Every January, we fall into the same trap: we try to “reinvent” ourselves overnight. But in the year 2026, the trend has taken a turn towards a more suitable and soulful approach: The Japanese Habit Refinement.

Instead of viewing bad habits as a personal failure to be erased, Japanese philosophy treats change as a slow and beautiful process of repair and gradual growth.

These are few ways you can break your bad habits this year using three powerful Japanese concepts:

Kaizen:The 1% Rule

In the western countries, the people think they need “willpower” to bring a change in themselves. However in Japan, the people use the method of “Kaizen,” which refers to “continuous improvement.” The secret to success through this method is to bring little changes in your daily routine, such that it becomes absolutely impossible to fail in your task.

The Habit Philosophy: Unnecessary late night scrolling.

The Kaizen Formula: It is not required that you switch off your phone or uninstall the distracting apps, instead place it in a drawer for just one minute before bed.

How it helps: The small wins that you achieve everyday through these little changes, makes your brain overcome the “fear response” change. Once that one minute feels easy and you find enjoyment in doing that task, it naturally grows into five, then ten, until the habit is rewritten.

A women scrolling till late night. This habit can be conquered upon with effective Japanese strategy known as "Kaizen."

Kintsugi:Honor The “Cracks”

Kintsugi refers to the art of repairing broken pottery with the help of gold, making every piece much stronger and much more beautiful than having been broken. In habit- breaking, we often feel broken when we don't finish up a target that we were to complete. We tend to think, “oh, I ate one cookie, so my whole diet routine is ruined now.”

The Habit Philosophy: To get success, stop the habit of trying to be “perfect.”

The Kintsugi Formula: If you are finding yourself falling back into some kind of an old habit, don't try to hide it or quit. You need to accept this fact and try to understand the reason behind its recurrence and the causes that triggered this habit into getting back to your life’s routine.

Pen down your inner thoughts including your fears or any bad habits that keeps on recurring. This is known as Japanese strategy of "Kintsugi."

How It Helps: By viewing this fault as a golden opportunity towards improvement, you build “Post Traumatic Growth.” In this way, you are not only returning to your older version; rather becoming a stronger and more resilient version of yourself that is capable of handling failure in a matured way.

Shoshin:The Beginner’s Mind

One definite reason behind our failure in every new year is that we think that we already know the ways we can change, which automatically leads to heighten up our ego. The method of shoshin, encourages us to approach every task, even the ones we have done previously, with the same curiosity just as a beginner.

The Habit Philosophy: Goal is to quit a sedentary lifestyle.

The Shoshin Formula: Instead of making the habit of visiting the gym, you can go for a 10 minute walk as if you have never walked that path before. While you walk and after that, notice the texture of the leaves, the temperature of the air around you and the feeling in your feet.

A man took the way of nature to feel it's real beauty. It is also another way of Japanese strategy known as "Shoshin."

How It Helps: When you bring a lot of curiosity to a new habit, you automatically remove the burden of the task. You aren't exercising, you are exploring the real nature around you.