1. Set (reasonable) goals for yourself
The most important factor in pushing you to get up each day in the morning is if you have a plan in mind knowing there is something to be accomplished. Whether it's to learn the imperfect tense in Spanish or memorize 10 Chinese characters each day, setting goals for yourself is key to progress.
However, I can tell you right now that completing a grammar book in a single day will probably not follow through before you decide to quit. There's nothing wrong with being an overachiever or challenging yourself, but I think we tend to forget the reasonable limits that we should bear in mind. If a goal becomes too overwhelming that you relent to even opening the book in the first place, you end up reversing the progress of what you want to achieve. Most importantly, if you don't meet the goal you wanted, be kind to yourself! Even just small steps like learning 1 new word is progress.
2. Find study partners
As I've talked to Fernanda before in my podcast, finding a community of learners who can motivate you and make sure you've completed your goals can be extremely rewarding. A reminder that you're not alone in the process- which will also consist of many failures- is always comforting. More importantly, you can have someone to hold you accountable for your goals and someone to practice conversing with.
Get to know the people in the language learning community! I can assure you that you can find some of the most compassionate, welcoming, and hard-working individuals you've ever known!
3. Don't wait for motivation- just start.
Ever tell yourself "I'll start when the time feels right"? Or, I just don't feel like learning languages right now, I'll do it later.
Trust me, it's time to put that small voice away. The enormous relief when you finally start will leave you feeling much better than having that constant burden and nagging feeling of needing to do something in the back of your head. If you truly lack the willpower, start with something small- perhaps it can just be just completing a short 5-minute Duolingo lesson and hearing the satisfactory trumpet when you're done. Or just watching a small clip of a Spanish show.
I put a picture of swimmers to illustrate this idea- Just dive right in! There's no time to think about how cold the water is, how you would rather be sitting in your bedroom binging a Netflix show, or any other distracting factors. Once you're in the water, you're off!
4. Make sure to take breaks
This might seem antithetical to the advice I had just provided above but while it's great to continue pushing yourself forward, there is an equal need to sometimes take a step back and take a breather.
Burnout is something that I have heard far too many language learners struggle through and I can see why it tends to happen: with the prevalent studygram culture on Instagram, it may seem like we're incredibly behind other learners who seem to have 25 hours in a day dedicated to successfully checking off all the new years resolutions they've set for themselves.
Perhaps you can look at languages through the lens of relationships- too much for too long and you'll be fed up. Sometimes when you stay away from someone or something for a while, you start to realize how valuable they are.
5. Establish a routine- but also spice it up!
Did this image of a pepper catch your eye? This sudden burst of red is sure to get your attention in the sea of black and white text. I'm glad you're paying attention now because it proves my point.
A routine can become incredibly bland and monotonous over time if the same thing continues to repeat over and over again. Now this might work for some people *ahem the 5am morning routine CEOs * but for the rest of us with normal human capacities, excitement
comes through pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and trying something new.
Here are some challenges to try out:
Try reading a translation of your favorite novel (Harry Potter for example)
Watch a Netflix show in your target language
Create a blog (like this one) where you write in your target language
Listen to a podcast!
6. Celebrate small accomplishments- reward yourself!
Hey, you got yourself to read this far into this post, and guess what? You've also got yourself to learn complicated grammatical concepts, memorize vocabulary, and engage in an intellectual unconventional hobby that not many people do. Give yourself a pat on the back!
Psychologically, we are more geared toward liking something if we experience a pleasurable outcome from it. Ever wonder why you keep going back to your pantry for that one snack? I know you're thinking about it right now...
Whether it be taking yourself on a date to your favorite restaurant after you complete a grammar lesson or experiencing the true reward of being able to communicate and understand community members who speak your target language- make the hobby enjoyable with a positive light at the end of the tunnel waiting for you! ⭐
Good luck on your studies!
~Claire