Japan Is A Movie, But I'm Still Somehow Present Here.

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Let’s talk about the travels.

I understand now why people say the best immersion for learning a language is to live in the country for a while.

I’ve rewired my brain through learning French and Arabic, so in the 5 days of being in Japan I’ve picked up a lot of words.

Outside of anime, I’m enjoying learning the mannerisms and words even if I don’t intend to.

Now this is a quick one to let you know that I’m still here and still grinding.

It’s been tough when I’ve been operating like a zombie for the last 15 days, with 4 more days left of my trip.

Initially I thought I’d have it all under control.

As I sat in front of a lake in a small Japanese town, I realised that my journey is one that’s been gritty and raw.

The constant city hopping going from overwhelming crowds and busy nights to a relaxed retreat got me thinking deep.

I just got a glimpse of Mount Fuji (a blessing) and realised I’ve not kept up and this is why:

I talked about habit stacking while I’m away.

Posting in my free time.

Quick workouts.

While I’ve been lacking this week, I’ve experienced a lot outside of all that.

Insane views such as temples, endless shopping complexes and scenic views.

Met great people ranging from locals to different countries.

Experienced a whole different culture built on cleanliness and respect.

Do I feel guilty? Hell na.

My work and journey will remain when I’m back.

I’ll clock in heavy but I’ve been blessed to be able to experience a whole other culture and lifestyle. It really becomes a mindset shift in real time.

Now the lesson here and this is for myself too, but I used to think traveling across time zones destroys your routine.

You're either jet-lagged or completely off schedule, killing progress in everything you do.

I’ve struggled to do work or even languages for a week now, so I had to make time to sit down and write this. It’s still something right?

That’s why I try this when I get the time.

The "Anchor Hour" method - Pick ONE non-negotiable hour that stays consistent regardless of time zone.

Mine is either 9-10am local time before heading out waiting for the boys, or when I come back in the night after 11pm. I guess it’s a good thing most shops here close at 9-10.

9am = 10 min quick workout, 20 min language practice, 20 min planning/reflection, 10 min quick reading.

This same routine can work for every time zone.

It’s about the small consistent efforts in unusual environments.

The bigger picture is there; it’s all about staying focused and on track.

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The bottom line

I live life like it’s my last day. Gratitude and humility have come from being a Muslim but also from travelling so much and getting out of the comfort zone.

Think about what you could do to switch up life

I kept this short and sweet but truthfully, I’ll have to start doing a full breakdown on my travels. This will come with lessons learned, things done and how I can relate it to my multi-passionate journey.

And don’t forget, I’ve got a lot sitting in the drafts, one of them happens to be a prompt guide with a few more detailed prompts and how you can use them too.

Aside from that, the Productivity Playbook is an E-book which highlights my multi-passionate journey juggling fitness, language learning, travel and a 9-5.

I show you how I tackled burnout, overwhelm, took charge of my energy and used my time to ‘make time.’

This links to a Notion template with sections for taking action and making notes. By linking back to sections of the ebook, this allows you to see how I implement each part and then you can fill in the Notion template for your own journey.

Even if it’s not a purchase, I’d appreciate any support or tips on what I could do better going forward.

If you want to discuss this further, feel free to reach out on Instagram @liftlangleon.

Till next time, peace.