Currently it is the 紅葉 (こうよう) season in Japan, and I hear it’s a beautiful time to visit.
Lately I have been pretty busy, so I would share some tips that helped me the most with staying on track with studying when I’m busy with other things such as work.
*have a set number of exercises to complete each day (but just set the bare minimum amount)
For example. I just cover two pages of the textbook and call it a day sometimes. The key is consistency over time, not a large quantity each time. When you are busy with other things, that might be all you can manage and that’s okay. But once you complete that small amount, you might realize you might have energy to do more.
*get in the zone and have a relative time to study daily
For me, that means getting my much-needed coffee, turning on some Lo-Fi hip-hop or jazz/bossanova hits, and turning on all the lights (because my room is always dark and I always study in the evening everyday).
*activity-pairing
As a chronic multitasker, this has worked for me a lot. But basically pair one study activity with another activity. Like listening to Japanese podcasts while you walk your dog or fold your laundry. Watch a Japanese show while you exercise. I enjoy doing this, but it might not work for everyone.
*study the topic you dislike the most when you are the most awake
For me, I don’t really enjoy learning vocabulary that much, but as soon as I am fully awake (and had my coffee), I try to get through those flashcards on my phone. Otherwise I won’t want to do it for the rest of the day.
*never stop
James Clear mentions this for habit building, but as soon as you miss two, three, or more days, it can be hard to get back into the habit (especially for self-studiers). That’s why it’s better just to study for a small period than not at all when you’re busy.
I hope some of this was useful. I’m sure you’ve heard it all before, but I just wanted to put in some of my personal anecdotes into it as well too.
Disclaimer: This is a compilation of tips I have used over time. I am not the original creator of these tips.
framed in beige 