“I’m Too Busy to Learn Portuguese!”
When life gets loucocrazy , something has to give. Modern society does not afford many of us time and energy for personal goals, so it’s understandable to feel like learning Portuguese is just one more thing on a never-ending to-do list.
That said, having a handle on the language is often the essential missing piece for expats struggling to integrate into a new community in Portugal, travelers seeking more authentic experiences, or family members making deeper connections. Language is a huge part of the way we present ourselves to the world and experience a culturaculture . It may not be easy, but the outcome can be life-changing.
If learning Portuguese is importanteimportant to you, we want to help! ❤️ 🇵🇹 So we put together a few tips for fitting language-learning into your busy schedule.
Get Comfortable in Maintenance Mode
As a beginner, don’t feel like you have to achieve full immersion or set aside hours for practice every day.
Instead, it’s okay to start by gradually building and maintaining a foundation of vocabulary, grammar basics, and simple phrases. Then let spaced repetition do the heavy lifting when it comes to reviewing efficiently to strengthen those skills.
Sure, you’ll have to ramp it up at some point if you want to get fluent, but it’s not all or nothing! It’s okay to stay in maintenance mode for a while when you have a lot on your plate. Which leads us to our next point…
Don’t Lose Your Habits
When things get busy, focus on keeping your habits, rather than how long or successful your study sessions are. Keep doing 5 minutos5 minutes per day even if it’s not helping much.
It’s easier to ramp up from 5 minutes to a longer session, than it is to try to completely restart after ignoring Portuguese for months. When you DO have more time, the habit is already there, so you don’t have to start from square one.
A quick session is better than nothing, so consider setting a “bare minimum” for yourself. What’s the minimum amount of work needed for you to feel like Portuguese is still active in your mind?
Can you commit to one of these?
- Today I’ll listen to just 1 Shorty
- Today I’ll finish just 1 Lesson
- Today I’ll do just 1 Smart Review session
- Today I’ll redo an old Unit
- Today I’ll write about my day in Portuguese for 5 minutes
Make it Easier to Get Started
Help your(future)self out!
Sometimes we want to study, but just don’t have the energiaenergy to take the first step. And when you’re juggling lots of responsibilities, the last thing you want is to have one more decision to make.
Set your future self up for success by removing barriers whenever possible:
- Keep a designated study area clear to make sure there’s no prep work or cleaning involved in getting started.
- Set a bookmark to our website, so you can immediately pick up where you left off.
- Download our mobile app and move it to the home screen so it’s just a tap away.
- When in doubt, focus on Smart Review flashcards. These are easy to start without having to decide on a topic, read instructions, or find your place. Plus, there’s no typing involved, so it’s a good on-the-go option.
- Download “Shorties” audio, so you have something available to listen to, even when you don’t have time to sit down and do a lesson.
Make Portuguese Part of Your Life
Let’s face it though… Sometimes our habits go completely out the window when things get really busy.
When that happens, instead of trying to add a brand new habit, think about what things you already do regularly without even trying. Look for ways to ✨sneak✨ Portuguese into your everyday life, rather than treating it as an extra thing you have to somehow find time for.
If you have habits or passatemposhobbies that are already established, coast on that existing structure by incorporating Portuguese. Maybe these suggestions will spark some ideas!
- 🚗 Listen to Shorties during your commute to work, or while you’re on a run
- 🍿 Read a book or watch a movie in Portuguese instead of your native language
- 🏋🏼♀️ Instead of working out at home, join a gym in Portugal and take a class
- 👯 Find a friend to learn with, or attend meet-ups, so that some of your social time is also Portuguese time
- 🪥 Every time you brush your teeth, do a round of Smart Review right after
- 🛏️ When you get in bed, do one Lesson before putting away your phone
- 🗣 Every time you go somewhere in Portugal, ask at least 1 person a question
- 👨🏽🍳 While you make dinner, pretend you’re the star of a Portuguese cooking show and describe what you’re doing
- 🎶 Listen to Portuguese music or a podcast whenever you’re in the car
- 📱 Switch the language on one of your devices or web browsers to Portuguese
Connect Your Actions to a Real Goal
Why are you learning Portuguese? How will it improve your life? It’s easier to make time when you’re crystal clear on the purpose behind your actions.
Like we said, it’s okay to stay in maintenance mode for a while, but if you’re feeling frustrated that you aren’t making more progress, you may need to ask yourself some tough questions:
- How can I make learning Portuguese a bigger priority?
