Hey, yall.
I have an upcoming surgery that will have me largely secluded in a room with little else to do but recover and lay around. I would like to be productive during this time and thought it would be a great opportunity to cram Japanese. I’ll be doing a lot to maintain mental health, walking when able, sitting out on the patio, and video calling with friends, but besides that, I will have absolutely nothing to do. I’ve got some prior Japanese learning experience (1 yr of study abroad in Tokyo 4 years ago), and I’m returning later this year semi-permanently.
I’m interested to hear if you were in my position, how would you go about structuring your studies for one month with almost no other demands on your time? What forms of media would you utilize to break up the monotony, and which forms of study would you prioritize (video lessons, textbooks, apps, anki, etc)?
After the month, I’ll be happy to report back on the experience.
2 comments
Could be a great time to pick up a simple game or book.
Having done some “fun” surgery recovery in the past:
1 – You might not be able to focus that great. Medications, pain, etc. all make concentration hard post-surgery, so don’t expect too much, especially at the beginning. Passive learning like listening to podcasts, watching anime with Japanese subtitles, etc. is more forgiving than intense study.
2 – Switch up activities and rest your eyes, so that you’re not staring at a screen 24/7. Try adding in paper resources like textbooks or manga, and take short walks to the patio when you can.
3 – Depending on your medication schedule, you might sleep and wake at weird hours, and you’ll probably take lots of naps. YouTube videos and flashcards are good for fitting into those 4am med wakeups.
Good luck! Take it easy, and don’t be too hard on yourself if you’re not productive. Your body is already doing something hard, you don’t always need to make it do more.