They say it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. Google says that this is just a myth, but no doubt it takes a while to be considered a "master" at anything. After 10,000 hours of disciplined practice you should at least be decent at something. In order to even reach 10,000 hours it requires great consistency, which inevitably accumulates into acquired instinct.
The month of August 2020 has arrived and I've decided to become more disciplined in progressing towards my own personal goals:
1. Learn more Chinese
2. Become a ripped monster
They seem unrelated, but there''ll be some pairing in my planned regimen. I'll work them together and remain consistent with them.
Chinese
Language learning has always been tough for me. I sincerely envy those who simply "grew-up" in a bilingual environment and effortlessly acquired multiple languages. They didn't have to study through lessons and textbooks, they just absorbed the languages through natural interactions and context. Growing up in Vermont, there was no real need to speak anything but English. Even in my Asian-American household with parents that were (mostly) first-generation Chinese, we just spoke English and a little Cantonese. Even with this justification, I still feel a bit of shame when I admit I can't speak Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin).
As an adult in his late 20's, I have to learn things the hard way. My strategy shall have multiple approaches:
- Listen to podcasts during my commutes
- Lessons on phone apps during workouts
- Chinese shows while chilling
My issue with these programs are that they're sometimes too basic or sometimes too complicated. If it's basic vocabulary ("hello", "I like x", etc.), it's a waste of time. But when it's too advanced with many new vocabulary, I'm not able to retain as much; especially if there isn't a memorable context.
There are studies and analyses debunking the value of dictionaries, textbooks and podcasts for language acquisition, but they are certainly better than nothing. By gaining more exposure and train, I'll definitely improve my comprehension. I've heard an even better strategy is to watch children's shows in Chinese, without subtitles. They are educational and designed to help toddlers acquire language, so that primordial word-association should help too.
Getting Big
Standing at 5'8" & 135 lbs, I am not a big guy. I have a healthy BMI and good physique, but I've always been on the skinnier side. I considered myself fit and capable, but not above average strength. I have a fast metabolism and I don't snack very often, so gaining weight has been a challenge for me.
In my current living situation, the gym is a 30 seconds walk from my apartment (1st floor). There is really no excuse to skip a workout. Sometimes I take up to 45 minutes per session, however if I cut out the long rests I could complete it in 30 minutes. And rather than using the rests to browse Reddit, I'll use it for taking Chinese lessons on a phone app.
Making big gains in strength and muscle requires a lot of groceries and cooking, which would be the biggest change. Since the gyms have reopened, I have been consistent with lifting, but I haven't been eating enough. I enjoy lifting weights, but the extra effort is in eating larger portions, extra meals, and constant snacks. I typically eat until I'm satisfied; not when I'm too full. I've watched videos of strongman and body builders; the shear amount of meals they have to prepare and eat ironically seems more exhausting than the lifting.
Each workout is full body, with alternating modes for different movements:
- Upper
- Push: Bench, press, flies
- Pull: Dead lift, pull-up, face pull
- Core: Leg raises, crunch
- Lower
- Overhead squat
- Farmer walk, lunges
I'll make an active effort to eat larger meal portions. At around 10:30 pm, I'll drink a protein shake to supplement more calories.
Conclusion
These are goals I always had in mind, but haven't yet buckled down towards. I'm opposed to big "resolutions" that require a drastic behavior change. Progress is made through consistency, which is far easier when the tasks are smaller and more achievable. It' takes less willpower to do something easier, but it'll accumulate into a long term habit.
Goals should also be measurable to determine effectiveness. I'm not certain how I'd quantify progress for language learning, but I'll aim for a consistent 20 minutes per day. For my weight, I'm hoping to get up to 145 lbs. I'll keep this up until the end of the month and so how it goes.
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