How to Get Back In The Groove

An intense method you might want to try

Photo by Jose Antonio Gallego Vázquez on Unsplash

It's all too easy to lose your way these days.

I've spent over 15 years learning languages on my own and at least 5 of those also studying the art of learning itself. I've even written about it tons of times, both here and on Medium. I know how learning should be done. The only problem is that I just don't do it much anymore.

You've likely lived through the same too. You know you're supposed to do things a certain way, but you don't. Sometimes you don't do it because you forget. Sometimes because it's harder than another, less efficient, way. Sometimes, the easier method is just more fun.

One common such experience we've all done at least once in our lives is cramming before a deadline. Whether for a test we didn't study for, a document due by a certain date, or even preparing for a big trip, you know it's happened to you. You knew you shouldn't push these back. You did, nonetheless.

Social Media and streaming services don't help. Technology is ready to take away our attention every second we're awake. YouTube's my personal nightmare.

There's still a way out. Well, more than one. Here's the one I used this time around.

Intensity is the way

After spending a month living in Japan in my friends' living rooms, I used my return to France as a trigger to start afresh.

I spent over an hour and a half in the place to catch up on all the reviews I had in Anki, and reduced the number of new words per day so I can then ease myself.

I also decided to block YouTube entirely on my phone. No more "I'll keep it available during these times" or —worse—telling myself "It'll be fine. I can control myself." If I want to watch YouTube, it's on my PC and, still, morning are completely blocked. Even on weekends.

I had also stopped (yet again) to read anything for a while but I've been able to start again a bit before coming back as I bought an interesting book in Japanese about the importance of walking and its effects on us.

I'm also studying daily for 30 minutes for a Project Management Certification and have already written 4 drafts of newsletters and articles to publish online.

Going from a month of doing nothing to this intensity can seem like the remedy to instant burnout. It's not. Not always, at least.¹

Sometimes, we need a kick in the butt to push us back in line and get the gears turning. I feel that's what I needed this time. Maybe you do too?

Peacefully is the other way?

Another way to get back into studying is to lean into things slowly but surely.

Instead of catching up on all Anki reviews, I could have gone with 10-15 until I had caught up, and then start adding new cards again. I could have decided to study for 15 minutes a day and write one draft at a time.

Of course, it depends on how your life is at the time you notice you've strayed away too much not to care anymore.

I got lucky enough to have a few days all by myself with no work or plans. It's a rare occurrence so that's why I went for the "tough" way. You might get tired of drifting away while in the middle of a crisis so the leaning-back-in method might work better for you.

Hell, you should prioritize that method most times as it's the safer bet in the long run.

But, sometimes, just sometimes, a nice kick in the butt can help.

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Have you come back to learning a topic recently? How did you do it and what helped you keep traction?

Cheers for reading!
Mathias

1. Or so I hope!