Start Implementing Kaizen This Holiday Season

What do you think of when you hear that the holidays are fast approaching? Are you excited and looking forward to them, or does the thought of them fill you with anxiety and dread?

For those of you who feel stressed by the mere thought of the holiday season, you may want to learn about a very simple way to begin to reduce the anxiety in your life. The good news is that it won't require more than 30 seconds of your time each day. All that is required is that you pay attention so what you are thinking, and focus on setting simple and completely achievable goals.

Dr. Robert Maurer, PhD is a psychologist in Arizona who speaks and consults around the world on the Japanese concept called "Kaizen." The Kaizen way suggests that you take small steps toward continuous improvement, instead of attempting to create radical change that you won't be able to keep up with and sustain over time.

So instead of declaring that you won't eat too much over the holidays, or spend too much money, or get caught up in the stress of buying gifts, you might think of one small thing you could do every day that is easily attainable. This can be something as simple as deciding to eat one bite less of dessert each time you have a holiday treat, or taking 15 seconds in the bathroom every day to breathe deeply three times. That's all you have to do, just take one tiny step whether it's a new thought, or a new action.

Kaizen is a gentle easy approach to problem solving that will enable you to attain your goal over time. When you implement simple small steps, you avoid triggering the fear and stress response in the brain, which are often what blocks success and the achievement of desired goals. No matter how busy or stressed you are by the holidays, you have at least 30 seconds a day you can give to yourself.

Sound too simple and ridiculous to be effective? Well consider this. After World War II, the entire Japanese economy was devastated. Dr. W. Edwards Denning introduced the principle of continuous improvement as a management strategy. Thousands of business managers enrolled into Management Training Programs and embraced the principle now known as Kaizen. As we know, the post war economy of Japan improved dramatically and productivity soared. Today the most successful business leaders in the world are starting to incorporate the Kaizen way into every area of their organizations.

So if it works for them, it can surely work for you. Just remember, start with something simple.

(One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way, by Robert Maurer, phD.)
Amy Hanavan M.S.W.

www.amyhanavan.com