How to Talk About Daily Habits in English | English Podcast For Beginners

Hello everyone. Welcome to our English

learning show. I'm so happy you're here

today.

>> Hi friends. I'm excited too. Today we're

talking about something really

important. Daily habits.

>> Yes. Habits are the things we do every

single day like brushing your teeth or

eating breakfast.

>> That's right. And you know what? Your

habits shape your whole life. They make

you who you are. Exactly. Good habits

help you grow. Bad habits hold you back.

It's that simple.

>> Let me ask you something. What do you do

first thing in the morning, right when

you open your eyes?

>> H good question. I used to grab my phone

immediately, check messages, look at

social media.

>> Me too. But then I felt stressed. My

mind was full of information before I

even got out of bed. Same here. So, I

changed that habit. Now I do something

different.

>> What do you do now?

>> I sit up slowly. I take three deep

breaths. Then I say something positive

out loud.

>> Like what?

>> Maybe today is going to be great. Or I'm

ready for this day. Simple words, but

they help a lot.

>> That's beautiful. And it's perfect

English practice, too. You're speaking

English first thing in the morning.

>> Exactly. See, learning English doesn't

need to be hard. You can mix it with

your daily life.

>> Let's teach our listeners some useful

morning phrases. Ready?

>> Yes. First one. I wake up at. You can

say the time like I wake up at 7:00.

>> Good one. Next. I get out of bed. That

means you leave your bed and stand up.

Then you can say, "I stretch my arms and

legs." Stretching is when you move your

body to feel more awake.

>> Nice. How about I drink a glass of

water? Water in the morning is very

healthy.

>> Yes. Your body needs water after

sleeping all night. It helps you feel

fresh.

>> Let's practice together. Everyone

listening, repeat after us. Ready?

>> I wake up early. I get out of bed.

>> I stretch my body.

>> I drink cold water.

>> Great job, everyone. Now, let's talk

about breakfast habits.

>> Oh, yes. Breakfast is so important. It's

the first meal of the day.

>> Some people skip breakfast. That means

they don't eat anything.

>> I used to skip breakfast, too. I thought

it'd save time. But skipping breakfast

is not good. Your body needs energy to

start the day.

>> You're right. Now, I always eat

something, even if it's small.

>> What do you usually eat?

>> I like to eat toast with butter and

maybe some fruit. Sometimes I have eggs.

>> That sounds delicious. I usually have

cereal with milk or sometimes oatmeal.

>> Oatmeal is very healthy. It keeps you

full for a long time. Let's teach some

breakfast vocabulary. First word, toast.

That's bread that you cook until it's

brown and crispy.

>> Next, cereal. Those are small pieces of

grain that you eat with milk.

>> And scrambled eggs. That's when you mix

eggs and cook them in a pan.

>> Don't forget juice. Orange juice or

apple juice are popular choices.

>> Now, let's make some example sentences.

Try this. I eat toast and drink orange

juice for breakfast.

>> Or I usually have cereal with cold milk

in the morning.

>> Perfect. Now, I want to ask you about

getting ready. What's your routine after

breakfast?

>> Well, I brush my teeth. That's very

important.

>> Yes, you should brush your teeth at

least two times a day, morning and

night.

>> Then I take a shower. The water helps me

feel awake and clean. Do you take a hot

shower or a cold shower?

>> Usually warm, but sometimes I end with

cold water for 30 seconds. It gives me

energy.

>> That's brave. I like hot showers only.

I'm not ready for cold water yet.

>> That's okay. Everyone is different. The

important thing is to have a routine

that works for you.

>> Exactly. Let's teach some phrases about

getting ready. You can say, "I brush my

teeth." or I take a shower. If it's

quick, you can say I take a quick

shower.

>> How about I get dressed? That means you

put on your clothes.

>> And I comb my hair or I brush my hair.

Both are correct.

>> Good ones. Now, here's a question for

everyone listening. Do you make your bed

in the morning?

>> Ooh, that's interesting. Making your bed

means you fix the sheets and blankets so

it looks neat.

>> I make my bed every single morning. It's

a small thing, but it makes me feel

organized.

>> I should do that more. Sometimes I do,

sometimes I don't.

