Motivation fades. Progress needs a plan. Here’s how I’m getting back on track with Japanese.
I started learning Japanese at the end of last year. My reasons?
- My niece has Japanese heritage.
- I want to travel to Japan (fun fact: I lived there for a couple of months in 2nd grade!).
- It’s so different from my mother tongues that it felt like a fun challenge, with zero pressure.
At first, I loved it. My teacher was calm and kind, and I really needed that kind of positive reinforcement as a learner.
I had a clear goal: I hoped to travel to Japan by the end of the year. That gave me a North Star, a finish line to work toward.
I started learning Hiragana, one of the writing systems used in Japanese, and with my teacher’s support, I even wrote a few simple sentences. (Okay, basic ones—but still.)
But then life happened.
If you’ve ever tried starting a new routine without a plan, like working out—you’ll know the feeling. You get the gear, the membership, the hype… and a few weeks later, the motivation fizzles. You’re tired. You’re busy. You avoid it altogether.
The people who succeed with these routines? They’re clear. They have a plan. And, more importantly, they measure their progress. Without that, you’re relying on vibes—on how “fluent” or “fit” you feel—and that’s a slippery slope. You get frustrated because you haven’t hit those big goals (six-pack abs or conversational Japanese) but never set up checkpoints to see how far you’ve come.
For my first 5K, I followed a plan to quiet the doubt—and it worked. I ran farther than I ever thought I could, eventually finishing a few half marathons. A plan, a vision, and the right tools make all the difference.
I’m a fan of Mel Robbins and other experts who give straightforward, effective advice:
- Define your goals (in detail)
- Make them SMART
- Track your progress
- Hold yourself accountable
It’s all advice we know, but tend to forget when it’s time to apply it to ourselves, because starting is hard. Where do you even begin?
Still, those basic steps—define, measure, celebrate—are key. And yes, that applies to language learning too.
Whether you’re learning to chat more fluently with your abuelita or to connect with a neighbor, you need a plan. Sometimes teachers can help with that, but as adults, the responsibility often falls on us to create our own roadmap.
If I want to hit the goals I set earlier, I need to pause, regroup, and actually build that plan.
So… that’s what I’m doing.
Earlier this year, I had to miss a few classes. Then I lost my job—which meant no Japan trip (at least not this year). Other things started taking priority over practicing Japanese.
And for weeks, I told myself: “If I just push class back one more week, I’ll get back on track.”
But the truth? I kept pushing it back—and still avoided it.
So yesterday, I quit.
Well… paused.
I reached out to my teacher, explained the situation, and let them know I’d be taking a break to get my priorities straight. I realized I can’t keep showing up without a plan—and I want to show up with intention.
If you’re curious about how I’m rethinking my language goals and creating a plan that feels doable, kind, and realistic, join me on May 26, 2025, for a virtual session:
“3 Simple Steps to Language Planning.”
✨ Learn more and sign up at LUPATalks.com
🤟🏼Dr. Xiomara Rivera Pagán
