After previously hitting a 55-day streak learning French on Duolingo, I reached the 100-day milestone on 1^st May. Here is what the journey of 100 days of learning French has taught me:

On some days I had lots of time

There were days when I could complete multiple lessons and truly immerse myself in study. I can see real progress happening.

On days like these, just like in any endeavor, it is best to make the salad or golden days count. These would help compensate for when there is no time.

Some days I used it to pass the time.

What I love about Duolingo is the fact that you can spend no more than five minutes to go through a lesson. Spending five minutes in a waiting room or ten minutes on the bus then became valuable learning moments. These small bursts add up to reinforcing the vocabularies and keeping the momentum going.

Similarly, use the little time you have in between moments and in between meetings in constructive actions.

Some days I had no time.

And yes, there were days when there was literally no time to study French. These are the days when it is easier to give up. On hectic days like these, I would open the app at 11:50 PM to preserve my streak. A single quick lesson is enough.

To keep making progress, understand that consistency doesn’t mean perfection.

Some days I wondered why I even started.

Around day 70, the novelty wore off. And those reminders from the Duolingo app became more annoying than motivating. I start to wonder, “Will I ever actually use this French?”

It is natural that in any endeavor the glitter would start to wear off eventually. However, if you are yet to complete your goal, then go back to why you began. Your Why as Simon Sinek has explained in his book, would help you keep moving forward.

Finally, remember that every day matters

In summary, I would like to end by saying.

• The beginning stages, when you had abundant enthusiasm, built the foundation.
• The little moments for quick lessons maintained the momentum.
• And even the busy days taught resilience.
• Whilst the questioning days made me recommit.

As at the time of writing this post, I am currently at 136 days and counting. I am not fluent by any stretch of the imagination. However, what I would like to share is that learning does not come in leaps and bounds. It begins slowly. It is painfully slow. Growth is what happens in the unglamorous middle ground between initial excitement and visible results.

In whatever study, project, or endeavor you find yourself, especially as we hit the middle of the year, remember that true progress comes from showing up daily—regardless of circumstances.

Continuez!