“A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his thought to derive benefit from his illnesses.”― Hippocrates.

Like a badge of honor, many in our fast-paced, modern society love to show off their ability to forgo sleep, food and rest to get stuff done. The cry for “productivity” has become an obsession for many.

We have other people prepare our food. We get the bare minimum of hours each night to work late and get going early. We outsource everything that we can afford to save ourselves time. After all, time is money.

Well, I’m not so sure.

Visit a small town in Japan, any will do, and you will see a different way of life. You will see people moving slowly and methodically. You will see artisans that savior their work.

Working is fundamental to the culture, but how they approach work differs. It is not about how much one can do; it is about how well one can do, usually of fewer things.

The Japanese way is one of “Less is more.” By focusing on fewer things, one can seek mastery. Compare this to the way Western culture approaches work and results.

We want to do as many things as we can, as fast as possible. As a result, we spread ourselves thin.

We don’t become masters of any one thing. Of course, there are pros and cons to each way, and I think each could learn a bit from the other, but overall, I believe the healthier way for the human being, both psychologically and physically, is the slower, “less is more,” way.

Colin Stuckert, Founder/CEO, Wild Foods