Learning a language can feel overwhelming when we’re busy doing other things. But there’s always going to be other things. So what do we do to keep confidently learning a language? Here’s how to commit to learning a language when you can’t do it regularly.

Habits are a great factor towards successful language learning. But habits don’t have to be daily.

I mean, imagine if you said you’re going to have a lesson, do your vocab, write something, record yourself speaking, listen to an audio lesson, and do a whole chapter in your book every single day.

It’s not going to last.

And this can lead us to feeling that because we can’t do all the things as regularly as perhaps we’d like, or, worse, as regularly as we think we should, we’re bad at this thing called language learning and obviously not committed.

So it’s time to give up.

Time to stop learning a language because we can’t commit to learning a language.

So not true.

We don’t have to do all the things daily. In fact, I believe much more strongly in sustainable language learning being something that happens long-term, not accelerated in a short time frame that allows us zero hours to do anything else.

Here’s some ideas to help you figure out how to commit to learning a language when you can’t do it regularly.

Set Wider Time Goals and Check-Ins

Can’t commit to checking in with your language goals every day, week or month? No worries.

Pick a wider timeframe that suits you for check ins and that should help you remain feeling grounded and connected to your language learning without the need for constant check ins and tightly timed goals.

For example, perhaps you set reminders on your calendar every quarter to spend a moment reflecting on what you’ve done and how you feel about where you’re at.

One thing to consider here is that the longer the gap between doing something, the longer the gap if we miss one. So if you miss one check in that happens every 3 months, it’s going to be 6 months before the next one.

Of course, this doesn’t really matter because you don’t need this to run like clockwork when you’re setting those wider time goals and check-ins.

Instead, you can simply catch up the week or two after when it was due. It’s all good.

Related: Mindful Language Learning (+ What It Looks Like)

Include Everything You Do

Something that really opens things up for many language learners is expanding our definition of “learning”.

If we think that learning a language only happens when we’re sat at a desk with a textbook open in front of us, we’ll be disappointed with ourselves when we don’t find ourselves doing that on the daily.

However, when we expand our definition to include everything we do with the language – all contact we have – we’re suddenly finding ourselves doing more without actually…well, without actually doing more.

Include everything you do and your commitment to learning that language becomes much easier to acknowledge.

And yes, with this expansion of what counts, it’s clear that all learning is not the same. I’m definitely not claiming that you start listening overnight and boom, you’re fluent by morning.

But really, how much of your “learning” time now is solid 100% on task never ever distracted? Yeah, same.

There’ll be moments, day, weeks, months when we’re less focused and “on it” than others.

When we’re including everything we do, it becomes instantly easier to feel more committed to the language you’re learning, even when there’s been less concentrated and focused learning going on because life has had other ideas.

Related: How to Learn a Language with Duolingo (+ Actually Remember It)

Take Charge of Your Lessons

There’s no rule that language lessons need to happen weekly. Or daily. Or monthly.

Regular will look different for everyone and besides, quantity doesn’t always allow for quality.

At the time of writing this, I’ve been learning Russian for just over 6 months and have had as many lessons.

I know that realistically, I can’t commit to more lessons and be consistent with that. But I can have a lesson monthly without it getting in the way or taking anything else from me. So I do.

And in those lessons, I’m sharing what I’ve done in the time since the last. I’m bringing some writing to share and get feedback on with my tutor. And I’m making notes on what I want to ask about throughout the month between lessons. It works.

Taking charge of your lessons might look totally different. That’s good.

The point here is that you acknowledge what commitment to lessons in that language looks like sustainably for you when you can’t do it ‘regularly’.

And of course, there may be times when you can boost that and have a few lessons in one week for example. Great! Go ahead and do it. Enjoy it. But don’t get caught up thinking you’re failing when you can’t maintain and commit to that regularly after.

Go for a Speedy Gain!

If you know things are going to be busy for a while, why not set yourself a speedy gain goal and condense some learning into a short time frame when you know you will be more available?

We talk about this a lot in Language Life because it’s so powerful to know when you’ve got these milestones coming up to work towards.

It can come in the form of a day, a few months. It could be a personal goal or a group challenge.

The Fluent in 3 Months Challenge is a good option here if you’ve got 3 months with less on the calendar and want to boost your language knowledge and confidence.

But it doesn’t have to be that long. I’ve got a bit of a new tradition going on called Language Marathon, which is just one day.

It started in 2020 when an actual marathon I was due to run was cancelled because of coronavirus. I wanted to make something of the day and settled on the idea of a Language Marathon!

I had an online lesson in every language I’ve ever studied in one day.

It’s intense, it’s condensed, but most of all it’s fun.

And the great thing is you can decide what it means to you.

Will it be a day with lots of online lessons? A day with lots of fun language themed activities planned? Or a day with a whole textbook to get through? Your call.

Related: Now What? What to Do After Duolingo: Intermediate Language Learning Strategies

Join a Self-Paced Community

There’s plenty of options out there for self-paced language learners.

In Language Life, the curriculum is completely self-paced, with 3, 6 and 12 month roadmaps when you join to help you plan out how you can commit to learning from the program. Learn more and apply for Language Life here.

The joy of a self-paced community really comes from knowing that you’re not alone. That there’s others out there like you who are engaging with the material like you are on their terms too.

After all, learning a language solo doesn’t mean learning a language alone.