>> There's a famous saying, if you want to

change the world, start by making your

bed.

>> Wow, that's powerful. Why? Because it's

one small task you complete right away.

It gives you a feeling of success. Then

you want to do more tasks.

>> I understand. It's like a chain. One

good habit leads to another good habit.

>> Exactly. That's how habits work. They

build on each other.

>> Let's talk about the journey to work or

school. What do you do?

>> I walk to the bus stop. It takes about

10 minutes. And do you do anything

special during that walk?

>> Yes, I listen to English podcasts like

this one.

>> That's perfect. You're learning while

you walk. That's called multitasking.

>> Multitasking means doing two things at

the same time.

>> I do something similar. I listen to

English music on the bus.

>> That's great practice. Music helps you

learn pronunciation and rhythm. Plus,

it's fun. Learning should be enjoyable,

not boring.

>> I agree completely. Let's give our

listeners a tip. Find one boring moment

in your day, like walking or waiting in

line or washing dishes.

>> Then add English to that moment. Listen

to something or practice speaking to

yourself.

>> Yes, talk to yourself in English. It's

not crazy. It's smart. I do that all the

time. I describe what I'm doing. Like

now I'm making coffee or I'm putting on

my shoes.

>> Perfect. That's called narrating your

life. And it really helps your English

improve fast.

>> Now let's talk about afternoon habits.

What happens after lunch?

>> Well, many people feel tired after

lunch. Do you?

>> Yes. Sometimes I feel very sleepy around

2 or 3:00.

>> That's called the afternoon slump. Slump

means a time when your energy goes down.

>> So, what can we do about it?

>> Some people drink coffee. Others take a

short walk. Some even take a quick nap.

>> A nap is a short sleep, usually 15 to 30

minutes.

>> I like to stand up and stretch. Then I

drink some water. That usually helps.

>> Moving your body is important. We sit

too much these days.

>> You're so right. Let's teach a phrase. I

take a break. That means you stop

working for a short time to rest.

>> Or I go for a walk. Walking is great

exercise and it clears your mind.

>> Clear your mind means to stop thinking

about stressful things. You let your

brain rest. Here's another good phrase.

I need to recharge. Recharge means to

get your energy back. Like charging a

phone battery.

>> That's a great comparison. Our bodies

are like batteries. We need to recharge

with rest, water, and healthy food.

>> Speaking of healthy food, let's talk

about snacks. Do you eat snacks in the

afternoon?

>> Sometimes I try to choose healthy snacks

like fruit or nuts. That's good.

Unhealthy snacks like chips or candy

give you energy quickly, but then you

feel tired again.

>> Exactly. They're like fake energy. It

doesn't last long.

>> Better to eat an apple or some carrots.

They give you real energy.

>> Now, I want to share a story. Can I?

>> Of course. I love stories.

>> I have a friend named Maria. She's from

Mexico. She wanted to learn English, but

she was always too busy.

>> I think many people feel that way.

>> Yes. So, she said she had no time to

study, but then she changed one small

thing.

>> What did you change?

>> Every day at lunch, she would eat and

look at her phone, just scrolling

through social media,

>> like most people do, right?

>> Exactly. But she decided to change that

20 minutes. Instead of social media, she

watched English videos.

>> Smart idea.

>> And after three months, her English

improved so much. She was so surprised.

>> That's the power of daily habits. Small

actions, big results.

>> Yes, she didn't find extra time. She

just used her existing time differently.

>> That's a great lesson for everyone. You

don't need more time. You need better

habits. Let's practice some afternoon

vocabulary. First word, productive. It

means you get a lot of work done.

>> Example, I was very productive this

afternoon. I finished all my homework.

>> Good one. Next word, focused. It means

you can pay attention without getting

distracted.

>> Example, I stayed focused on my work for

2 hours. Next phrase, take it easy. It

means to relax and not stress too much.

>> Example, after a hard morning, I decided

to take it easy in the afternoon.

>> Perfect. Now, let's move to evening

time. This is my favorite part of the

day.

>> Why is it your favorite?

>> Because the pressure is off. Work is

done. School is finished. Now I can

relax.

