#330: Do Less to Achieve More Progress: A Practical Guide to English Confidence [FREE GUIDE]

Are you feeling overwhelmed with English learning?

Maybe you’ve downloaded multiple apps, bought several courses, or saved countless YouTube videos to watch “someday.”

Your commitment to improving your English is clear. But here’s the truth: having more resources doesn’t always lead to better progress. In fact, it often leads to feeling stuck.

In today’s lesson, you’ll discover why doing less—with intention and focus—can actually help you make more progress and feel more confident when speaking English.

This Lesson is Perfect for You if…

• Feel confused with too many English learning resources
• Find yourself downloading apps but rarely using them
• Struggle to stick with one learning method
• Notice perfectionism stopping you from speaking more
• Want to simplify your approach to learning English
• Prefer quieter, more focused ways to practice
• Need a clear path to progress without overwhelming yourself

Lessons Mentioned in this Video:

• Understand English TV Shows without Subtitles
• Use Podcasts to Improve Your English Listening Skills

What to Do Next

Ready to simplify your English learning journey? I’ve created a free Resource Audit Guide to help you:

• Evaluate your current learning tools
• Choose what really works for you
• Create a focused learning plan that fits your life
• Track your progress without perfectionism

👉 Download your free Resource Audit Guide

This is the exact tool I use in my language learning to move from feeling overwhelmed to making consistent progress.

Why Doing Less Leads to More Progress: A Practical Guide to English Confidence

Introduction: Why Less is Truly More

Quick question: How many English learning apps do you have on your phone right now? Five? Ten? Maybe more? Now, here’s the real kicker—how many of those do you actually use?

If you’re like many of my students, you probably have a few apps you’ve forgotten about, a shelf full of untouched textbooks, and a “must-watch” playlist of English YouTube videos. And you know what? That shows just how committed you are to improving your English. Your dedication is admirable.

The challenge isn’t your motivation—it’s finding the right approach. It feels like you should be using all these resources, right? After all, more resources mean better results… don’t they?

Actually, the opposite is true. The more tools you try to juggle, the more overwhelmed you feel. And that overwhelm often leads to frustration, guilt, and a sense of being stuck—despite all your efforts.

But here’s the good news: the secret to faster progress isn’t doing more. It’s about doing less—and doing it with intention. By narrowing your focus and letting go of the rest, you can accelerate your learning and feel more confident every time you speak.

And today, I’m going to show you exactly how to do that. Together, we’ll explore two key concepts that will change how you approach your English learning:

1. The 80/20 Rule: A simple yet powerful idea that helps you identify the 20% of activities delivering 80% of your results.
2. JOMO (the Joy of Missing Out): A mindset shift that helps you simplify your routine, let go of guilt, and find emotional freedom in your progress.

These two approaches will not only help you make real progress but also change how you feel about the learning process itself.

The Problem: Too Many Resources, Too Little Progress

Let’s be real—everywhere you look, there’s another “must-have” English learning tool. An app that promises fluency in 30 days. A course that guarantees native-like pronunciation. Your social media feed is full of people effortlessly learning five languages at once, and your inbox is overflowing with “revolutionary” learning methods.

It’s a lot, right? And while these options might seem exciting, they quickly lead to overwhelm. The more tools you try, the harder it is to stay consistent—and consistency is the real key to progress.

So, what’s getting in your way?

1. Overwhelming Options: Think of your learning routine like a cluttered desk. When it’s filled with too many tools—apps, courses, books—you don’t know where to start. Instead of helping, these options leave you stuck in “planning mode.”
2. Scattered Attention: Constantly switching between activities (like listening to a podcast while scrolling Instagram) makes it hard for your brain to fully engage. Learning requires focus, and scattered attention slows your progress.
3. The Perfectionism Trap: This is a big one, and it’s one of my struggles. You may feel like you need perfect grammar, flawless pronunciation, and a native-like accent before you can speak. But that perfectionism leads to hesitation, less practice, and slower progress overall.
   
4. Time Pressure and Guilt: Balancing work, family, and life is hard enough—adding “perfect English” into the mix can feel impossible. And when you can’t do it all, guilt sets in, making you feel like you’re failing even when you’re making progress.

This is where the 80/20 Rule and JOMO come in to save the day. Together, they help you focus on what really matters, simplify your routine, and let go of the pressure to do everything.

The Solution: Embracing the 80/20 Rule with JOMO

First, I want to double-check: Have you ever heard of the 80/20 Rule? It’s a principle that says 20% of your efforts produce 80% of your results. In language learning, this means identifying the small number of practices that truly improve your skills—and focusing on those.

But here’s the challenge: letting go of the rest can feel scary. What if you’re missing out on something better? What if you’re not doing enough? That’s where JOMO—the Joy of Missing Out—makes all the difference.

While the 80/20 Rule is about efficiency and impact, JOMO adds the emotional freedom you need to follow it. It helps you let go of guilt, comparison, and FOMO (fear of missing out). Instead of worrying about what you’re not doing, you’ll feel proud of what you are doing—and the progress you’re making.

