How to Maximise Your Productivity 100× According to These Japanese Principles
The Japanese way brings fulfillment and heath along with the wealth
The Japanese people are the most productive group of people.
To an outsider, they may appear as workaholics because they always seem to be doing something even on the weekends.
But they don’t fit the standard definition of a workaholic” that we know. For us, a workaholic is a person who ignores everything and is hyper-focused on work, their Ferrari, and a handsome income more than compensates for their lack of discipline and success in the other areas of life like dedicating time to family, health, etc.
Most of us fluctuate between the two extremes:
Extreme work to the point it affects our life
Extreme laziness to the point it affects are life
Despite appearing super busy, the Japanese people lead such a balanced and healthy life that not only increases their life expectancy but also keeps them happy and productive till the very end of their days
Give yourself a task that’s a bit difficult
Doing something a bit challenging is what keeps our attention hooked. A task that isn’t mentally challenging can lead to boredom because it doesn’t stimulate our brains.
Similarly, a task that’s way too difficult for you can also lead to boredom because you’re not well-equipped to grasp the concepts and everything just goes over your head.
For example, an art student picking up a human anatomy book will put it down after a few minutes if they don’t know the basic biological concepts. They do so, because they can’t make sense of the information in front of them because they lack that certain set of skills required to grasp the complexities of human anatomy.
On the other hand, a medical student who’s just learned the anatomy of the heart will find it super interesting to learn about its blood supply. The topic will be challenging enough to engage the complete attention of the student yet at the same time, it’ll be interesting enough for that particular student because of their previous knowledge, so they won’t get bored.
This is an example of how taking things a step ahead always keeps you engaged.
Next time while doing work, challenge yourself to do a little bit better than you did previously. Try to write your article half an hour early, add a new step to your dance routine, etc.
Challenge yourself to an extent that’ll push you while keeping your goals realistic.
For example, try writing an article half an hour early, instead of trying to write it an hour early. Cutting back half an hour is a realistically achievable goal in comparison to cutting back an hour.
Have a clear objective
According to the Japanese, the state of flow
can only be achieved by having a clear goal.
What’s a state of flow?
It’s the immersion in work to such an extent that time loses relevancy.
It’s important to achieve the flow, know what you plan on achieving by doing a certain thing, it’ll help you achieve the flow, but also stop thinking about the objective once you sit down to work.
A person is twice as likely to work harder once the objective becomes clear. A concrete objective not only boosts a person’s productivity but also improves the productivity of the company.
Employers who take time to discuss the project’s goals with their employees are guaranteed to yield better results because knowing the objectives make them able to work on what’s important and cut off unnecessary details.
A clear goal makes a person more energized and productive because the reward is clear. It’s the same as playing a video game where you’ve to fight someone for new resources to unlock.
Remember, the thoughts that you think and the statements you make regarding yourself determine your mental attitude. If you have a worthwhile objective, find the one reason why you can achieve it rather than hundreds of reasons why you can’t.__Napoleon Hill
Don’t multitask
Whatever you do, don’t multitask. It’s a scam that they feed to people.
Studies have found that multitasking reduces productivity and motivation.
Our brain gets tired from switching between the tasks and as a result, loses focus.
Multitasking prevents a person from giving complete attention to any one task which results in poor quality of work.
For example, if you sit down to write an article and you’re listening to the music and replying to the texts at the same time, the chances of the quality of that article being poor are very high because all these distractions will keep you from focusing on a deeper level.
Instead of multitasking, try the Pomodoro technique:
Give your undivided attention to any one task at hand for 25 minutes and then take a 5-minute break. This will help you refocus.
Turn off your notifications to ensure maximum focus.
This technique ensures the maximum productivity but bear some conditions in mind while practicing it to ensure maximum benefit.
Focus on only one task at a time, doing any other thing, no matter how important, will distract your focus.
Do not check your social media account during the five-minute break.
Checking social media accounts and texting friends is a task in itself, it’ll distract you instead of relaxing you.
Instead, close your eyes, take a stroll around the room or go wash your face to rejuvenate yourself.
Meditation
Meditation is so vital to anchor all our rushing thoughts. Through meditation, we can tell our brain that it’s gonna be alright.
You don’t have to be an expert to get the Meditation right. Just sit in a quiet place, close your eyes and deepen your breathing and focus on its pattern.
Do it for a few minutes and you’ll notice an instant shift in your energy, you’ll feel much calmer and focused. Meditation provides a shore among the sea of turbulent thoughts.
Meditation is essentially training our attention so that we can be more aware — not only of our workings but also of what’s happening around us in the here & now.__Sharon Salzberg
Do it whenever you feel overwhelmed and it’ll work like a charm.
The power of rituals
The most prominent thing about the Japanese lifestyle is their obsession with rituals.
These people are obsessed with following the process without looking for a shortcut which makes even their ordinary things seem poignant.
Their attention to detail is breathtaking. That’s why you’ll find the art in ordinary bakeries just as much as you’ll find it in any high-rated place.
The thing they do differently is that they’re focused more on the process than its results which adds feelings to the ordinary things.
We can do it too by:
Breaking a task into smaller pieces and setting milestones.
Setting mini rewards for completing each milestone to keep up the motivation.
Stop obsessing over the result; it’ll take away the focus.
Paying attention to the details to make the work more interesting.
Live an unhurried life
Most importantly, learn to live in the present.
The state of flow means enjoying the present so much that you forget to worry about the future.
This is one of the secrets to longevity and happiness.
Research has shown that time pressure leads to tunnel vision and that people think more creatively when they are calm, unhurried, and free from stress and distractions. We all know this from experience. — Author: Carl Honore
Hurry only ruins productivity because we’re so focused on the upcoming tasks that we fail to perform the task at hand efficiently.
Be wise about how you spend your time but once you’ve chosen your tasks, work at it with the grace of a Swan, don’t rush through them.