1/6 Techniques to overcome laziness

Below you will find of of the six techniques, philosophies, and concepts from Japanese culture that can help combat laziness by promoting motivation, clarity, and a sense of purpose. While these are not “quick fixes,” they provide frameworks for steady personal growth, discipline, and well-being.

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1. Kaizen (改善) – Continuous Improvement

• What it is:
  Kaizen is a philosophy of making small, continuous changes to improve processes, habits, and overall quality of life. Rather than trying to make a massive change overnight, Kaizen emphasizes incremental progress.

• How it helps with laziness:
  By breaking large goals into small, manageable steps, you avoid the feeling of overwhelm and procrastination. Each tiny step completed gives you a sense of accomplishment and motivates you to keep going.

Action Tip:
Pick one habit (e.g., doing 10 minutes of reading per day) and commit to it consistently. After a week or two, expand it slightly—maybe to 12 or 15 minutes. Over time, these small improvements accumulate significantly.