>> I feel the same way. Evening is

peaceful.

>> What's the first thing you do when you

get home?

>> I take off my shoes and change into

comfortably clothes.

>> Yes, comfortable clothes are so

important. I put on soft pants and a

t-shirt.

>> Then I usually cook dinner or help my

family cook.

>> Do you enjoy cooking?

>> I do. It's relaxing. I don't think about

work or stress. I just focus on the

food. That's called being in the moment.

You're not worried about yesterday or

tomorrow. You're just here right now.

>> Exactly. Cooking is like meditation for

me.

>> Let's teach some cooking vocabulary.

First, chop. That means to cut food into

small pieces.

>> Like I chop the onions and garlic.

>> Next, boil. That means to heat water

until it bubbles.

Example, I boil water for pasta.

>> And fry, that means to cook something in

hot oil.

>> Like I fry eggs for dinner.

>> Good examples. Now, what do you do after

dinner?

>> Sometimes I watch TV or a movie,

>> but I try to watch in English.

>> That's excellent practice. Do you use

subtitles?

>> Yes, I use English subtitles. Not my

language, but English subtitles.

>> That's the smart way. You see the words

while you hear them. It helps you learn

spelling and pronunciation together.

>> Exactly. At first, it was hard, but now

I can follow most shows without looking

at subtitles too much.

>> That's progress. You should be proud.

>> Thank you. What about you? What do you

do after dinner?

>> I like to go for a short walk. Just 15

or 20 minutes around my neighborhood.

>> That's healthy. Walking after dinner

helps your digestion.

>> Yes. And it helps me think. I reflect on

my day.

>> Reflect means to think about what

happened.

>> Right. I think about good things that

happened and I think about what I can do

better tomorrow.

>> That's a great habit. Many successful

people do that. I also practice English

during my walk. I talk to myself in

English.

>> What do you say?

>> I describe what I see. Like, I see a red

car. There's a dog in the park. The sky

is beautiful tonight.

>> Simple sentences, but very useful.

>> Exactly. You don't need complicated

words. Simple is better for practice.

>> Now, let's talk about nighttime

routines. What time do you go to bed?

>> I try to go to bed around 10:30, but

sometimes it's later.

>> Do you have trouble sleeping sometimes?

>> Yes. When I use my phone too much before

bed.

>> Oh, that's a common problem. The blue

light from phones makes it hard to

sleep.

>> Exactly. So, now I have a new rule. No

phone for 30 minutes before bed.

>> That's smart. What do you do instead?

>> I read a book. Sometimes in English,

sometimes in my language.

>> Reading before bed is wonderful. It

relaxes your mind.

>> And if you read in English, you're

learning even while you relax.

>> Two benefits at once.

>> Let's teach some bedtime vocabulary.

First phrase, wind down. It means to

relax slowly after a busy day.

Example, I wind down by reading a book

before bed.

>> Next, hit the hay. It's a funny

expression that means to go to bed.

>> Example, I'm tired. Time to hit the hay.

>> And call it a night. That means to stop

what you're doing and go to sleep.

>> Example, let's call it a night. We can

finish this tomorrow.

>> Perfect examples. Now I want to talk

about something important.

>> Consistency.

>> Consistency means doing something

regularly again and again.

>> Yes. And this is the secret to success

with habits. You must be consistent.

>> Doing something once doesn't change

anything. But doing it every day for a

month, that changes everything.

>> Exactly. Let me give you an example. If

you study English for 5 hours one day,

then nothing for two weeks, you won't

improve much.

>> But if you study for 20 minutes every

single day, you'll improve a lot.

>> Yes. Because your brain needs regular

practice. It's like exercise. You can't

go to the gym once and become strong.

>> You have to go many times, week after

week.

>> Same with English or any skill really.

So the message is start small but be

consistent.

>> Exactly. Small daily actions create big

changes over time.

>> Let's share another story. This one is

about a student named Tom.

>> Okay. Tell us about Tom.

>> Tom wanted to improve his English

speaking but he was very shy. He never

wanted to talk.

>> That's a common problem. Yes. So we told

him to start very small. Just say one

sentence out loud in English every night

before bed.

>> Just one sentence.

