Yutori (ゆとりor 余裕) refers to a sense of mental spaciousness, or psychological leeway. It is the feeling that you have extra space— in your mind, in your day, or your life— so that you are not overwhelmed. When you have yutori, you are not packed with to-do’s; instead, you feel a sense of calm, margin, and room to consider life or others.
In present, yutori has gained resonance in the last decades due to the association with social and work pressures.
It originated from the reduction in scope and difficulty in the Japanese education system, through yutori kyōiku (ゆとり教育), or “relaxed education.”. Class hours and Saturday classes were largely eliminated. Its aim was to reduce academic pressure, slow the pace of life, and foster more creativity, independence, and psychological well-being in children.