Learning a language when you're super busy

Although I managed to learn two languages very different from my own to a degree where I can share ideas about almost anything, I’m actually not particularly good at learning languages.

If there is anything I am good at, it’s finding unique ways to accomplish a goal and making it happen.

I have a horrible short term memory and I find sitting down to study incredibly boring and boring information doesn’t stick like when you are having fun.

So I searched for many ways to make it more fun. If I have lots of free time, that's one thing, and there are some methods that allow me to learn a lot in a short period of time, but since I'm teaching and making music and writing stories and trying to keep everything moving, I can't focus as much time on study these days.

So I've developed some habits that make learning mote painless, even when I'm busy. I try to learn as much as I can in short spurts in between other activities so there is no chunk of my day that's set aside for study.

I go about my day as usual but I always have study material on hand, usually in an app that's open and ready, that I can access in about 20 seconds for a minute or a two at a time. Then I keep what I study in my head for a few minutes while doing other things.

I try to study vocabulary in sets of 3 or in context.

Before I put the laundry I try to keep 3 words in my head or a full short sentences with a word or two that I want to learn. Then I choose another 3 words or another sentence and try to memorize. Then I’ll start vacuuming.

After vacuuming half the apartment I’ll move on to the next set and then finish vacuuming. After that I will review everything.

If I play guitar or play a game I’ll learn 3 words first. When i take a shower I try to learn 3 words first. When I get on the train I learn 3 words first. When i go to the bathroom, order lunch, write a hive post or message a friend, I try to learn 3 words first.

I realize this is hardly the most effective way to learn but it keeps the language fresh in your mind all the time.

When the language is new to me I will try to think in that language. I describe what is going on around me.

Doing this constantly will prevent your mind from relaxing, but its no different from keeping a phone on hand and scrolling through social media compulsively. Both really need some downtime where you can just sit and let your mind unwind. I do this separately. I spend a few minutes throughout the day decompressing and being in the moment. Sometimes I use music.

I’d like to get back to some more focused study at some point but for now this is the most realistic way for me since I am balancing so many other things and studying a language isn’t something I can put hours a day into.

That being said, after I finish this post, I hope to spend a good 30 minutes reviewing vocabulary through digital flashcards, review everything I've studied this past week.

Here are some of the words I've been studying:

Recent music video: