Want to make big changes in 2026? Try this fast and easy Japanese approach

"An idea is from Japanese manufacturing, of all places. It means "continuous improvement." The practice of tiny actions. A step so small your brain's resistance (a built-in fight-or-flight response to big, scary changes) doesn't even bother to fight it. I use the kaizen approach as a backdoor to building new neural pathways. I'm not forcing change; I'm gently guiding my brain into new habits, one step at a time."

"That's how I started writing almost every day. I opened my laptop and started putting thoughts down at the same time daily. I didn't aim to write a whole page. Just ideas down. After a few weeks of the same practice, writing things down became easy. Not effortless. But the resistance was not the same. That's the kaizen advantage. You work with your psychology, not against it."

"Kaizen matches how you live. Say you want to read more. The old way: "I'll read 50 books this year!" You buy a stack, stare at it, and feel behind by February. The Kaizen way: "I'll read one page before bed." One page. You'll often read more. But on the worst day of your life, one page is still a victory. You've kept the habit alive. One tiny bit of progress at a ti"

Kaizen originates in Japanese manufacturing and means continuous improvement through tiny, incremental actions. The practice uses steps so small that the brain's resistance does not trigger, allowing gradual habit formation and new neural pathways. Tiny daily actions like opening a laptop and jotting thoughts at the same time each day reduce resistance and make consistent behaviors easier. Stacking small, reliable habits and rituals creates momentum that compounds into substantial change. Choosing minimal goals, such as reading one page before bed, preserves the habit even on bad days and keeps progress alive.

Read at Fast Company