Today thus far I have read upon a number of things, none of them are directly pertaining to the Japanese language yet. Instead, I have spent 4 hours learning how to effectively learn. I think this is a beautiful thing.
The first lesson today was about work space and focus. My work space was cleaned in a matter of minutes, as I closed every other window on my computer, except for some music to aid focus, though I will be changing to a set play-list after tonight. But beyond this, I cleaned and organized my physical desktop as well, and turned off all potential distractions. The text then said to prepare to make the task of studying Japanese not a task, but a ritual, part of every single day. This, I have begun preparation to do. Every night, for a half an hour before bed, this will be the last thing I do in the day. I will take no breaks when doing it, and I will start it the same every night.
I will close or minimize all other windows on my computer.
I will close the blinds to my room.
I will close and lock my door for the night.
I will turn off the fish tank light. (they can be distracting at night, they get particularly active.)
I will tidy my desk.
I will make sure I need not use the toilet, or get a drink for at least half an hour.
I will open itunes to my study playlist, put on my headphones and start the playlist.
I will open Blogger and TextFugu in a new window in Chrome.
I will study for at least half an hour, and no more than an hour and a half. (Excluding finishing writing my post for that lesson.)
I will minimize the window after posting that night's entry.
I will use the bathroom as is already ritual, and then turn off the lights and go to sleep, again, as is ritual already.
As a ritual, once it is set in my daily habits, it will not take willpower, or determination to do, and I will be able to better apply those where they are more needed throughout the day. It is worth mentioning now, that it has been scientifically proven that every person has a limited pool of willpower each day (sort of a mental stamina, similar to how there is a physical boundary to your physical strength where you simply can not do any more in a given time and need to rest.) and that everyone has a similar amount of this willpower. Those who get more done are not stronger, but they have learned how to conserve this willpower, not using it for as many tasks by setting these tasks to be rituals. To quote the text: "It is not 'I will do', but 'I do.' Not 'When I get home, I will study' but 'When I get home, I study.' Similar to how some take off their shoes every time they enter the door to a house, it will become an action that needs no will to do." Tomorrow I will make the playlist that I use when studying Japanese. See what I did there? ; )
The next section discussed not talking about my goals. This leads me to ask my readers: Please feel free to comment, but please don't mention my progress, or anything at all pertaining my work towards my goals, no matter how proud or impressed you become (or really any reaction you have to my progress at all). Comments should pertain exclusively to my writing, or personal things I mention to explain thought processes or the overall story of this journey.
The last section of tonight's lessons pertained directly to this blog. It has asked me to keep a log of my learning, my progress, any notes I feel I need, what have you. This blog is to be my "learning log" and as such, not all the posts will be particularly interesting, but may simply be notes of what I did in a night, such as making flash cards (which I will type out in chart form on here for added repetition/practice), or what characters I need to work on, or words and the like that give me trouble and need more practice on. In short, this is a complete journal detailing everything that happens during my ritual of study at night.
Thanks to those still reading for bearing with me!
~Dragon
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