Language Journal: April 1st 2019 - The Cycle
It occurred to me today. Since I started learning Japanese I've been experiencing "cycles". I've experienced them before, but I generally just figured I was in a slump and they happened far less frequently. It is much harder to validate whether or not they tie up as nicely with other events in my past. But, as a software developer, I do have many opportunities to either coast and go with the flow or dive in and learn something new and challenging, so, it could apply the to the times I've hit this in the past.
Basically, the cycle looks like this; I'm in a slow period in my studies growth-wise. Things are coasting along nicely, but one day I realize I'm not making a ton of headway anymore. I fumble for a bit before I find new ways to challenge myself, like trying to write a weekly journal in Japanese while also forcing myself to pay a LOT more attention to my flash cards.
Then, it fizzles. This time around, the journal writing stopped almost entirely, my Anki review times are slipping later and later, and I haven't done new cards for the past few days.
If it is at all like the previous times, I'll slowly find the motivation to pick up the scraps of my failed experiments, and find a middle ground where I can stick with the plan while moving forward. I'll feel challenged for a time, and then I won't again, and the process will eventually repeat.
As I think about it, it has probably always been like this. I think it is a mental mechanism. My brain is telling me, I'm pushing it too fast. I get lazy while it processes information, both the things I was grappling with as well as how best to approach it going forward.
It is good to notice though. It also kills my motivation to work.
I need to find a stable middle ground. Or a way to harness it all. When I come out the "funk" phase I'm at my most productive, with Japanese and with life and work as well. And, when I'm going into the "funk" again, just before it is some of most inspired work and biggest leaps in language learning.
In the end, it probably all evens out. But, it certainly doesn't reflect well on me when I hit the wall.
In short, the ways and the amount of pressure I'm putting on my brain appear to be triggering physiological changes. It is kind of exciting. Of course, the odds that I'll hit on a perfect system (or even that I'm at all correct) are low. But, that is what is on my mind right now.
I also need to work on my techniques for managing this. At the end of the day, while I may not be able to directly control everything my body does, I ultimately do have some control over how it affects me.
To that end... this is done for today and I'm shutting this computer off to remove the distraction.
Basically, the cycle looks like this; I'm in a slow period in my studies growth-wise. Things are coasting along nicely, but one day I realize I'm not making a ton of headway anymore. I fumble for a bit before I find new ways to challenge myself, like trying to write a weekly journal in Japanese while also forcing myself to pay a LOT more attention to my flash cards.
Then, it fizzles. This time around, the journal writing stopped almost entirely, my Anki review times are slipping later and later, and I haven't done new cards for the past few days.
If it is at all like the previous times, I'll slowly find the motivation to pick up the scraps of my failed experiments, and find a middle ground where I can stick with the plan while moving forward. I'll feel challenged for a time, and then I won't again, and the process will eventually repeat.
As I think about it, it has probably always been like this. I think it is a mental mechanism. My brain is telling me, I'm pushing it too fast. I get lazy while it processes information, both the things I was grappling with as well as how best to approach it going forward.
It is good to notice though. It also kills my motivation to work.
I need to find a stable middle ground. Or a way to harness it all. When I come out the "funk" phase I'm at my most productive, with Japanese and with life and work as well. And, when I'm going into the "funk" again, just before it is some of most inspired work and biggest leaps in language learning.
In the end, it probably all evens out. But, it certainly doesn't reflect well on me when I hit the wall.
In short, the ways and the amount of pressure I'm putting on my brain appear to be triggering physiological changes. It is kind of exciting. Of course, the odds that I'll hit on a perfect system (or even that I'm at all correct) are low. But, that is what is on my mind right now.
I also need to work on my techniques for managing this. At the end of the day, while I may not be able to directly control everything my body does, I ultimately do have some control over how it affects me.
To that end... this is done for today and I'm shutting this computer off to remove the distraction.
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