more visually appealing. 

7. Gaman ( Having patience and perseverance )

Gaman is a Japanese concept of enduring difficult situations with patience and dignity. It involves demonstrating strength and resilience in the face of adversity. To get rid of laziness, one should follow Gaman as it allows one to stay dedicated through challenging tasks during tough times and focus on achieving their goals or objectives. Doing so lets you become mentally strong and even learn to handle tough situations easily.  

Problem: Trying to avoid a challenging task because of fear of failure or feeling overwhelmed

Solution: By using the Gaman approach, you must recognize the difficulties and keep its long-term advantages in mind. It focuses on achieving small, attainable steps, any progress made, even if it means enduring temporary discomfort to attain future benefits. 

8. Shokunin ( Mastery of one’s profession )

In Japanese, a Shokunin is a person who has dedicated his life to his work or profession by approaching it greatly through dedication, commitment, and excellence. When you follow Shokunin, you no longer act as a victim in the area of motivation and overcome laziness in any mundane task or significant project you do.

Problem: Doing tasks quickly without any focus and also creating many errors

Solution: The Shokunin approach suggests treating every task as a form of art, prioritizing quality, and paying attention to all the details. It involves taking pride in one’s work and constantly striving to learn and improve, even when dealing with mundane tasks.

Final Words

These are some of the Japanese techniques that are quite popular in helping you overcome laziness and achieve your desired goals. Each method described above is unique in its way and shares insights on different ways you can combat laziness in your life. You must remember that the journey towards success requires commitment, as it is a process, not a one-time magic. So you must develop these good habits that will change how you live and think, both in personal and professional areas. 

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