8 Easy English Habits for the New Year (That You’ll Actually Stick To)

New Year's Day is a strange time: full of hope, renewal—and for some, a lingering headache from the night before. There’s a lot of pressure to completely reinvent your entire life on January 1st , but that isn’t always realistic. Change takes time, people are busy, and the leftover Christmas cake won’t eat itself.

The problem with big, dramatic resolutions is that they forget the importance of consistency. Ask yourself: do you really have time to go to the gym every day for a whole year? Or would once a week be a much more achievable goal?

When your goals are too big, motivation drops quickly. And before you know it, you’ve wasted £500 on a gym membership you’ve used twice.

So, this year, give yourself a break, eat the damn Christmas cake, and set a resolution that’s actually attainable. Because language progress isn’t a sprint—it’s slow, steady progress. This year, be the tortoise, not the hare.

To help you with your 2026 English goals, here’s 8 resolutions you’ll actually stick to (unlike that gym membership):

1) Learn one new word or phrase a day 📘

That’s 365 words or phrases in 2026, all from five minutes a day. Pick your favourite flashcard app (we recommend Memrise or Anki), go old-school and make your own cards, or try the Goldlist method in a shiny new notebook. Whichever you choose, this is a great resolution for advanced learners who still stumble on unfamiliar words.

2) Change your phone language to English 📱

Changing your laptop or phone to English is an immersive way to familiarise yourself with words you’ll actually use. It’s low effort, takes no time, and is something even beginners can benefit from (you already know your phone’s layout, so you won’t get lost).

3) Watch one episode of a series in English every week🎬

Devote one episode per week to English practice and watch your speaking and listening skills slowly improve. You don’t even need to find an English series—on lots of streaming services it’s possible to watch the movies and series you already love with English dubbing.

4) Follow an English creator you actually like 🎧

The best way to learn English is by transforming the things you already enjoy into language practice. Do you like trying new recipes? Follow a recipe blog in English. Into video games? Find an English-speaking streamer who plays the games you love. The more you integrate English into your existing hobbies, the easier it is to learn.

5) Listen to a podcast or the radio for 10 minutes each day 🗣️

Even if you don’t understand anything at first, listening to authentic English is the best way to improve your accent and comprehension. Listen on your commute or while you make your morning coffee to strengthen your listening and speaking skills.

6) Read one page of a book in English a day 📖

Reading in a foreign language can feel slow and annoying, especially if you’re used to finishing a book in an afternoon. Sometimes, you spend more time looking up the definitions of words than actually reading the book. But that doesn’t mean it can’t be fun. Instead of expecting to read at your usual pace, aim for a page a day. By 2027, you’ll be reading English twice as fast.

7) Write your to-do lists in English 🗒️

Perfect for learning days, dates, numbers, and the vocabulary you use day-to-day. You’ll have them memorised within a few weeks while getting daily opportunities to practice the grammar you’ve learnt in class.

8) Talk to someone in English twice a month 💬

Know a friend who’s also learning English? Turn one of your regular coffee dates into a study session. Just set the date, choose a cute café, and spend an hour chatting in English. Don’t forget to reward yourself with a pain au chocolat.

Bonus: Explore English Courses Abroad 🌍✈️📚

New year, new learning methods. Make 2026 your year of adventure with an English course abroad. Whether you need fresh motivation, deep cultural immersion, or support from expert teachers, studying in another country is one of the best ways to reach those bigger goals without burning out.

Explore Twin English Courses in London, Eastbourne, and Dublin