Do you ever feel like you just don’t have time to study?
Between work, family, and everyday responsibilities, it can feel impossible to sit down and focus. I used to feel the same way. But over time, I learned something important — you don’t find time to study, you make it.
When I was a single mother working full-time, I didn’t want to give up on studying English and preparing for a financial exam. So instead of waiting for “a block of free time,” I learned to use every spare moment I could find.
I started my mornings 15 minutes early. While stretching, I memorized English words. As I made breakfast and packed lunch, I listened to English audio lessons through my earphones.
After waking my daughter and sending her off to school, I drove to work. Since I commuted by car, my “BGM” was always the same English learning program. I usually arrived early, so I spent about 20 minutes in the car practicing grammar exercises before going into the office.
During lunch, I listened to English news while eating, and after finishing my meal, I continued studying grammar for another 20 minutes.
In the evening, after work, I picked up my daughter from school, cooked dinner, cleaned up, checked her homework, and gave her a bath. When she finally went to bed, I had my quiet study time — about one hour to work on past exam questions.
In total, I managed to study for more than two hours each day. The secret was simple: use small pockets of time, and don’t aim for perfection.
Honestly, I couldn’t always concentrate while listening to English during cooking or driving. Especially while driving — it’s dangerous to lose focus! But even during red lights, I tried to catch a few words here and there. If just one phrase stuck in my mind, I considered it a win.
A quick note about expectations: if you’re serious about becoming fluent, time is essential. From my experience, dedicating around two hours a day makes real progress possible. There are no true shortcuts — any course that promises fluency in three months should be taken with a grain of salt.
Even when life is busy, I truly believe you can find one or two hours a day if you get creative. On weekends, I tried to study for more than two hours — but sometimes, I just took a break. Going to a café or watching a movie helped me relax and recharge.
Studying is like running a marathon: you don’t have to sprint. Just keep moving, one small step at a time — and you’ll get there.
Remember: progress takes time, but every minute you spend learning adds up.
You can do it!
