From Chaos to Clarity, Using Systems Thinking to Make Sense of Complexity
This review is for the book club. Next month we're reading A System for Writing by Bob Doto. Check out the future reads and join 500 other book lovers

Most of us interact with complex problems daily. If it's not in your job, look a
https://curtismchale.ca/2025/02/23/from-chaos-to-clarity-using-systems-thinking-to-make-sense-of-complexity/
#BookClub #influencer #overwork #resilient #SystemsThinking #zettelkasten

Colombia's "webcam models" are speaking out about abuse in one of the world's top providers of adult webcam content. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/28/world/society/colombian-webcam-models-abuse/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #worldnews #society #colombia #southamerica #pornography #workstylereform #sexualharassment #powerharassment #overwork

Japan is considering obliging boards of education to draw up and publish programs aimed at reducing the overtime hours of public school teachers. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/01/24/japan/teachers-overtime-hours/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #education #teachers #overwork

Burnout (2023) [3 min] by Lourdes Báez | #Mexico

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbZ7BLfQrZE

The government Tuesday decided to raise adjustment allowances for public school teachers, paid instead of overtime, gradually to 10% of base salaries from the current 4%. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/12/25/japan/teachers-allowances/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=mastodon #japan #teachers #wages #overwork

"Working in this field in 2024 is like..."

1. #Chaos and #Uncertainty
"A never-ending escape room."
"A rollercoaster."
"Walking through a desert."
"Navigating an ever-changing maze."
"Being in a snowglobe while someone is shaking it."

2. #Overwork and #Fatigue
"Pouring cold water on your head while your feet are on fire."
"Running on a treadmill."
"Walking a tightrope."
"Trying to swim in very low water."
"Being stretched a little thinner every day."

1/6

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/johnpcutler_working-in-this-field-in-2024-is-like-activity-7267338922458771457-jyfk?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios

Japan's health ministry is planning to ban employees from working for 14 consecutive days or more, a move aimed at tackling the nation’s infamous overwork problem. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/11/13/japan/society/japan-limit-consecutive-workdays/ #japan #society #jobs #overwork #mentalhealth #laborlaws

A quotation from Jerome, Jerome K.:

«
It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. I love to keep it by me: the idea of getting rid of it nearly breaks my heart.
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/jerome-jerome-k/72697/

New regulations are aimed at easing the stress of the badly paid hard slog of trucking, and making it more attractive to young people in aging Japan, where some 90% of goods are transported by road. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10/20/japan/society/2024-problem-trucking-sector/ #japan #society #trucks #workstylereform #jobs #overwork

The final phase of capitalism - the destruction of the population in the name of profit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8wWoQ3_F00

The health ministry has found widespread examples of overwork and work-related stress in the entertainment and health care industries, it said in its 2024 white paper on karōshi (death from overwork) prevention measures. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/10/11/japan/society/karoshi-entertainment-health-care-report/ #japan #society #jobs #overwork #surveys #mhlw

→ Posting vulnerability on LinkedIn
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14614448241243094

“On one hand, posting #vulnerability on #LinkedIn is a strategic form of digital #selfbranding, which monetizes vulnerability and #depoliticizes its meanings. At the same time, vulnerability posts have the potential to form a basis for #resistance to digital and #work cultures’ glorification of #overwork, individualized #resilience and self-sufficiency, and the constant pressure to #selfpromote.”

Despite recent trends in South Korea to work less and maintain a better work-life balance, some businesses might be moving back to the idea of longer hours meaning more productivity, with a few influential companies telling executives to work longer hours. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/08/06/companies/south-korean-firms-6-days-week/ #business #companies #southkorea #jobs #overwork #workstylereform #overtime #sixdayworkweek #worklifebalance

A quotation from Joubert, Joseph:

«
Idleness is a necessity for the mind, as much as work. Talent is ruined by writing too much, and rusted by not writing at all.
 
[L’oisiveté est nécessaire aux esprits, aussi bien que le travail. On se ruine l’esprit à trop écrire; on se rouille à n’écrire pas.]
»

Full quote, sourcing, notes:
https://wist.info/joubert-joseph/71113/

So the summary on this is like: bosses think AI will make their workers more productive. Rather than *checking to see if this is true*, they just piled more work onto the workers.

In the meantime, it turns out the AI shit is *an extra, added burden*. So workers are struggling to deal with the dual whammy of increased expectations plus worse working conditions.

This is not tenable.

https://www.upwork.com/research/ai-enhanced-work-models

A special committee of a panel advising the education minister has compiled a comprehensive package of measures to secure public school teachers, featuring proposals to strengthen support for young teachers and reduce their burdens. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/07/17/japan/society/hiring-young-teachers/ #japan #society #schools #teachers #overwork #mentalhealth #education #wages #workstylereform

The Japanese government has urged the construction industry to do more to improve labor conditions to secure workers amid a growing worker shortage. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/07/01/companies/construction-industry-labor-shortage/ #business #companies #constructionindustry #wages #overwork #workstylereform #laborlaws

Amid a series of safety incidents at Japan Airlines, ground handling staff and pilots at the carrier have expressed apprehension about a lack of on-the-job training and difficulties communicating with more senior employees. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2024/06/26/japan/jal-safety/ #japan #jal #airlines #aviation #overwork #workstylereform

Japan, for all its hardworking image, appears to be a global leader in quiet quitting, according to a Gallup report. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2024/06/12/japan-quiet-quitters/ #business #jobs #gallup #workstylereform #overwork