Since last year, I have been logging the books I have read. Last year, I read 15 books. It is not an impressive number for someone who wants to develop a reading habit. However, for me, it is a significant achievement.
In addition to reading books, I have subscribed to several podcast channels on Agile and productivity and have spent over a thousand hours immersed in them. “How did you manage that?” my friend asked, who wants to cut down on mindlessly scrolling through social media. “You cannot possibly have more than 24 hours a day to do all these things.”
It is all about deliberate practice.
If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And being for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?
Hillel the Elder
As an ESL (English as a Second Language) learner, I want to build a stronger foundation in all aspects of English. The most popular medium for learning Agile is in English. Therefore, I started listening to a YouTube channel with English subtitles. Since I could not stare at the screen for long hours, I switched to listening to podcast channels while commuting, cooking, washing dishes, doing laundry, etc. Several months later, I noticed that the playback speed seemed slower than when I started listening. This prompted me to increase the playback speed to 1.25x. Now, the default playback speed for English podcasts is 1.5x. I no longer need subtitles.
My reading journey followed a similar path. I went from reading word by word to efficiently extracting information from the paragraphs. I developed the “Two-book” strategy, where I always have two books on hand – one physical and one electronic. When I am at home, I read the physical book. When I am commuting, I either read an e-book or listen to a podcast. After finishing lunch at the office, I take out my physical book.
With blogging added to the mix, all my “empty” spaces are filled with English materials. The only missing piece is my English-speaking ability.
Struggling to hold ramen with chopsticks using the correct form
Apart from English learning, I recently learned to use chopsticks correctly. As an Asian, not everyone is taught the proper way to use chopsticks, including myself. It was challenging to unlearn my old bad habits and relearn the correct technique. After discovering the correct way, I committed only to using chopsticks correctly. Otherwise, I would not eat anything. The following week, I visited Japan, where we use chopsticks for most dishes, including salads. I faced many challenges during the visit, but now I can use chopsticks correctly.
Indeed, learning new skills can be tough. However, by knowing your goals and planning deliberate practice sessions, you can break through and acquire them sooner.