Another Monday arrived, and I realized I hadn’t written my weekly reflection last Sunday. Weekdays were busy with work, and on the weekend—although the goal stayed in my mind—other things kept getting in the way. It reminded me of a simple truth: setting goals is easy; sticking to them is hard.
Last week was mostly ordinary, but a few things stood out.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Preparing for IELTS and Living in English
The biggest focus was my plan to prepare for the IELTS exam. I’ve been consistent about memorizing vocabulary every day and surrounding myself with English as much as possible. I changed my phone’s system language to English, so every app I open becomes a mini learning moment. On WeChat, I turned on automatic translation, which shows English below Chinese messages. It helps me connect daily conversations with real usage.
I also read and watch English content across platforms like X, Reddit, YouTube, and The New York Times. Recently, I’ve especially enjoyed the Chinese version of The New York Times, which offers Chinese-only, English-only, and bilingual formats. The bilingual option is perfect—it lets me understand the content quickly while learning how ideas are expressed naturally in English, and it keeps me updated on news from China and around the world.
I’ve started searching in English using Gemini and ChatGPT, and I even set a rule for these tools: rephrase my question in native American English first, then answer it. This small habit has helped me learn how native speakers naturally express ideas.
Despite all this, I still struggle with long English articles, especially when there are unfamiliar words. But I feel much more confident about listening and speaking than before, thanks to watching more videos. My long-term goal is to speak with a natural American accent.
Fewer Choices, Better Focus
Outside of language learning, I watched several TED Talks on YouTube that deeply resonated with me. Two ideas stood out.
First: steady, small progress compounds over time—especially in skills like language learning. Second: fewer choices often lead to better outcomes. When options are limited, it’s easier to focus on what truly matters.
I see this clearly in my own life. I want to improve my English, build SaaS products, learn C# and Node.js, read on the Gefei community, go to the gym, and now even explore Solana development classes. With so many goals competing for attention, I often sit down after work without a clear plan for the next 25 minutes. I might start something productive, but soon drift into entertainment videos. Time passes quickly, and a week later, I realize I’ve barely touched my core goals.
That’s not the result I want. I’m starting to believe that I need more detailed daily plans—not rigid schedules, but clearer priorities—so I can follow through more consistently. At the same time, I’m often exhausted after work, and sometimes I just don’t want to think anymore. I’m still searching for a sustainable work-life balance that can eventually give me both time freedom and financial freedom—the ability to choose what to do, and when.
Writing in English, Thinking in English
I’m also trying to write my blog directly in English. I know I’m still far from the level of a native speaker, and even farther from the standards of The New York Times. But this is part of the process. Each article is practice—not just in grammar and vocabulary, but in thinking more clearly in another language.
That’s my reflection for last week: ordinary days, slow progress, but steady movement forward.