Conquer Laziness with the Japanese Kaizen Method: The One-Minute Principle
“Starting Monday, I’ll turn over a new leaf—hit the gym, practice budo, do self-massage, work my abs…” We’ve all set ambitious goals like these, only to let them slip, pushing them off to next month, a few months, or even next year. Could it be that we falter because we aim too high too fast, piling plans on ourselves like a heavy load that keeps us from taking even a single step?
Sometimes we dive in early, managing, say, three intense weekly sessions, only to drop everything for months. Why does this happen? The effort feels overwhelming, boredom creeps in, and the habit hasn’t had time to take root.
The Kaizen Method, or the One-Minute Principle
Enter the Japanese “Kaizen” approach, built around a beautifully simple idea: the one-minute principle. The gist? Commit to a task for just one minute each day, at the same time, without fail. One minute is a whisper of time—small enough that anyone can manage it. Laziness won’t dare stand in your way. Those same tasks you’d dodge for half an hour, conjuring excuses or justifications, become effortless in a mere sixty seconds.
Jumping rope, doing crunches, stretching your eyes, practicing kamae, or reading a page in a foreign language—when capped at a minute, these don’t loom large or daunting. Instead, they spark joy and satisfaction. And with these tiny strides, you refine yourself and edge closer to bigger wins.
Kaizen took root in Japan, its name a blend of “kai” (change) and “zen” (wisdom). More than a method, it’s seen as a philosophy, equally at home in the boardroom or your personal life.
Western minds might scoff at its modesty—here, we’re often sold on the notion that big results demand big effort. Grand, draining schemes can break a person, leaving them empty-handed. But Kaizen’s gentle nudge fits everyone, adaptable to countless corners of life. In Japan, for instance, it’s a cornerstone of business, driving steady, incremental progress.
All that’s left is to pinpoint what you need and put Kaizen to work in your own world.
