[bemmu]

After years of trying to learn Japanese through osmosis by living here, this year I managed to get myself to seriously study again despite not going to school anymore.

It's a combination of a study app called Nihongo and a reminder/streak app called Commit. Now after studying about 30 mins daily for 6 months I've started to really enjoy my study sessions, and the joy of seeing the characters I've learned in my daily life. Now when the Commit reminder comes up I've usually already started my study.

[hikarudo]

Not related to habit formation, but may I say what worked for me when learning Japanese in Japan?

Take the Nihongo Nouryoku Shiken. Bookstores sell material to study for it. It's great having a study milestone.

Start reading, if you haven't already. Books, magazines, anything. A kanji you see "out in the field' for three times becomes yours.

To improve listening skills, I recommend watching lots of jdrama. If you don't understand a dialog, listen again.

And most importantly, interact as much as you can with Japanese people. This is harder than it sounds, because... Japan.

[franciscop]

I made my own app to learn the kanjis from the book; it was the same as the book but I'd just flip cards on my phone and I'd learn more than in any lesson