The Japanese focus on imperfection to prevent burnout
A better and kinder perspective on productivity
How are you doing these days? How do you feel when you wake up?
Many of us start our day with the feeling that we are behind. Behind in work, in school, our health goals, our finances, or our relationships. Prolonged, we end up feeling like we are spending our whole lives trying to catch up– catch up to who or what is not always exactly obvious, but we know we’re running behind.
And so we end up burnt out.
If you often find yourself in this position of never being productive enough, always behind, and overwhelmed by the prospect of how much you still have left to do, I offer a different perspective: You are already caught up, and anything you accomplish today is progress.
You are already caught up, and anything you accomplish today is progress.
It’s two very different perspectives: Scrambling to catch up, versus simply making progress. Even when what we accomplish in a day is the exact same, emotionally we will end the day on very different levels.
When we take on the perspective of catch-up, we may lie in bed stressing about what we didn’t finish, and what we need to do tomorrow. We hold little compassion and empathy for ourselves. We feel like a mess, and out of control. Taken too far, we find ourselves overwhelmed, burnt out, and needing to take far more time to recover.
But when we choose the perspective of progress, we let ourselves feel accomplished, productive, and confident. We’re moving ahead, and feeling energized by it.
We are able to take rest when we need it, rather than feeling guilt over the prospect of doing nothing.
A tradition of valuing imperfection
Humans are psychologically prone to see things through the negative lens– we are biologically drawn to focus on our shortcomings, mistakes, and imperfections. While helpful in the world of survival, in the modern world this can negatively affect our ability to find contentment in life.
In moments like this, I like to remind myself that in Japanese culture there are several traditions that emphasize the value of imperfection.
Kintsugi is the art of taking broken ceramic pieces and fixing it with gold, which doesn’t just emphasize the cracks, but makes it beautiful.
Wabi-sabi is a philosophy that values imperfection and finds beauty in the natural.
Focus not on what you lack, but on what you’re doing well.
Compassion for yourself is key
When it comes to consistency and perseverance, compassion is key. Focus not on what you have yet to do, but try to see your life through the lens of continuous progress– recount what you have done and accomplished at the end of the day, and then let the day reset tomorrow.
You are already caught up, and anything you accomplish today is progress.
Warm regards, Kaki
In other exciting news…
I’m publishing my first book! It’s called Wa: The Art of Balance.
Wa — the Japanese word used to describe Japanese things — also means harmony, and represents the value of seeking balance to live a well-rounded life. Writing the book was a lot of work, but a lot of fun and I’m very excited!
It’s an illustrated guide to simple and easy-to-adopt daily practices that teaches how anyone can learn to find balance and vitality in life. I hope you enjoy it.
Pre-order now (available on Penguin Random House and various retailers)!
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