Speak Better English: Spring Into Action!

Study mindset • Expressing feelings • Phrases for motivation

In Japan, spring is a time of new beginnings, but it also brings Gogatsubyo. What would that be in English, though? If you looked it up in your dictionary, you might see it translated as "May Sickness." However, in English, we don't really have an exact phrase for this. Instead, if we feel tired and unmotivated after a long holiday, we might say we have the "post-holiday blues" - a cheeky way of expressing it might even be "post-Golden Week blues". Either way, we suddenly feel lethargic, and our motivation to study English starts to dwindle.

We might want to procrastinate and just take a nap! The problem is that when we lose our routine, it's hard to get back on track. If you feel like you are in a rut, you are not alone.

What’s the problem?

When the seasons change, our bodies and minds can feel out of balance. This lack of energy makes us feel guilty when we don't study. But beating yourself up only makes it worse! Acknowledging how you feel is the first step to getting your motivation back.

How can I stay motivated?

To beat the post-holiday blues, you need to lower the barrier to entry. Here are three simple ways to keep your English study on track this spring:

1. The 5-Minute Rule: Don't plan a huge 1-hour study session. Just commit to 5 minutes. Usually, once you start, it's much easier to keep going.

2. Change Your Environment: If sitting at your desk makes you sleepy, take your notebook to a local cafe. A change of scenery can help you get into gear.

3. Reward Yourself: Keep your eyes on the prize! Promise yourself a nice treat (like a favorite snack or an episode of a TV show) after you finish a small task.

How do I say it more naturally?

In English, we have many ways to describe feeling tired or unmotivated, and equally as many ways to encourage ourselves and others to push through it!

1. Expressing a lack of energy

• “I feel so drained today.” (You feel very tired, like a battery with no power).

• “I'm having a hard time getting into gear.” (You are struggling to start or find a good rhythm).

• “I think I've hit a wall.” (You cannot go any further, you are completely exhausted).

2. Encouraging yourself and others

• “Let's take it one step at a time.” (Don't rush, do things gradually).

• “We just need to shake it off.” (Get rid of the bad feeling or tiredness).

• “Keep your eyes on the prize!” (Remember your ultimate goal to stay motivated).

Mini-dialogues:

Casual Chat (Friends)

A: “I don't know why, but I feel so drained lately.”

B: “It's probably just the post-holiday blues. It's hard to get back to normal.”

A: “You're right. I just want to procrastinate and sleep all day!”

B: “Let's go for a walk and try to shake it off.”

A: “Good idea. Fresh air might help me get back on track.”

B: “Exactly! We'll take it one step at a time.”

At Work (Coworkers)

A: “Are you finishing that report today?”

B: “I'm trying, but I feel like I've hit a wall.”

A: “It's been a long week. You look a bit lethargic.”

B: “I really am. My motivation has started to dwindle.”

A: “Take a quick coffee break to help you get into gear.”

B: “Thanks. I just need to push through this afternoon.”

Study Buddies

A: “Have you done your English homework yet?”

B: “Not yet. I've been in a rut all week.”

A: “Me too! But we have a test coming up.”

B: “I know, I know. I need to keep my eyes on the prize.”

A: “Let's study together at the cafe. It might help.”

B: “Deal. Let's push through this together!”

Teacher and Student

A: “How is your studying going this week?”

B: “To be honest, I'm struggling. I have no energy.”

A: “That's normal returning from a holiday. Don't be too hard on yourself.”

B: “How can I find my motivation again?”

A: “Just take it one step at a time. Do five minutes a day.”

B: “That sounds manageable. I will try that today!”

Vocabulary & Useful Expressions:

• The blues (e.g., post-holiday blues):

A feeling of sadness, mild depression, or lack of motivation.

• Lethargic:

Having little to no energy; feeling sluggish and tired.

• Dwindle:

To gradually become smaller in size, amount, or strength (like motivation decreasing).

• Procrastinate:

To delay or put off doing something you need to do.

• In a rut:

Stuck in a boring routine or feeling unable to make progress.

• Drained:

Completely exhausted; having no physical or mental energy left.

• Hit a wall:

To reach a point where you cannot continue or make any more progress.

• Get into gear:

To start taking action or working effectively.

• Shake it off:

To recover quickly from a minor problem, setback, or bad mood.

• Push through:

To continue doing something difficult even when you want to give up.

• Get back on track:

To return to the right path or schedule after a distraction or mistake.

• Take it one step at a time:

To deal with a large task by doing it slowly, piece by piece.

Challenge Corner

Which expression would you use in each situation? Match the situation to the best phrase:

You missed three days of studying and want to restart your routine.
Your friend is feeling sad after a bad day and needs to forget about it.
You have a huge project to do and it feels overwhelming.
You have been studying for 5 hours and your brain can't process anymore.

What is a better way of saying this?

“I am very tired and I don't want to do anything today.”

Why does this sound unnatural?

(Hint: It sounds a bit too literal and robotic!)

Rewrite it as:

If you feel like a battery with no power
If you are feeling the effects of returning from a long holiday

Want feedback on your English?

If you want to practice these in real situations or share your answers, you can book a lesson with me on Cafetalk and work on making your English more natural!

Book a lesson and let's learn natural English together!