Top 10 Japanese Techniques to Overcome Laziness & Procrastination

If at any auspicious moment in your life you’ve said:

• Homework: Not today, I’ll do it tomorrow
• Assignment: Not today, I’ll do it tomorrow
• Project: Not today, I’ll do it tomorrow
• Exercise: I’ll start from tomorrow

Then this article is exactly for you. According to surveys, 20% of people regularly procrastinate (or keep delaying something that must be done). Today, we’ll learn about 10 Japanese Techniques to Overcome Laziness and Procrastination.

Now, the question is, why should we learn Japanese techniques? Because, despite two nuclear attacks, the Fukushima nuclear accident, numerous tsunamis, and thousands of earthquakes, Japan is:

• The third-largest economy in the world
• Home to 9% of the Fortune Global 500 companies
• The most disciplined nation in the universe
• A country where an investigation is launched if a bullet train is one minute late

What is the reason behind Japan’s success? It’s the Japanese people. So, let’s learn about the To 10 Japanese Techniques that have made Japan so successful, and that can also make you successful!

1. Kaizen: Kaizen is continuous improvement through small incremental changes. But why do we need small changes? Because the human brain does not like change. A part of the brain, the amygdala, interprets change as a threat and releases stress hormones. According to Newton’s First Law of Motion, a stationary object wants to stay stationary, and a moving object wants to stay in motion unless acted upon by an external force. Similarly, our brain resists developing new habits. So, to develop habits, we need to put in extra effort. Therefore, focus on small improvements every day. Instead of doing everything at once, just aim to make progress little by little.

Take an example: A woman had severe health issues due to obesity and went to a doctor. She said she didn’t have time to exercise because of her busy schedule. The doctor asked her if she liked listening to music, and she said yes. The doctor then asked if she could dance to her favorite song for just one minute every day. A week later, the doctor asked if she could now dance to the entire song. Gradually, the patient started doing extensive exercise daily. Believe it or not, she lost 20 kg in a year. If the doctor had asked her to start exercising for an hour daily from the next day, could she have done it? Most probably, no. This is why continuous improvement through small incremental changes works significantly.

Conglomerates like Toyota, Honda, Sony, Toshiba, Canon, and Nissan follow the Kaizen method. You can apply the Kaizen method to your daily routine, office work, personal development, and relationship improvement. No matter how bad something is, you can always improve it. You can develop a healthy diet habit by changing one food ingredient daily. You can quit smoking by reducing one cigarette per week.

2. IKIGAI = Purpose to Live: Discover your purpose in life. Find out why you wake up every morning. How to find out Ikigai:

• What you love to do and what you’re good at becomes Passion
• What you love to do and what the world needs becomes Mission
• What you’re good at and what you get paid for becomes Profession
• What you get paid for and what the world needs becomes Vocation

Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar is the best example of this. He loved playing cricket since childhood. He became one of the best cricketers ever. He earned fame and money through cricket and entertained the whole world with his master class. So, find your Ikigai. Did you know the Japanese don’t retire? They keep doing what they love for as long as their health allows.

3. Pomodoro technique This technique is very effective for those who can’t concentrate on work or studies. If I tell you to study for four hours straight, your brain will start resisting. But if you study for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break, your brain will feel much more relaxed. After repeating this four times, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. However, there’s a modified version. If you’re studying complex formulas or preparing for civil service exams, you can take a 10-minute break after 50 minutes. But remember, we’re not Japanese; we’re Indian, so be careful not to turn a 5-minute study session into a 25-minute break!

4. 5 Why The 5 Why technique is used for root cause analysis. Toyota Motor introduced the concept. To find out the root cause of any failure, ask “Why” five times.

Example:

1. I can’t concentrate on studying. But why? Because I keep looking at my mobile.
2. Why do you keep looking at your mobile? Because I keep getting notifications.
3. Why are notifications coming through? Because my mobile isn’t on flight mode.
4. But why did I check the notifications while studying? Because the mobile was right in front of me.
5. But why was the mobile in front of you? Because I’m used to having my mobile with me 24/7.

Here, the mobile is the root cause.

5. 5S Technique (Seiri, Seiton, Seiso, Seiketsu and Shitsuke): The 5S technique is used to enhance productivity. Do you feel good when your house is cluttered? No one does. Moreover, it takes a lot of time to find things.

• Seiri = Sorting: Whether it’s your home or office desk, get rid of things that are not useful.
• Seiton = Set in order: Keys, mobile, laptop, clothes, or shoes – everything should be kept in order so that when you leave the house, you can easily find everything.
• Seiso = Shining or Cleaning: Everything should be kept clean.
• Seiketsu = Standardization: Make a SOP (Standard Operating Procedure).
• Shitsuke = Sustain: Now, be disciplined to sustain the process.

If you maintain the 5S technique, you won’t have to break your study or work flow to get up repeatedly for a pen, pencil, or water bottle. Let’s all follow the 5S technique to build a beautiful life and, at the same time, create a Clean India, Beautiful India.

6. Rule of Three Let’s say you decide to do 10 tasks today. But the problem is, the brain influences you to work on easy tasks first. So, we often end up doing unimportant tasks first and overlook the important ones. That’s why you need to create your Top 3 Priority Tasks daily, and at any cost, you must complete those tasks.

7. Hara Hachi Bu – The 80 Percent Secret We Indians love to eat to our heart’s content. But the Japanese believe in filling their belly to 80 percent. Why? Because eating more than necessary makes you sleepy, tired, and less productive. When we eat together with family or friends, and there’s extra food left, we often say, “Let’s all take a little bit and finish it.” Remember, your belly is not a dustbin! Let’s promise not to overeat from today.

8. Shoshin – Approach tasks with a “beginner’s mindset:” The Japanese begin every task with a beginner’s mindset. In many areas of life, we behave as if “I know everything.” Don’t fall into this trap. Whenever you think you know everything, all opportunities for learning and improvement are closed. Just be open to learning and trying new things.

9. Wabi Sabi – Embrace imperfection: We often hesitate to start something because we think we’re not ready. Don’t waste unnecessary time chasing perfection. Wherever you are, whatever your condition is, just begin your journey. Done is better than perfect, so go ahead and take action.

10. Nana korobi ya oki – Fall seven times, rise eight: We have failed many times in various ways at different stages of life. Our story doesn’t end until we give up on the desire to rise again. So, “Nana korobi ya oki – Fall seven times, rise eight” fits very well in our lives.

Amitabh Bachchan became almost bankrupt at the age of retirement. But he didn’t give up. He reinvented his strategy. He started working on TV with KBC and took on supporting roles in movies like Mohabbatein and Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, setting aside his ego and stature. The rest is history. He is a legend for a reason. So if you feel defeated in life, remember, it’s not the end of the story; try to rise eight.

In conclusion, Top 10 Japanese techniques for overcoming laziness and procrastination offer valuable insights into personal development and productivity. From the practice of continuous improvement through Kaizen to finding purpose with Ikigai, and embracing imperfection with Wabi Sabi, these methods encourage us to take small, consistent steps toward our goals. By adopting a disciplined approach like the 5S technique, focusing on priority tasks with the Rule of Three, and maintaining resilience through Nana korobi ya oki, we can transform our mindset and habits. These techniques not only contribute to Japan’s remarkable success but can also empower us to achieve our own potential, reminding us that progress, no matter how small, is the key to lasting change.