The air they breathe is moribund worse than ours. The joy they awaken to is childless, sexless isolation. If you had not noticed the first world is a lethal failure. How do you measure the success of a species that refuses to breed in its "freedom" and "affluence"?

Lately I saw a documentary about how young people try to be dedicated to their work until the max, fearing to get sacked, they work up to 16-18 hours a day for a salary of only 8 hours. And without complaining. These are all modern companies like Toyota and other internationals. So, for cheap labor they don't have to outsource the work. They can insource.
But actually I love the principles of the old Japanese and Chinese philosophies also a lot, but there is a contrast. Maybe these youngsters should look into and learn from their own culture. They might find a lot of happiness there.

Thank you...... that's very interesting....

Yup..already do all of the above.

Taking a long walk as the sun rises resets your thyroid thermostat to high energy and a good mood, coordinates your sleep rhythms, and letting your mind float, immersed in nature's beauty is just as effective as an organized meditation session.

I always carry my Samsung tablet to read Kindle books during my commutes on Thai songtheaws and vans, I constantly take new roads when walking or driving my motorbike, etc.

My dogs get me up just as dawn breaks because it is obviously time to feed them. Instead of going thru large blocks of mental training, get yourself a couple of small yappy dogs that think they run you.

7 a.m
Greet the Sun

If you tend to linger under the sheets and hit snooze a few times before rising each day, Mogul says ikigai is for you. “Ikigai is sometimes expressed as ‘the reason for getting up in the morning,’” he points out. “It is what gives you an ongoing motivation for living your life, or you could also say that it gives you the appetite for life that makes you eager to greet each new day.”

The first lesson to incorporate into your routine? Wake up a little earlier to greet the day. “The ethos of getting up early in the morning is embedded in Japanese culture,” he says, nodding to the routines of fishermen and even sumo. “Hormonal regulations in the brain are known to be in harmony with the processions of the sun, [so] therefore it makes sense to live in synchrony with the sun, as the circadian rhythms are tuned to the natural cycles of day and night,” he explains. By adjusting your routine to be in line with the rising sun, you’ll feel more alert and capable to meet the challenges ahead. (If the no-snooze rule feels intimidating, see eight morning people share their wake up quick tips).

Mogi says mornings are also a great time to focus on small details and relish in the delight of little things. When comparing Japanese and American culture, he says, “I think there is more attention to the details, like how you prepare your cup of tea in the morning.” He recommends starting your day by eating something sweet. “No matter where you are in the world, if you make a habit of having your favorite things soon after you get up (for example, coffee), dopamine will be released in your brain, reinforcing the actions (getting up) prior to the receipt of your reward.”

8 a.m
Savor Your Commute

“Enjoy your commute [by] listening to your favorite music or audio book,” he says, a simple suggestion but one that can bring about joy. In his book, Mogi explains this in relation to hobbies: “People enjoy a sense of achievement in seeing a task through to completion. To the extent, that ikigai activity produces something of worth, it seems that the enjoyment of that end product is in the satisfaction of having done something.”

Something as simple as choosing a podcast series that engages or educates you and listening to one episode each day can turn your commute into a time you savor. Another option is journaling, writing a gratitude list, or something similar during your commute. All you need is a chic and positive notebook to scribble in.

Noon
Vary Your Routine

If you start to feel restless by noon, Mogi says it’s crucial to change up your routine, if only for a moment. “At lunch break, do something perpendicular to what you have been doing,” he says. “For example, if you have been in the office, go outdoors and take lunch under a tree. If you have been alone, chat with somebody. If you have been attending a conference, be alone.”

3 p.m.
Empty Your Mind

By midafternoon, you might feel as if you’re in a mental daze. Believe or not, this is the best time to do absolutely nothing, which, by the way, is harder and more deliberate than you’d think. “Just relax at the coffee break, and empty your mind for 10 minutes, thinking of nothing. Your brain’s default mode network would kick in, sorting out your memories and balancing your emotions,” he tells us. “Releasing oneself is very much related to being in the here and now,” a pillar of ikigai. “After all, it was in the traditions of Buddhist meditation that the modern concept of mindfulness was born.”