The Productivity Show Stop at Enough: Productivity the Japanese Way
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Sep 24, 2025 Discover how the Japanese principle of Hara Hachi Bu—stopping at 80% full—can transform your productivity. Learn to recognize the dangers of overwork, emphasizing the importance of pausing before exhaustion. Gain insights on ruthless prioritization and managing energy for meaningful tasks. Explore the value of creating margin in your day for spontaneity and recovery. Finally, actionable tips help you stop at 'enough', enabling a more balanced and satisfying life.
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Learning Hara Hachi Bu On A Food Tour
- Tan Pham describes learning about hara hachi bu on a food tour in Japan and connecting it to productivity.
- His travel experiences repeatedly reveal cultural practices that inform Asian Efficiency's approach.
80% Rule Applies To Work And Life
- Hara Hachi Bu means stopping at about 80% full and extends beyond eating into life and work balance.
- Recognizing a natural stopping point prevents chronic overextension and burnout.
Margin Beats Chasing 110%
- Stopping at 'enough' creates margin for energy, creativity, and focus rather than chasing 110%.
- Overpursuit of 'more' typically leads to burnout, loss of satisfaction, and reduced performance.