[Read in 5 minutes!] Japan: The country where 'not taking a break' is still considered a virtue

—To those who blame themselves for resting

It's Yohaku💫

Today, let me write about the atmosphere that says,
'People who don't rest are admirable'
🌿

In Japan, doesn't that atmosphere still exist somewhere?

People who can work without resting are amazing.
People who don't take much paid leave are diligent.
People who smile even when they are tired are strong.

That kind of atmosphere.

But I think that
if we make not resting too much of a virtue,
people will gradually accumulate fatigue.

Resting is not being lazy.

I think it's time to protect yourself today
so that you can work tomorrow too.

Writer of this article: Yohaku-chan
I share information about working while dealing with the waves of anxiety disorder and bipolar disorder. I write articles related to mental health and articles from the perspective of someone actually living with these conditions.

Why do I feel sorry when I take a break?

I don't think I'm the only one who feels this, but

before taking paid leave,
don't you feel like you want to apologize for some reason?

'I'm sorry, I'll be taking the day off'
'I'm sorry for the inconvenience'

like that.

Of course, coordinating work is important.
Consideration for those around you is also important.

But originally, paid leave is a right, isn't it?

And yet,
for some reason, it feels like you're about to do something wrong.

Thinking about work even on your day off.
Worrying about notifications even when you're resting.
Feeling a bit anxious when you're not doing anything.

This is tough, isn't itーーー🥲

Are Japanese people really working too much?

It is often said that
"Japanese people work too much."
But...

However, looking only at the numbers,
there is also the argument that working hours alone are not exceptionally long.

But what is important here is that
I don't think it's just about the length of time spent working.

Are we really resting
during our time off?

That is the point.

I think there are many serious people in Japan.

Not causing trouble for others.
Doing what you are assigned to the end.
Properly fulfilling your role.

This is also a strength of the Japanese people.

But when that strength is expressed too strongly,
a sense of guilt about taking a break emerges.

"Is it okay for me to be the only one resting?"
"I feel bad because everyone else is working."
"Maybe it's not enough to take a break."

By doing that,
you end up putting your own fatigue on the back burner.

"Otsukaresama desu" is a bit strange

There is a phrase often used in the workplace.

"Otsukaresama desu" (Thank you for your hard work).

In the morning, at noon, in the evening.
Even if the day has just begun,

"Otsukaresama desu"

is what we say.

Of course, this is a wonderful phrase to show appreciation for others.
I use it normally too ☺️

But after experiencing studying abroad,
the way I see this phrase has changed a little.

Every time I returned to Japan and said
"Otsukaresama desu" (Thank you for your hard work)
at the office,

Huh?
The day has only just begun, yet
it's already assumed that I'm tired.

I felt a little strange about that.

It felt as if in Japan,
conversations start
with the assumption that you are tired.

What I heard while studying abroad was "How's it going?"

When I was studying abroad,
what I often heard at the local university was

"Hi, how’s it going?"
"How are you doing?"

those were the words.

Not with the assumption that you are tired, but
asking how you are
right now.

Of course, different countries have different cultures, so
I don't mean to say which one is right or wrong.

"Otsukaresama desu" is also,
I think, a kind, uniquely Japanese phrase.

But, with just those few words,
I felt I could see
a glimpse of the atmosphere regarding how that country works and rests.

In Japan,
"You must be tired."

Where I studied abroad,
"How are you now?"

This difference has left quite an impression on me.

I was always keeping watch over myself when I was resting

I myself was really bad at taking breaks.

Even when I finished work and went home,
work was still continuing in my head.

"Did I handle that correctly?"
"What do I have to do tomorrow?"
"Am I working as well as I used to?"

My body was at home, but
it felt like my mind had been left at the office.

Even on my days off,
I couldn't relax if I wasn't doing something.

Even though I was actually just tired,
if I wasn't doing something,
I felt like my value was decreasing.

Looking back now, I wasn't really resting;

I think I was,
constantly watching over myself while I was supposed to be resting.

'Are you actually resting?'
'Shouldn't you be spending your time more meaningfully?'
'Is it okay to be lounging around like this?'

It felt like I had a surveillance camera pointed at myself even on my days off 😂

No wonder I couldn't get any rest.

The reason why we feel guilty about resting

People who feel guilty about resting
are probably not lazy.

On the contrary,
the more serious, responsible,
and observant of others you are,
the more likely you are to put your own fatigue on the back burner.

For example,

・Feeling like you're causing trouble if you're the only one taking a break
・Feeling sorry before even taking paid leave
・Worrying about work messages even when you're off
・Feeling like time spent doing nothing is a waste
・Thinking 'I can still keep going' even when you're exhausted

These kinds of feelings.

I had them a lot, too.

'I should take a break'
even though I knew that in my head,

somewhere in my heart,
I was looking for a 'reason to be allowed to rest'.

Because I'm feeling unwell.
Because I've reached my limit.
Because someone told me to.

Without reasons like those,
I felt like I wasn't allowed to rest.

But in reality,
it's too late to rest only after you've reached your limit. (lol)

People who don't rest aren't necessarily strong

People who don't take breaks are strong.
People who can work until their limit are admirable.
People who can smile even when tired are good at their jobs.

I feel like that atmosphere
still lingers a little.

But I don't think
that truly strong people
are the ones who keep running until they collapse.

Truly strong people
are those who can recognize their own fatigue.

Those who can admit they need to rest.

Those who can protect themselves today
in order to work tomorrow.

Resting is not the same as giving up on work.

Rather, it is
preparation to keep working!

Even a smartphone won't work if you don't charge it,
and flowers can't keep blooming without water.

There's no way that humans alone
can keep moving without resting!!

You don't have to blame yourself for not being able to rest

In Japan, there is still an atmosphere somewhere
that says "not resting is admirable."
It exists.

In such an environment,
feeling guilty about resting
might be natural in a sense.

But I don't think you should blame yourself for not being able to rest.

You're just not used to resting.
You just haven't been taught how to rest.
You just haven't had the leeway to notice that you're tired.

The more you have valued working,
the more you should value resting from now on.

I don't think that not resting
is the only form of diligence.

Continuing to work while protecting yourself
is also a perfectly diligent way of living.

So today, for those who tend to push themselves too hard,
there are words I want to say to myself!

That it's okay to rest!

You don't have to search for a reason to rest
until you reach your limit!!

So that you can keep living tomorrow,
it's okay to have some time to relax today🌿

# 67Days

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