Ikigai (生き甲斐)
Iki in Japanese means life, and gai describes value or worth.
The Japanese word ikigai is often translated to ‘your life purpose’. Ikigai can encompass your life purpose, and can be as small as a daily ritual.
Discover your purpose in life by finding something that makes you wake up each day. Finding your Ikigai means aligning your work with your passions, talents, and the things that bring you joy.
Purpose fuels you.
Kaizen (改善)
kai translates to change, revision; and zen - virtue, goodness.
Kaizen is the Japanese concept of continuous improvement.
It emphasizes making small, incremental changes over time to improve efficiency and effectiveness.
Focus on small improvements each day.
Zen Mindset
Zen Buddhism emphasizes mindfulness, presence, and simplicity. Applying a Zen mindset to your work can help you stay focused.
Become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, By acknowledging these emotions without judgement you can work through them regaining your motivation.
Wabi Sabi (侘寂)
wabi means subdued, austere beauty, while sabi means “rustic patina.”
Wabi-sabi is an aesthetic philosophy that celebrates the beauty of imperfection, transience, and simplicity.
Embrace imperfection, as there is beauty in simplicity.
Shoshin (初心)
Shoshin means beginner’s mind.
It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions.
The idea behind shoshin is that when you approach life with a beginner’s mind, you are more receptive to new experiences and insights. You let go of assumptions, biases, and preconceived notions, which can often limit your understanding and growth. Instead, you adopt a mindset of curiosity and humility,
Kakeibo (家計簿)
kakeibo can be translated household ledger.
It’s a simple yet effective way to track your income, expenses, and savings, with the goal of achieving better financial stability and mindfulness about your spending habits.
Applying this concept to your daily tasks and goals can help you become more mindful of how you use your time.
Pomodoro
Pomodoro is an Italian word for tomato.
The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo, he initially used a tomato-shaped kitchen timer to track his work intervals.
It involves working in short, focused bursts with regular breaks, therefore aligns with the idea of mindfulness and focus found in Japanese philosophies.