WhyWhatHow

Why I Needed a New Way to Learn

I’ve always wanted to improve my English, especially for work, communication, and being more confident in daily conversations. But I didn’t want to commit to a heavy course, or a gamified app that pressures me with streaks and scores.

I needed something gentle, flexible, and consistent. Something that fits into my real routine, not the other way around.

So I decided to turn to ChatGPT, not as a tool, but as a morning companion.

The Idea: One Sentence a Day

Every morning, right after I get up, stretch a bit, and spend 10 minutes on mindfulness (as part of my 5 AM Club-inspired routine), I open ChatGPT and simply type:

“Let’s start today’s English lesson!”

And from that one sentence, ChatGPT knows exactly what to do. It gives me a complete, structured English practice session in less than a minute.

What My Daily Lesson Looks Like

Each day, ChatGPT gives me:

• 10 advanced vocabulary words
• 5 idioms
• 5 business conversation phrases

It’s short, focused, and fun to go through. I sometimes read it out loud, practice pronunciation, or even make sentences based on the lesson.

The Prompt: Crafting the Right Sentence

The magic comes from how specific and consistent your prompt is.

I use:

“Let’s start today’s English lesson!”

But you can customize this depending on your goals. Here are some examples:

• “Teach me 10 advanced English business vocabulary words with definitions and examples.”
• “Give me 5 commonly used English idioms with Vietnamese translation and sample sentences.”
• “Help me practice business English by showing 5 real-world phrases used in meetings or emails.”
• “Review my pronunciation. Here’s a sentence: [your sentence here].”

Once you find a format you like, just stick with one consistent sentence every morning. ChatGPT will remember and adapt to your style over time.

You can even save your full prompt in Notes, Shortcuts, or a pinned message to copy-paste every morning.

How I Set It Up (Automation Step-by-Step)

To make it frictionless, I automated the process. Here’s how:

On iPhone (using Shortcuts app):

Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone.

1. Tap the “Automation” tab at the bottom.
2. Tap “Create Personal Automation”.
3. Choose “Time of Day” and set it to your time.

1. Under “Repeat,” select Daily, then tap Next.
2. Choose ChatGPT
3. Tap What action you want to do

All Done.

Every morning at 7:03, your phone will notify you and open ChatGPT automatically.

On Android (using MacroDroid):

1. Download and install MacroDroid from the Google Play Store.
2. Open MacroDroid and tap “Add Macro”.
3. Trigger:
4. Actions:
5. Name your macro and save it.

Now, every day at 7:03 AM, your phone will send you a reminder and launch ChatGPT.

You can also do a simpler version by setting an alarm with a label like: “Let’s start today’s English lesson!”

Why This Works (For Me)

• It’s consistent — it happens at the same time every day.
• It’s lightweight — I don’t feel overwhelmed by too much content.
• It’s useful — everything I learn can be applied at work or in real life.
• It’s flexible — if I want to focus on pronunciation or writing that day, I just ask.

Most of all, I don’t feel pressure. I’m not racing with anyone. I’m just showing up — and getting better, bit by bit.

Beyond English: This Habit Can Be Used for Anything

What surprised me is how flexible this system is.

You can easily switch the topic and say:

• “Let’s start a journaling prompt.”
• “Let’s plan my day.”
• “Give me one insight about mindfulness.”
• “Help me learn something new in design/business/health.”

One sentence, same time every day, and you’re creating a habit that sticks.

Final Thoughts

If you’re someone who wants to learn but struggles with consistency, pressure, or rigid systems, this might help.

Start small. Start light. Start with one sentence a day.

If you want to try this habit too, feel free to copy my structure or message me — happy to share!