With JOMO, you’re not just simplifying your learning routine. You’re creating space for deep, focused learning and enjoying the process along the way.

Practical Implementation: How to Simplify and Focus

Now, let’s turn these ideas into action. Here’s a step-by-step process to simplify your learning, focus on what works, and embrace JOMO in your daily routine.

Step 1: Do a Resource Audit

Think of this as cleaning out your closet. Instead of clothes, you’re sorting through your learning tools—apps, books, courses, podcasts, and YouTube channels.

1. Make a List: Write down everything you currently use. Include apps (e.g., Duolingo, Memrise), courses, textbooks, podcasts, and more.
2. Evaluate Each Tool: Ask yourself: Do I enjoy using this? Does it fit my schedule? Is it helping me make real progress?
3. Pick Your Core Tools: Choose 2-3 resources that align with your goals and that you’ll use consistently. For example:
• A structured course for grammar and vocabulary.
• A speaking tool like a language exchange.
• A daily activity like listening to a podcast during your commute.

Ready to take the first step? Download my free Resource Audit Guide to evaluate and simplify your learning tools. This quick guide will help you focus on what truly works for you.

Step 2: Focus on High-Impact Practices

Your core tools should prioritize active, impactful learning (what I call “core practice”) while using “supporting activities” to reinforce what you learn.

1. Core Practice Examples:
• Speaking with a partner or coach (like in my Confident Women Community).
• Writing emails or presentations and getting feedback.
• Practicing new vocabulary in real conversations.
2. Supporting Activities Examples:
• Watching English TV shows with subtitles.
• Listening to podcasts while walking or commuting.
• Reading articles about topics you love.
3. JOMO in Action: Focus on your top 20% (core practice) and let go of the rest. You’re not missing out—you’re creating space for meaningful progress.

Step 3: Build a Realistic Schedule

• Start Small: Block 15-20 minutes for core practice 3-4 times a week.
• Layer in Supporting Activities: These should fit naturally into your day—like listening to a podcast during your commute.
• Protect Your Practice Time: Treat it like a meeting with yourself. No interruptions, no distractions.

Here’s what that might look like:

Real-World Practice: The Power of Focus

Instead of trying to fit English practice into every corner of your day, let’s take a more focused approach. 

Example Weekly Focus: Choose ONE core content source (like a podcast episode about a topic you enjoy) and work with it deeply:

Day 1: Listen to the podcast

• First time: Just listen and get the main idea
• Second time: Notice interesting phrases
• Third time: Follow along with transcript if available

Day 2: Vocabulary and Phrases

• Pick 3-5 useful expressions from the episode
• Practice using them in your own sentences
• Write down examples relevant to your life

Day 3: Speaking Practice

• Talk about the podcast topic using your new phrases
• Record yourself summarizing the main points
• Practice expressing your opinion about the topic

This focused approach:

• Reduces overwhelm
• Builds natural connections in your brain
• Develops real confidence with the material
• Creates deeper understanding
• Leads to more natural speaking

Remember: Remember: Your schedule might look different, and that’s okay. The goal isn’t to do everything or do it all every day. It’s to do what works for you, consistently. One focused activity done well is worth more than many scattered efforts. If you only have time for one thing, make it count by giving it your full attention.

This is the exact approach we follow for deep, long-lasting learning inside my Confident Women Community.

Step 4: Track Progress and Celebrate Wins

• Keep a journal to track what you’re practicing and what’s improving.
• Celebrate small milestones, like using a new word in a conversation or feeling more confident in a meeting.

Step 5: Prepare for Setbacks

• Accept that busy weeks will happen. If you miss a session, shift to a supporting activity like listening to a podcast.
• Focus on progress, not perfection. Every small step counts.

Success Principles: The Mindset Behind Simplified Learning

Simplifying your learning isn’t just about what you do—it’s about how you feel while doing it. These principles will help you build a sustainable, joyful relationship with English learning.

1. Permission to Do Less: The 80/20 Rule teaches you to focus on what matters, but JOMO gives you the confidence to let go of the rest—without guilt.
2. Focus on Progress, Not Perfection: Every small step forward counts. Celebrate what you’ve accomplished, rather than focusing on what’s left to do.
3. Embrace Imperfection: Mistakes aren’t failures—they’re opportunities to learn. JOMO helps you feel confident speaking, even when it’s not perfect.
4. Celebrate Small Wins: Whether it’s having a short conversation at work or understanding a podcast better, every win is worth celebrating.

Call to Action: Start Your JOMO English Journey Today

You have everything you need to simplify, focus, and feel great about your English learning. Now it’s time to take action:

1. Choose one learning method to focus on this week. Maybe it’s practicing with a language partner or diving into that grammar course you love.
2. Let go of one resource that’s not helping you. Uninstall that app or put that textbook back on the shelf—it’s okay!
3. Schedule one focused practice session. Even 15 minutes can make a huge difference.

Be sure to Download the Resource Audit Guide. Evaluate your tools and get started with a streamlined plan. 

All my best,

~ Annemarie