- What am I willing to sacrifice to reach fluency?
- What level do I want to be at in 1 year? 2 years? 5 years?
Because learning Portuguese is a long-term goal, in the moment, studying is always going to feel like something that can be done mais tardelater . Unless you’re trying to pass the CIPLE or you have an upcoming trip to Portugal, there’s no strict time constraint, which makes it easy to procrastinate. Keep that in mind next time you say “I’m too busy right now, I’ll do it later”. Will you really? 😉
Try to remind yourself specifically why learning Portuguese is a priority, both the big and small reasons.
- 👵🏼 I’m learning Portuguese so I can talk to my grandmother.
- 🏠 I’m learning Portuguese so I can get residency in Portugal.
- 💪🏾 I’m learning Portuguese so I can feel more confident.
- 🍽 I’m learning Portuguese so I can order food at restaurants when I visit Portugal.
- 🏡 I’m learning Portuguese so I can make small talk with my neighbour on Sunday
- 📖 I’m learning Portuguese so I can read that José Saramago novel.
- 👩🏻⚕️ I’m learning Portuguese so I can communicate my symptoms to my doctor.
- 👩🏽💻 I’m learning Portuguese so I can email my Portuguese friend
- 🤬 I’m learning Portuguese so I can finally ask my neighbour to keep the noise down!
Whatever it may be! Write down all the reasons. Then keep visual reminders in your home, like a souvenir, or a photo of a Portuguese loved one, or a place in Portugal you want to visit.
Replace “Zone Out” Time
Be honest, how much time do you spend zoning on your o telemóvelmobile phone every day? Many of us are especially guilty of this at night before bed. Time seems to fly by without you even realizing.
Of course we all need time to rest and recharge, but do you really feel refreshed after? Either way, before staring into the abyss, try spending at least a few of those “zone out” minutes studying first.
Bonus: Studies show that you remember things better if you review them before sleeping. 😴
What about when you’re waiting in line at the grocery store or stuck in a meeting that could have been an email? Look around you and label what you see in Portuguese, or look up words you don’t know with our European Portuguese translation tool. Or, try to narrate what’s happening, either by writing it down or just in your head. This is an activity that’s easy to stop and start whenever you have a few moments of spare time.
Manage Your Expectations
A structured learning schedule works great for some people, and for others, a more flexible/integrated approach is more realistic. Decide what fits into your life and then don’t waste time feeling bad about what you’re not doing or what you should be doing. Just do something, anything! Even if you learn only two palavraswords today, that’s something.
Have you heard the phrase “Perfect is the enemy of good“? You’re going to miss out on lots of opportunities if you’re always holding out for the “right way” or the “right time”. Some study sessions will go better than others, but that’s okay. Learning a language is a long-term project, so there are going to be plenty of ups and downs (and loop-de-loops and spiraling vortexes 😵💫).
If something’s not working for you and you feel like you’re in a rut, switch it up! Instead of expecting perfeiçãoperfection from yourself, ask a more neutral question like, What blocked me from learning Portuguese this week? Then think of an idea that might help you get around that block. For example:
- My kids were using my computer for their homework. Next week I’ll try using my phone instead.
- I forgot and watched TV instead. I’ll post a reminder on the TV to study for a few minutes before I turn it on.
- I planned to study every night at 6, but I got home from school late. Next week I’ll ditch the schedule and do a few Lessons whenever I eat lunch instead.
- I’ve had a lot of important deadlines at work lately. Next week I’ll do Smart Review flash cards while I’m walking home from work.
- I meant to study, but couldn’t decide what to start with. Next week I’m only going to focus on learning Numbers 1-100.
- It felt overwhelming, so I kept avoiding it. Next week I’m going back to basics! I’ll start the Units from the beginning to strengthen my foundation and have a structured path to follow. I’ll bookmark the page so I can get started in 1 click.
- I was going to wake up early to study, but I kept oversleeping. Well, I’m certainly not a morning person! Next week I’ll try studying before bed instead. I’ll set a reminder on my phone for 10p.m.
- I just don’t have the energy right now. Today, I’m just going to enjoy listening to European Portuguese music. Tomorrow I’ll try listening to Shorties in the background while I run errands.
It’s easier said than done, but we hope some of these tips will give you ideas! Everyone learns differently and has a different lifestyle, so it will take some trial and error to find the right strategies for you.
⬇️ Share in the comments any tips that have helped you keep Portuguese in your life, even when you’re busy!