FOUNDER & STORYTELLER
Jeff Shibasaki
Hey there! 👋🏻
I’m an ex-smoker and drinker, a reformed cheese addict, a recovering fast-food junkie, a retired stress machine, and a proud dropout from the “not me” club. It took time to level up, but I did it. And you can too!
Years ago, I set out to patch the habits that were holding me back. What I found was something bigger—a better way to live built on simple, repeatable habits. That journey led to patchOS and the Patches that bring those habits to life.
ORIGIN STORY
Building Patch Crew
PART 1
The crash
I thought I was doing everything right to stay healthy—no red meat, only drinking on weekends, and jogging on Saturdays. Then—bam! One ER trip later, I was on the operating table having my gallbladder removed. My system crashed. Hard!
It’s easy to fall behind when we stop paying attention. Showing up isn’t enough. We have to build better habits, too. That ER visit was my wake-up call. I didn’t want to spend the second half of my life with shoulda, woulda, coulda regrets. I was determined to fix my glitchy habits.
Armed with books, documentaries, podcasts, and dozens of open browser tabs, I took a deep dive—down rabbit holes that kept branching, looping, and going further than I ever expected.
PART 2
The patch
Even though I have no medical credentials, I realized I could create a behavior-change system using the same principles I use to design digital experiences: turning complex ideas into clear, simple, and easy-to-follow solutions. So that’s exactly what I did. I reverse-engineered advice from leading lifestyle-medicine experts into six default habits—simple, memorable, and easy to use.
Plan Ahead. Eat Well. Move Often. Stress Less. Love More. Sleep Deep.
These habits became patchOS—the operating system designed to patch the habits that hold you back and keep better ones top of mind through simple defaults.
patchOS isn’t a biohack. It’s a repeatable system that runs day after day, in any order. Don’t know who to call in an emergency? Plan Ahead. Tempted to grab a donut? Eat Well. Been sitting for a long time? Move Often. Feeling overwhelmed? Stress Less. Want stronger relationships? Love More. Tired all day? Sleep Deep.
Wellbeing isn’t about perfection. It’s about playing the long game with smarter choices.
PART 3
The reboot
Day by day, I started making real progress.
Minimize emergencies and maximize preparedness. Done. Switch to a whole-food, plant-based diet and stop drinking alcohol. Done. Build endurance to run five miles, five days a week. Done. Identify stressors and accept what I can’t change. Done. Stop holding grudges and move beyond my ultra-introverted comfort zone to be friendlier. Done. Create a cool, quiet, and dark sleep haven. Done.
With patchOS running smoothly, everything started to click. Brain fog? Gone. Snoring? Stopped. Cholesterol meds? Canceled. Weight? Down 35 pounds. Skin condition? Clear. Energy? Through the stratosphere. Strength? Back.
Today, I’m building Patch Crew to help people patch the habits holding them back—with patchOS and story-driven Patches that make it easier to start and sustain change. Let’s patch things up!
HOW I WORK
A quiet approach to hard problems
The same approach shapes my habits, my work, and Patch Crew.
OPERATING MODE
Don’t worry, be gritty
I’m a quiet problem-solver who likes hard problems. I break complexity into smaller steps, stay curious when the answer isn’t obvious, and keep going long enough to learn what works.
WHAT GUIDES ME
Less, but better
• Stay curious
• Think critically
• Be intentional
• Lead with kindness
• Respect everyone
• Skip the fluff
• Have fun
THE MANY HATS
Multiple roles, one purpose
Writing, design, teaching, and exploration come together to turn complex ideas into clear, practical, and engaging experiences people can trust.
WRITER
Stories make ideas memorable
A Staff UX Writer at Wellhub and lifelong storyteller, Jeff has written about Korean and Japanese culture—including Japanese Gestures on Apple Books.
DESIGNER
Systems should feel simple
Jeff founded Bento Sites, then moved deeper into UX design and writing—work recognized through the Interaction Design Foundation and UX Design Institute.
TEACHER
Learning works better when it’s fun
With a Cambridge CELTA and 12 years teaching across Japan, Korea, and Thailand, Jeff learned how play, clarity, and technology help lessons land.
EXPLORER
Curiosity is a compass
Jeff has lived with the Urak Lawoi, crossed the DMZ, cycled through Thailand, Korea, and Japan, climbed Mt. Fuji, and sailed the Pacific home.
FIELD NOTES
Change needscuriosity
Ready to find your starting point?