8 Things to Stop Doing If You Want to Improve Your English in 2026
Every December, many of my students start looking back at the year and quietly asking themselves the same question. Have I actually improved my English? And then, of course, the next question appears. What should I do differently next year?
The truth is that improving your English is often less about adding more and more and more, and far more about clearing away the habits and routines that simply are not helping. Think of this as a gentle English declutter session. A fresh start for 2026, if you like.
So let’s take an honest look at what not to do in 2026.
1. Stop memorising random vocabulary lists
I adore lists. I make them for absolutely everything in my life. But long lists of unrelated English words are something I never recommend. If you have ever tried to memorise twenty completely random words, felt proud for a moment, and then realised three days later that you remember none of them, you know exactly why.
The brain remembers what is meaningful, emotional, and repeated in real life.
What to do instead? Learn phrases. Learn small, useful chunks of language. Chunks are the building blocks of natural English and they help you think in English rather than assembling sentences word by word.
A few simple examples
I’m not sure I follow
I’ll keep you posted
That’s not quite what I mean
You will use these regularly because they belong to real conversations. They stick.
2. Stop listening passively
Many learners listen to podcasts and watch YouTube videos for hours while cooking, cleaning, or commuting. It feels productive, but passive listening builds familiarity, not fluency.
If you have ever reached the end of a podcast segment and realised you have not understood a single thing because you were thinking about dinner, you’ll know what I mean.
Try this instead. Take thirty seconds of English, write down useful phrases, repeat them, or shadow the speaker. A few minutes of intentional practice beats half an hour of passive listening.
3. Stop chasing perfection and obsessing over mistakes
If I waited for perfection, I would never upload a single video to YouTube. Perfectionism is one of the biggest barriers to progress. It keeps people silent. It keeps people anxious. It keeps people exactly where they are.
In real life, people are not listening for flawless prepositions. They want clarity, connection, and a comfortable flow.
Try focusing on clarity instead of perfection. Speak early, speak often, and speak imperfectly. Fluency grows through doing, not through fear.
4. Stop studying English without actually speaking it
This one can sting. You cannot learn to speak English without speaking English. Many learners wait for the day when they finally feel ready and confident. That day never arrives.
You build confidence by speaking through the awkwardness.
Try five minutes a day. A quick voice note. A conversation with a teacher or a friend. Talking to the dog. Narrate your actions while you make a coffee or walk to the bus stop. You need to activate the language to own it.
5. Stop constantly switching between books, apps, teachers, and videos
We live in a world full of excellent learning resources. The problem is that they all look exciting and new. Switching too often means you are constantly starting again from zero. It is like planting a hundred seeds in a garden and never watering a single one.
Try sticking with one simple routine for thirty days. Review it once a week. Once you have a rhythm, then add variety.
6. Stop studying grammar because you feel you should
Obviously grammar is essential, but it becomes a waste of time when you study it out of guilt or obligation. Grammar only becomes meaningful when you connect it to something you actually want to say.
So instead of memorising rules, learn grammar through real sentences you will use.
If I had more time, I would practise English every day
If I lived in London, I would visit Buckingham Palace all the time
Suddenly the grammar belongs to you. It is no longer abstract. It is memorable.
7. Stop revising the same material over and over again
This is such a common trap. Reviewing familiar content feels safe and productive, but it does not stretch your English at all.
Your English needs to challenge you gently. Not so much that you feel overwhelmed, but enough that your brain has a reason to grow.
Try choosing something one level above your comfort zone. A slightly harder article. A new podcast. A more challenging speaking partner. Little stretches lead to big results.
8. Stop waiting for the perfect time
If you are waiting for life to calm down so you can finally start working on your English, then I am afraid you will be waiting forever. Adult life simply does not calm down.
English has to fit into your life exactly as it is. Not your imaginary life where you have unlimited energy, a tidy house, and three free hours every evening.
Try micro habits. Two minutes. Five minutes. One phrase a day. Small actions that fit into real life.
A quick recap
The eight big time wasters in English learning are
• memorising random vocabulary
• passive listening
• perfectionism
• avoiding speaking
• switching constantly between tools
• grammar guilt
• revising only what you already know
• waiting for perfect conditions
If you stop doing even one of these, you create space for real, meaningful progress. You will notice that your English feels lighter, more natural, and a little more like you.
Most learners do not struggle because they are bad at languages. They struggle because they are putting their time and energy in the wrong places.
You deserve a routine that feels manageable, realistic, and connected to your actual life. You do not need to study harder. You need to study smart, and with kindness.