>> Yes, just one. It could be anything.

Today was good or I feel happy or

tomorrow will be better.

>> That's easy.

>> Exactly. It's so easy that he couldn't

make excuses. He did it every night. And

then what happened

>> after two weeks? One sentence became two

sentences, then three. After a month, he

was speaking for 5 minutes every night.

>> Wow, that's amazing progress.

>> And now 6 months later, Tom speaks

English confidently. He even made a

video in English for his class.

>> That's wonderful. See everyone, it

starts with one small step.

>> Don't try to be perfect. Just try to

start.

>> Yes, progress is better than perfection.

>> Let's talk about bad habits now.

Everyone has them.

>> That's true. I have some bad habits,

too.

>> Like what?

>> Sometimes I stay up too late watching

videos on the internet.

>> Oh, I do that, too. You tell yourself,

"Just one more video, but then it's

midnight."

>> Exactly. And then I'm tired the next

day.

>> So, what can we do about bad habits?

>> First, you have to notice them. Be aware

of what you're doing.

>> That's called selfawareness. Knowing

your own behavior.

>> Then, you need to replace the bad habit

with a good one.

>> Can you give an example?

>> Sure. If you eat too much junk food at

night, replace it with something healthy

like fruit or nuts.

>> Or if you scroll on your phone too much,

replace it with reading a book.

>> Exactly. The key is to replace, not just

remove.

>> Why?

>> Because if you just try to stop

something without putting anything in

its place, you'll feel empty. You'll go

back to the bad habit.

>> That makes sense. You need something

positive to fill that time.

>> Yes. Let's practice talking about

changing habits. You can say, "I'm

trying to stop."

>> Example, I'm trying to stop eating

sugar.

>> Or I'm working on

>> Example, I'm working on waking up

earlier.

>> Good one. How about I want to be better

at?

>> Example, I want to be better at saving

money.

>> Perfect phrases. These are very useful

in real conversations.

>> Now, let's talk about motivation. How do

you stay motivated?

>> That's a hard question. Sometimes I

don't feel motivated at all.

>> Me, too. Some days I want to study and

work hard. Other days I just want to

sleep.

That's normal. Everyone feels that way.

>> So, what's the secret?

>> The secret is this. You don't need

motivation. You need discipline.

>> What's the difference?

>> Motivation is a feeling. It comes and

goes. Discipline is a choice. You do it

even when you don't feel like doing it.

>> Oh, I understand. Like brushing your

teeth. You don't wait to feel motivated.

You just do it.

>> Exactly. You brush your teeth every day

because it's a habit, not because you

feel excited about it.

>> So, we should treat our important habits

the same way.

>> Yes. Make them automatic. Don't think

about it. Just do it.

>> That's powerful advice. Let me share one

more important idea. It's about

identity.

>> Identity. What do you mean? Identity is

who you think you are, how you see

yourself.

>> Okay, go on.

>> Your habits come from your identity. If

you see yourself as a healthy person,

you'll naturally make healthy choices.

>> Interesting.

>> But if you see yourself as lazy, you'll

act lazy even if you want to change.

>> So we need to change how we see

ourselves first.

Exactly. Don't say I want to exercise

more. Say I am a person who exercises.

>> Don't say I want to learn English. Say I

am an English learner.

>> Yes. When you change your identity, your

habits follow naturally.

>> This is deep. I need to think about

this.

>> It's okay. Take your time. These ideas

take time to understand.

>> Let's do some practice sentences about

identity. Everyone repeat after us.

>> I am a person who takes care of my

health.

>> I am someone who never gives up.

>> I am a learner who improves every day.

>> I am capable of great things.

>> Beautiful. How do you feel after saying

those sentences? I feel more confident

already.

>> That's the power of positive self-talk.

The way you talk to yourself matters.

>> If you tell yourself negative things all

day, you'll feel bad.

>> But if you say positive things, even

when you don't believe them yet, slowly

you start to believe.

>> Your mind listens to your words.

>> Exactly. So choose your words carefully.

even in your own thoughts.

>> Now, let's talk about tracking your

habits. Do you write them down?

>> Yes, I have a small notebook. Every

night, I check off which habits I did

that day.

