Simple Danish Newsletter #30

Hi friends,

This week, we’ve been enjoying what might be some of the last sunny days of the season. However, it’s clear from the weather that fall is approaching, which means it’s almost time to cozy up indoors with a good book.

Recently, we’ve been reading Feel Good Productivity by Ali Abdaal, which serves as a bit of an antidote to many self-help books that preach motivation or discipline. Instead, it focuses on how you can sustainably (and backed by evidence) get more done in a fun, energizing way.

While reading the book, we realized that many of its lessons can be easily applied to learning Danish as well. Last week, we discussed how to make learning Danish more fun and energizing, and now we’ll be moving on to the next step: removing barriers that are holding back your progress.

The main idea from the next part of the book is that the usual advice for dealing with procrastination—telling people to get motivated or more disciplined—never really addresses the root cause of the problem.

To explain this, Ali presents a simple analogy:

Imagine you’re trying to get to dinner at your friend’s house, but there’s a stone in your shoe. If you rely on motivation, you’ll limp toward your friend’s house, thinking about how nice the dinner will be or how good it will be to see your friend. However, your foot hurts the whole way, and at some point, you may give up because the pain becomes unbearable.

Then, someone might say, “You can’t rely on fleeting motivation to get things done. You need discipline.” So, this time, you set out again, relying on discipline. You tell yourself that pain is temporary and that the memory of the dinner will last forever. But again, you arrive at your friend’s house with a bloody foot, and instead of having a nice dinner, your friend takes you to the emergency clinic.

Now, if you focus on the barrier (the stone in your shoe), things will be much easier. You simply take off your shoe, remove the stone, and walk comfortably to your friend’s house.

This analogy resonates with us. Too often, we treat the symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes.

In the book, Ali describes three types of barriers: Uncertainty, Fear, and Inertia. Let’s look at how each applies to learning Danish more effectively.

How Uncertainty Is Holding You Back

Have you ever had an assignment at school or work that was so difficult you didn’t know where to start? That feeling of overwhelm often leaves you incapable of beginning. Yet, once you figure out the first step, everything falls into place, piece by piece.

Learning Danish can feel like a ‘black box’—looking at it from the outside provides no clues on how or where to get started. In fact, this is one of the main reasons we started Denmark&Me—to help people find direction in the chaos. The solution to uncertainty is to shine a light on it by asking yourself three key questions:

1. Why am I trying to learn Danish?
2. What specifically do I want to achieve?
3. When exactly will I set aside time to do this?

We’ve previously written about the importance of asking yourself “Why am I learning Danish?” so we won’t go into too much detail here. But trust us—it’s a crucial question to ask.

Next, get specific about what you want to learn. If your goal is to enjoy Danish movies, perhaps your focus should be on listening to and watching a lot of Danish content with English subtitles or transcripts. If your goal is to reconnect with your grandparents, focus on dialogue and small talk.

Once you know what you’re trying to learn, the next step is to determine when. And by “when,” we mean exactly when. Are you going to study every Tuesday and Thursday after work at 5 p.m.? Or will you go to the library with a nice cup of coffee every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.? The more specific you are, the more likely you are to stick with it.

Fear Not

The second blocker Ali discusses is fear. Fear of failure, ridicule, judgment, or not being good enough can all hold you back from even trying. Often, it’s not obvious that fear is what’s stopping you, so it requires some reflection. You might think you’re a perfectionist, but could it really be fear of judgment that’s holding you back from speaking Danish in public?

Studies show that labeling your fears and saying them out loud is the most effective way to overcome them. For example, if you say to yourself, “I’m afraid that if I speak Danish in a meeting, my colleagues will laugh at me,” the fear is identified and labeled. This allows you to pause and reflect, downplaying what is often an irrational, instinctive reaction. This process is called “affective labeling” if you’d like to read more.

Common fears might include:

• “I’m afraid I’ll make a mistake in front of my boss.”
• “I’m afraid I’ll be misunderstood if I try to speak Danish in the supermarket.”
• “I’m afraid people will think I’m stupid for not being able to express myself clearly.”

Step one is labeling your fears. Step two is minimizing them by applying a long-term perspective. Will this matter in 10 minutes? 10 weeks? 10 years? In 10 minutes, you might still feel embarrassed. In 10 weeks, you’ll likely have forgotten about it. And in 10 years, you’ll probably laugh about your journey to learn Danish.

Also, realize that other people likely don’t care as much as you think. How often do you think about embarrassing things your friends did? Probably never. It’s key to remember that they probably don’t think about your mistakes either. In fact, when it comes to learning Danish, they likely don’t find your mistakes embarrassing at all.

Just Get Started: Inertia

The last barrier might be inertia—you simply haven’t started yet. Ever wonder why apps like Duolingo encourage you to keep up your streak? It’s because objects in motion tend to stay in motion. It’s easier to go from day 42 to day 43 than from day 0 to day 1.

The hardest part is going from 0 to 1. Ali talks about removing physical barriers that prevent you from starting. For example, keep your Danish books and notes on your desk rather than in a drawer. If your desk is clean and your materials are readily available, you’re much more likely to get started.

This is also why going somewhere else to study can be beneficial. At home, there are endless distractions—cleaning, napping, checking the fridge, walking the dog. If you go to the library with just your materials, you’ll probably get much more done. Ask yourself: What can I change in my environment to make studying Danish easier?

Lastly, emotional friction can also hold you back. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you miss a lesson or don’t study on a designated day. Focus on celebrating your small wins. Track your progress in a notebook or celebrate milestones that are meaningful to you. Finding an accountability buddy can also help. They don’t have to be learning Danish with you—just someone to work alongside or check in with can make a huge difference.

Our Favourite Things ❤️

Idiom of the Week: Så falder der brænde ned

Literally; Then the firewood falls down

This idiom is used to describe a situation where someone is about to face serious consequences or trouble. It suggests that things are about to get heated or intense, typically when someone has done something wrong and is about to get a harsh reaction. It’s a way of saying that someone is in for a scolding or punishment.

For Example: ‘

Lars:“Tror du, chefen er sur over, at vi glemte mødet?”

Mette:“Ja, der falder brænde ned, når han ser os næste gang!”

Word of the Week: Gavtyv

Literally; fun-thief

A gavtyv is a playful term used to describe someone who is mischievous or a bit of a rascal, but in a charming and good-hearted way. It’s often used affectionately, suggesting that the person is crafty but not malicious. Think of someone who loves to joke around, maybe bending the rules a little for the sake of fun, but without causing any real harm.

Example:

Peter: “Har du set Mads? Han gemte min cykelnøgle igen!”

Sara: “Ja, den gavtyv har altid gang i noget sjovt!”

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We hope you liked this week’s newsletter. As always don’t hesitate to reach out if you have comments, suggestions or otherwise have questions 😊

Kram fra,

Antonina & Rasmus

Denmark&Me