We can argue that human beings naturally follow rituals that make us busy. In modern Japan, religious rituals are unusually pervasive in daily life and business practices.

The main religions of Japan – Confucianism, Buddhism and Shintoism – are all religions in which ritual is more important than absolute rules. In doing business in Japan, the process, etiquette and style of doing a job are more important than the final results.

However, it is an undeniable fact that it is easier to get the work done in a “ritual workplace” than in a workplace with constant stress trying to achieve the goals set by your bosses. Ritual rituals give us clear rules and goals which help us enter a state of flow at work. When we have only one big goal in front of us, we can feel immersed or overwhelmed; rituals help us to have a process, steps on our way to achieving the goal.

When it comes to achieving a big goal, try breaking the goal down into parts and then working on achieving each part. Use your daily rituals as a tool to enter a state of flow and focus on enjoying your daily rituals.