>> That's a great system. Seeing those

check marks feels good.

>> Yes, it gives you a sense of progress.

You can see how many days in a row you

completed a habit. That's called a

streak. Like a winning streak in sports,

>> right? And you don't want to break your

streak. It motivates you to keep going.

>> For English learners, you could track

how many days you practice English.

>> Exactly. Even five minutes counts. Just

check it off.

>> And at the end of the month, you can

look back and feel proud.

>> Yes. You'll see 30 check marks and

think, "Wow, I really did that every

day."

>> That builds confidence.

>> Let's teach a phrase. Keep track of

means to monitor or record something.

>> Example, I keep track of my habits in a

journal.

>> Or, I keep track of new English words I

learn.

>> Good one. How about make progress? It

means to improve or move forward.

Example, I'm making progress with my

speaking skills.

>> Perfect.

>> We're near the end of our show. Let's

give everyone some final advice.

>> Good idea. What's the most important

thing you want people to remember?

>> Start small. Don't try to change

everything at once.

>> Yes. Pick just one or two habits to work

on.

>> Maybe one in the morning and one at

night. Do those perfectly for 30 days,

then add more.

>> Building habits is like building a

house. You start with the foundation,

not the roof.

>> That's a great comparison. Strong

foundation first

>> for English learners. What's one habit

you recommend?

>> I think listening to English for 10

minutes every day is perfect.

>> That's simple and powerful. It can be a

podcast, a song or a video.

>> Just 10 minutes. Everyone has 10

minutes.

>> And speaking practice, even talking to

yourself count.

>> Yes. Narrate your actions. I'm making

coffee. I'm opening the door.

>> It feels weird at first, but it really

helps. Your brain needs to practice

making English sentences. This is the

way.

>> Let's end with some inspiration. Can I

share a quote?

>> Please do.

>> You don't have to be great to start, but

you have to start to be great.

>> Wow, that's beautiful. Who said that?

>> I'm not sure, but it's true, right?

>> Completely true. Don't wait until you're

ready. Start now.

>> Even if you make mistakes, even if you

feel scared, just start.

>> Every expert was once a beginner. Every

fluent English speaker started with zero

words.

>> So don't compare yourself to others.

Compare yourself to who you were

yesterday.

>> If you're better than yesterday, you're

winning.

>> That's the only competition that

matters.

>> All right, friends. Let's finish with

one final practice. We'll say some

powerful statements. Repeat them out

loud.

>> Ready, everyone? Here we go.

I am in control of my habits.

>> My small actions today create my future.

>> I choose progress over perfection.

>> I am patient with myself.

>> Every day I am getting better.

>> I believe in my ability to learn and

grow.

>> Fantastic. You all did great today.

>> Thank you so much for listening to our

show. Remember, you don't need to change

everything today.

>> Just pick one small habit, one tiny

change.

>> Do it tomorrow morning. Then the next

day, then the next.

>> In 30 days, you'll be amazed at your

progress.

>> In 90 days, you'll be a different

person.

>> In one year, you won't recognize your

old self.

>> That's how powerful daily habits are. We

believe in you. We know you can do this.

>> So, tonight before you go to sleep,

think about one habit you want to start.

>> Write it down. Make it specific and

small.

>> Not exercise more. Instead, do 10

push-ups every morning.

>> Not learn English. Instead, listen to

English for 10 minutes while eating

breakfast. Make it so easy you can't say

no.

>> And then just do it one day at a time.

>> Before we go, let's remind everyone if

you enjoyed this show, please share it

with a friend.

>> Yes, learning is better when you do it

with others

>> and leave a comment telling us what

habit you're going to start.

>> We love reading your comments. They

inspire us, too.

>> All right, that's all for today. Thank

you for spending this time with us.

We'll see you next time. Keep learning,

keep growing, keep smiling.

>> Your daily habits are creating your

future. Make them count.

>> Good night, everyone, or good morning

depending on where you are in the world.

>> Remember, you are capable of amazing

things. Believe in yourself.

>> One day at a time, one habit at a time.

You've got this.

>> Goodbye, friends.

>> Bye, everyone. Keep your English alive

every single