Overwhelmed? The Tiny Habit That Can Transform Your Life

It’s a Japanese term meaning small, continuous change, and it’s the heartbeat of the Organised Artist membership. The beauty of Kaizen is that it works quietly in the background, no big dramatic overhauls, just simple, steady progress.

The problem is, when life feels overwhelming, we often believe we need a massive, all-at-once reset to feel better. We imagine a perfectly organised home, a spotless workspace, or a totally restructured routine, but the sheer scale of those changes stops us in our tracks. Instead of making progress, we stay stuck in a loop of frustration and clutter, waiting for the “right time” to start.

I know this feeling well. Years ago juggling raising small children whilst teaching, I was buried under marking, lesson planning, and setting homework. My weekends were swallowed up by schoolwork. But instead of tackling everything at once, I began making small tweaks: refining my marking system, streamlining lesson prep, and removing unnecessary steps. Bit by bit, I created breathing room in my day. Now I finish all my work at school, and I haven’t brought work home in years.

That’s the magic of Kaizen:

• Gentle progress over perfection

• Small wins that build momentum

• Lasting change without overwhelm

If you want to apply Kaizen to simplifying your life, try:

1. Start with the easiest win – Choose one surface, drawer, or folder and clear just that.

2. Make one improvement to a routine – For example, set out tomorrow’s clothes before bed or put your bag by the door.

3. Remove one unnecessary thing – This could be an unused app, a duplicate kitchen utensil, or a commitment that drains your energy.

4. Review and repeat – Once a change feels natural, make another small tweak.

Over time, these micro-improvements will transform how you live and work, without the stress of an all-or-nothing approach.

If you’re feeling like now isn’t the time to make changes, remember this: Kaizen is built for busy seasons. You don’t have to wait for a quiet moment to start you just need one small step today.