Finding time for English

“I want to learn English but how can I find the time?”
“I’m too busy to study.”
“I know I should practise more but I don’t have time.”

These are things I hear a lot. I understand this problem very well because I often say similar things.

In this post, I’m going to give you some suggestions for how to get more English into your life, even if you’re busy.

But first…

What kind of person are you?
I think there are two groups of people who say they haven’t got time.

The first group is people who really truly don’t have time! If you have a full-time job and small children to look after at home, then I believe you when you say you don’t have time for English. Or even if you do have time, perhaps after the children have gone to bed, you’re exhausted. You have no motivation or energy left for anything. I understand!

The second group is people like me! I say I haven’t got time for languages but, if I’m really honest with myself, it would be more accurate to say I’m not good at making the time. If I really wanted to, and if I tried harder, I could probably find some time!

So which group are you in?

What’s the real problem?
If you’re in the second group, like me, what’s going on? We want to do it but somehow it’s still difficult.

One possible problem is motivation. Is English just a hobby for you rather than something you really need? Or are there just other things that you prefer to do in your free time? Maybe you need to remind yourself of the reasons for and advantages of learning English. These posts might help: Twelve reasons to learn English and Staying motivated.

Another problem for many people is poor time management skills. I still have a lot to learn about time management myself but I find making a list or a plan helps. I also like having a routine so that I do certain tasks on certain days, and plan in time for things like exercise and studying. Maybe I’ll write another post on this topic another time!

But for the rest of this post, let’s consider some ways you can find more time for your English.

Do two things at the same time
💙 Listen to a podcast, audiobook or music while you’re cooking or cleaning.

💙 Listen to a YouTube video while you’re exercising. Some videos, like TED talks, don’t require you to look at the screen and you can just listen.

💙 Read or listen to something in English on the bus or train on the way to work.

💙 Talk to your family in English while you’re having dinner.

💙 While waiting at the bus stop or for your appointment, grab your phone and do a few minutes of Duolingo or your favourite learning app.

💙 Practise thinking in English while walking the dog, driving to work or taking a shower. Describe your day, plan tomorrow, or name things you see.

Activities that only take a few minutes
💙 Take your vocabulary notebook or flashcards to work with you and review new words when you have a coffee break.

💙 Watch a short video in English or read an article online during your lunch break.

💙 Start a mini journal. Every evening, write just one sentence about your day in English. (Or more if you have time!)

💙 Write a comment in English on a social media post.

💙 Use WhatsApp or a voice recorder to leave yourself a voice message.

Do your usual activities but in English
💙 Do some of your daily tasks in English, such as writing your shopping list, to-do list or journal.

💙 Do what you enjoy doing but in English. Watch a film in English, read about sport in English or look at social media posts in English.

💙 Change your phone, social media, or browser language settings to English.

💙 Next time you search for information on Google, try doing it in English.

💙 Follow a recipe in English when cooking - from a website or YouTube channel.

So which of these things are you going to try?

The key to success with English is consistency. Doing some of these small things every day will make a big difference over time.

You don’t need to spend hours on your English every day. It's not always about finding more time for English. Maybe it's about using the time you already have more carefully.

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