Get Your Kaizen On

.

 

Caution: This is a long post!  I’ve highlighted certain areas (in purple) in case you do want to read it, but don’t have a lot of time to take it all in right now.  If that’s the case, just skim through the highlighted areas, but come back later to read the rest of it and to follow along with me as I write more about this.

 

After arriving at that place where certain things just weren’t working, I came across an idea that just made sense to me – not because it, in its simplest form is unique because it isn’t necessarily so, but because it was the complete opposite of how I usually go about things.  My usual way of doing (or “un-doing” if that’s my goal) is all at once / cold turkey, basically trying to achieve the goal on day one, and then continue from there.  I think the “a-ha” moment for me was mostly in realizing how I’ve always gone about it & understanding why that didn’t always work.

 

Kaizen is a continual improvement philosophy.  It is a Japanese term: Kai meaning change or action to change; Zen meaning good.  Before I lose you thinking we are delving into Eastern philosophy here, this is merely a method of doing something and not a spiritualistic experience for me.  My Christian beliefs are solid and I will only mention and do those things that relate to this philosophy that do not contradict those beliefs. 

 

Kaizen basically boils down to this – slow, gradual change.  Flylady has a similar concept in her Baby Steps program, but instead of outlining the actual steps, Kaizen is just the philosophy that you can apply to any area of your life and map out the best plan for you.

 

I was introduced to this term and idea by SimpleMom who incidentally is putting it into practice in an area I am also interested in.  She is also a Christian and explains her view on the concern with Zen related philosophies.  The belief of the Japanese may intertwine a philosophy and spiritual experience, but you don’t have to delve into anything “zen spiritual” to use this method to achieve goals.

 

Reading Forming New Habits, it just clicked with me that it did not matter how small the steps you take are, as long as you are moving toward your goal.  If the steps are small enough, you may not completely realize that gradual move toward your goal until you are there.

 

The first area I am going to use the Kaizen plan on is exercise.  By starting small, and slowly, gradually adding to it, it starts do-able and continues to be do-able.  Thank you SimpleMom for already mapping out this plan.  It fits my goals also and I’m glad to join you.

 

EXERCISE

 

Goal: 30 minutes per day, 6 days a week.

 

WEEK ONE – August 4 – 10

60 min total / 10 min per day

 

WEEK TWO – August 11 – 17

90 min total / 15 min per day

 

WEEK THREE – August 18 – 24

120 min total / 20 min per day

 

WEEK FOUR – August 25 – 31

150 min total / 25 min per day

 

WEEK FIVE – September 1 – AND ON…

*** Goal should be met ***

30 minutes per day, 6 days a week

 

By following this plan, in one month’s time, I will be exercising 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week.  Starting out at 10 minutes per day (very reasonable) and increasing only 5 minutes per day each week is that small, gradual change that my body will hardly notice.  The great thing about this is that it works with all factors.  It isn’t just about my body being able to do the 30 minutes right off the bat, maybe it could; but it is also about the other factors – making time for it, remembering to do it, etc.  I could even do 5 minutes twice a day, so it would be super simple to fit into my day, even while maintaining this blog and all that goes along with it, keeping up with a toddler, and all the other things life has to offer (or throws at ya, lol).  I think personally dedicating time to it is the main focus of my goal.

 

If you would like to join me, that would be very cool.    That’s a lot more fun that doing it alone!

 

 

Thank you for visiting the original Shake The Salt!!